The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-01-02
MARTIN SENDS SECOND
LETTER TO ROOSEVELT
Thinks Presidents Letter Wa.
Uncalled for, Untrue and
Undignified.
Takes Exception to Roosevelt q
Characterization of Paine: as
~''~''F Filthy Little Atheist. 80.

DAYTON, Ohio, Dec. 27.-Mr. j. C.
Martin, the ardent Lutheran Christian
who wrote to President Roosevelt
October 20 asking if 1t were not true
that Mr.. Taft was an infidel, receiving
in return a scathing letter in which
the president condemned all religious
and stated that & aft: was
"A unitari2n,, has come BIZ aekA
velt with another, letter accusing nin1
of confusing the words infidel and
Unitarian. ze~t:..% e>:;5 49,: :
Mr.. Martin also accuses the :presi1:
dent of Inconsistency, saying:<. s.
MY reply to your uncalled for, url--
true and undignif1ed accusation .o1
SANDER and bigotry seemingly answers
your other important question-name-
ly. that Mr. Taft's religion is his own
personal concern, a matter between
him and his Maker, matter for his
own conscience. AS additional reply
to that have this to say on my ac-
count, that so long as he is private
citizen this is true, but when he. comes
before the American people asking for
their suffrage for the greatest honor
that can be conferred upon MIN + by
the voters of the United States, it
then changes matters and becomes :ot
interest to the general public; they
have right to know who ne is and
what he is, his beliefs and disbeliefs
Praises Thomas Paine.
"Now, Mr.. President, did not; the
Inconsistency Of your Characterization
a few years ago Of Thomas Paine az
as Mr.. Taft now is, a Unitarian, have
much to do with your position on
this subject? Let that beas It may
there are many who believe Thomas
Paine made it possible for a Unitarian
to be elected president Of the United
States in this year Of our Lord, 1908
and tI1at he did more for civil and
religious liberty than any man Of his
time. Lok at the services he rem
dered during the revolutionary period
at which time it, as he himself ex-
pressed it, tried mems souls Hi.
Rights Of Men was an epoch making
production, known and acknowledged
by his compeers and compatriots. Now
sir, 1t will be claimed your defending
Mr.. Taft's right to hold the religious
belief Of Thomas Paine is worthy o.
the present exalted state Of education
and civilization. q:
| "Now, Mr.. President, before. pro
ceeding further in answer to your as.
sertions, I desire to call your, atten.
tion 20 a few quotations.: .#.:zslr=4
! believe in one God and no more
The world is my country and to d.
good Is my religion. The creation w,
behold is the ever existing word o
God. I have always strenuously sup
porttd the right of every man to hiI
opinion, however different that opinion
might be from mine. He who denie,
to another the right makes slav,
Of himself to his present opinion be
cause he preoludes himself the rig:1
OF changing it. The most formidabl,
weapon against errors OF every kin,
| Is reason. I have never used an,
tteCttaer, and trust never. SHALL q. 4. /.
| The above are the utterances o
Thomas Paine, Of whom in the sLif,
OF Gouverneur Norris written i b,
yourself, on page 289, is the statemen
that Thomas Paine was a. fifty littl,
atheist This was written in 1896. ant
In the last edition of the book, printet
in 1905, the charge still remains til,
same, which charge is untrue, Z, as I'll,
foregoing quotations clearly prove. /
proves Il further ii at a a MS religio Wal
the very same as that which Nj. V
Taft, the presides1 elect, now, en-
tertains and which you are so 5strenu.
otasly defending Consistency, thou, u, u,
7 g dozen Jewels hteen carat Jewels