The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-05-16
TAFT DENIES HE J
FAvORs CATHOLICS
Declares That He Treats All
Churches Alike.
SEES EVIDENCE OF A PLOT
As President Starts for Tour OF ONO,
He Issues Statement Concerning
Certain Attacks Made Upon
Him.

Washington, May l4.--The follow
ing statement was issued from the
White House Sunday by President
Taft as he started on his tour OF Ohio'
Among the insidious methods or at
tack pursued by some against me, Is
the attempt to arouse religious prelu-
dice on the charge that | am IN some
manner unduly favoring the Roman
Catholic church. 1t has been my OIL
siciaI purpose first, as the governor
general OF the Philippines; second, as
secretary of war, and third, as presl-
dent, to encourage every church rs
far as possible where this does not
involve invidious distinctions, ana
does not depart from the rule whlch
separates our state from official rela'
tons to all churches. | have unduly
favored no church but have treated
them all with absolute imparuallty.
IN 1902 | visited Rome and CON
ferred with Pope Leo XIII. in an at
tempt to settle the friar land CON
troversy, which had arisen in the phil
ippines while ! was governor general,
and after a time | succeeded in dong
SO. When last March my aide, Major
Butt, set out on a trip solely Tor MS
health and proposed TO visi, Rome
he asked me for a letter of introduc-
ton to the present pope that ne
might have the privilege of an audi
ence and | gave him such a letter
The letter contained nothing but state
ment of who Major Butt was and an
expression for the hope that he might
have the honor of being received. Inc
op!y noe or letter from the pope or
any representative of his In answer 10
this letter of introduction which
have received Is cablegram or con-
doence for all concerned, sent by
Cardinal Merry del Val by direction
Of the pope at the time of the Titanic
disaster, and making an inquiry as to
the fate Of Major Butt to which | re-
piled expressing my thanks and giving
the fact The letter introducing Major
Butt contained no reference to the re-
cent appointment of American cardin-
ais and comment on or reference TO
the Catholic church or any matter re-
lating 10 It, The stories circulated
that | have made any inquiry, or
have taken anywhere at any time any
part or manifested any interest in
questions OF social precedence of the
recently appointed cardinals are
wholly without foundation.
The evidence that there Is con-
spiracy for the purpose OF arouslng
religious prejudice against me Is
shown By the fact that at the instance
Of some one unknown to me, 1t was
reported in great many very re-
spectacle newspapers that | sent n
I message OF welcome and congratula.
lions to the newly appointed apostolic
delegate by wireless to the incoming
steamer, which was bearing him to
New York. No such message was sent
bv me. or by any one by my authority,
A denial of the published report was
Issued from the White House, but the
denial has obtained no publicity.
THE statement that | suspended an
order made by the Indian commissions
er affecting the garb of the teachers
In Indian schools, which have been
transferred from the Catholic church
10 the government, Is true. nd this
without awaiting his conclusions. The
for the reason that the commissioner
had issued the order after consulting
with the secretary Of the interior and
without awaiting his conclusions The
propriety of the order has now been
made the subject of an open, free dis
cussion by ali the parties in interest
and the decision OF the secretary Of
the interior win soon be handed down
] say nothing Of the merits Of the con
troyersy except that the order re-
versed a condition which has existed
for years, and affected thirty or forty
teachers. who, as nuns, had been long
before my time Incorporated in the
service OF the government and who
would be In effect expelled from that
service by the order should it prevail.
They were, therefore, entitled to a full
hearing WILLIAM II. TAFT"