Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-30
culReEs ATlflPT At EVASION
"rve Lived In Vain II Your Ae-
eusations Have Lost Me a Single
Friend" Says candidate-Republ-
can Attitude on Publicity Reflection
Upon Peoples Intelligence.
(By Associated PreSs.)


ROCK ISLAND, ILL, Sept. 29-"l
have lived in vain if your accusa'
tons have lost me single friend,
said William J. Bryan, in a letter ad,
dressed today TO President Roosevelt
replying to that of the President
written Sunday last.
Mr.. Bryan presents his record and
declares that it is sufficient answer
to the insinuations of the chief exc
cutive that he is in sympathy with,
or controlled by the trusts.
Reverting TO the charges against
Governor Haskell, Mr.. Bryan says
that the President, in response to
his request, did not design to sus-
gest a tribunal which could deter
mine those charges, but instead, pro-
ceeded to pass judgment upon him.
and informs the President that the
occupant Of that high position cannot
deny him the right to protest against
and vindicate his name in the courts.
Taking the Presidents assertion
that certain trust magnates, fearing
prosecution by Mr.. Taft, will sup
port the Democratic; candidate, Mr..
Bryan charges : that IA tho prosidnht
worded his statement in such a way
as to demand the support Of all the
trust magnates, and yet you present
it on the ground that they are sup
porting your party for patriotic rea-
sons rather than for the promotion
Of a selfish interest"
Would Enforce Trust Laws.
Such an argument. he contends. IS
ingenious. but not sound. AS proof
Of the fact that he would no: be
controlled by the trusts Mr.. Bryan
says that il elected, he will enforce
the antitrust laws, mot spasmodl-
cally and intermittently. but persIs-
tently and conscientiously.'
Mr.. Bryan in dealing with the
Democratic campaign fund of 1896.
as compared with the Republican
campaign fund OF 1904, charges that
the President pays more attention 10
the mote than to the beam, and as
serts that in 1904. the Republicans
used in one state alone a fund al
most as large as the sum the D. m
ocra,ic party had in its control.
Mr.. Bryan's letter follows:
Rock island. ILL.,.
Sept. 90. 1903.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. President
Of the United States, Washing
ton. d. C.,
Dear Sir
"A brief reply to your last 1stter
IS all that is necessary to call at
1entiou to your attempt to SHIFT the
issues raised. In your letter attack
ing Mr.. Foraker. you inserted an at
tack upon Governor Haskell and at
tempted to use the charges against
him to connect the Democratic party.
and me as its candidate. with the
trusts. I asked you TO name a tn
bunai before which the charges could
be investigated. or. If you would NOT
do that. offercd to leave IL to you
to say whether. in your judgment the
charges justified Mr.. Haskelfs VII
drawal from the committee. You
would net daign to suggest a ri'
buna!. but proceed TO pass judgment
upon him.
Haskell Submitted to Sentence.
II. Immediately resigned his posi-
ton tina, he might be more free 10
pr.sccure thos~ who brought accusa
tions against him. THIS his connec'
items with the organization end d.
had no authority to submit. and din
M, submit to you the question o.
his guilt or his innocence for ma
decision. Even the President canno'
deny to the humblcst citizrn OF inc
land the right TO protect hims II and
rcputation. and vindica:a his name
IN corr,s established for the purpoS"
where witnessss can NC examined
and evidence submitted according 'e
the rules In Law. In my frst letic'
70 Won I resented the imputat'on thai
anv charge made aeains' Governed
Uasl n could 10 justly construed a.
connecting the Democratic party. o'
mo a. It's candidate, with any trus
or Law dcfying corporation. fcn re
p,ies that the charges were matte
Of general no,oriety, and ] asked yo'