New-York tribune., 1910-11-06
.HARMON'S HOT RETOR1
TOROOSEVELT'S CHARGES
Says Facts Are WilfuIIy MIS-
stated by the Ex-
President.
REVIEWS THE MORTON CASE
Charges Deliberate "WhiteWash
ing" of Cabinet Member
Defends His Actions as
Railroad Receiver.

Sandusky Ohio, Nov. 5.-Governor Hdi
mon devoted nearly the whole OF speeCH
here tonight to replying to attacks iiiaO0
on him in Toledo and Cleveland py eA
President Roosevelt
With his usual reCklessness Cover iliot :
Harmon said, "he talks about mattel VI
which he has not the slightest kno"ieuee
and makes what can only be "'hul ms
statements on matters with which he hao
to do. 1 have publicly said again ana
again that not dollar of taxes was
evaded nor a single rebate in any form paid
while I was receiver of the CINCINNATI
Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, ana my
statement is corroborated by Mr.. Thomas
the general traffic manager captain
Rifenberiek the officer in charge or the
tax department, and Morrison r. Waite
the solicitor of the railroad.
The statements to the contrary are
downright lies, concocted by legal satel-
lite of George B. Cox for the purpose or
repetition by my opponent. who has fully
obeyed his master by retailing them on
the stump paying no notice to the facts
stated by myself and the officers above
named He is quite willing to get votes
by false pretenCes.
LAS 1 was a court officer. with no in
motive to deprive the state of any lawful
taxes. and could not have done so if had
wished. as the case in which 1 was ap-
pointed is still kept open in court to see
hat all obligations are paid.
Mr.. Roosevelts word is not good enough
to add anything but wider circulation to
these lies. and he ought 10 be ashamed to
do that.
rkr i,1irl
ton against the practice of rebatng, in
which the Santa Fe Railroad Company was
engaged. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission reported that the railroad company
had continued the practice in favor of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, one of
the most offensive trusts in the country.
"As Paul Morton. then a member of Mr..
Roosevelt's Cabinet, had been the head of
the traffic department of the railroad dur
ing the period covered by the report, Mr..
Roosevelt appointed two Democratic law
yers, F. N Judson and myself to investi-
gate and report what course should be
taken After careful consideration and
reading the evidence taken by the commits
sion advised that the injunction had
been violated, the period of offence had
been two years, the rebates amounted to
more than 81 100000 and that both in law
and in fact the officers in charge of the
traffic department We're responsible.
I'VE. therefore. recommended that a rule
be taken requiring these officers to show
cause why they should not be punished for
contempt of the injunction. We did not
name Mr.. Morton or any officer, but rec
commended proceedings against them all
alike, The President, after much shill-
shallying delay and insistence on our pro-
ceeding againsth the corporation only and
none of the officers. finally fatty refused to
allow US to take any other course.
We then both resigned because we con-
sidered that such a course would be mere
mockery of justice. In that connection we
urged the phrase guilt IS always pes Sonal
'Thereupon Mr. Roosevelt directed the
Attorney General to proceed against the
corporation alone, and a subordinate in the
Department of Justice was sent to meet
the formidable array of counsel which such
a company always puts forward He man
aged the case we'll that the judge set
aside his own injunction
Not particle of evidence was taken
yet the judge went out of his way to white
wash Morton. He was a judge after Mr.
dealt out 2sce ar this tGo fas66n s6 ne h(
judge went off to Florida in the private cal
Of the attorney Of the railroad company.
Mr.. Roosevelt and his Attorney Genera
thereupOn exchanged Fluctuations by letter
because the government had lost the case
Morton soon afterward resigned to become
president of the Equitable Insurance Com
pany and took with him as treasurer, a
! $25 coo a year, the Assistant Attorney Gen
eral who had charge of the injunction sui
when Mr. Judson and l made our inVeSti
cation and report.
The Colonel's trouble seems to be tha
Mr.. Morgan was the chief stockholder II
the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail
road, and his relations in that quarter dc
not seem to be so happy they were wher
! he agreed to and did wink a la Harding
at the open violation of the antitrust law
| by the Steel Trusts purchase of its chic
rival, the Tennessee Coal and Iron Com
pany.
salary as receiver during the short time
the court insisted on my serving after
! became Governor. What does he think
| should have done?
AT any rate, l have not charged per
| sonal bills as state expenses, as he repeat
| edly did, which was one of the reasons why
| he was the coStlest as he was the nOisieSt
man who ever held the offices he has held.