Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-05-04
TAFT OPENS FIRE
ON ROOSEVELT
Says Colonel MIsStates Facts
In Attacking Him
PUTS HIM IN ANAMIAS CLUB
Declares His Predecessor Is q Menace
to the Entire Business Community
and Accuses Him Of Breach Of Faith.

ano ACCUSES nun OF breach OF ditns
President Taft. speaking in Boston.
discharged what he characterized as
one of the most painful duties Of his
lie. lie broke his long silence on
Roosevelt and told just what he thinks
Of his predecessor and his onetime
friend.
President Taft thereupon charged
Roosevelt with deliberate misrepresen-
tation OF his tTafts) speeches. with
making false statements in regard to
the presidents attitude toward Lori.
mer, with changing front on the ques.
ton of reciprocity in an effort to win
the farmers vote. with having made
false charges OF fraud against the
president OF the United States. with
having repudiated his own trust rec.
ord and with having proven himself
disloyal as friend.
President TAFT disclosed the fact
that Roosevelt approved of the sup
port which he CTaft) gave to Cannon
in his candidacy for reelection rs
speaker, although Mr.. Roosevelt now
seeks to use the presidents action In
that matter as a political asset. Presi.
dent Taft reluctantly characterized
predecessor as IA menace TO the
entire business community" and In Ell.
feet accused him of insincerity and a
breach of faith in the matter OF his
third term.
One who so lightly regards consti-
tutional principles. and especially the
independence of the judiciary. one who
is so naturally impatient of legal re-
straints and of due legal procedure.
and who has so misunderstood what
liberty. regulated by law. is. could
not" said President Taft. safely be
entrusted with successive presidential
terms
The president produced documen-
tary evidence showing that Colonel
Roosevelt had absolute knowledge that
the president was opposed to the
seating OF Senator i.oriner. This evi.
dence was In the form of a letter
which President Taft himself wrote
to Colonel Roosevelt Yet Colonel
Roosevelt has been indus. riously
creating the impression that President
Taft was one OF the Lorimer support
ers.
President Taft produced further cen
fidential letters that passed between
himself and Roosevelt. showing that
Roosevelt had given an unqualified en-
dorsement OF Canadian reciprocity
which he is now criticising.
Theodore Roosevelt has deceived
the people and is still deceiving a
large part of them now. and can't
keep silent. because the cause rep
resent is entitled to have my defense.
Colonel Roosevelt says that favor
an oligarchy OF bosses That | repre-.
sent special interests. and that | am
not progressive; that I am reaction
airy: that ! am stealing delegates to
the convention. and using dirty I'M
plements In the primaries. and that
the patronage OF the government Is
being shamelessly spent to secure my
denomination.
II have got TO take up those charges.
Colonel Roosevelt uses the maxims OF
the sporting world. One Of these Is
the Square deal for ALL ask you
what you think OF the square deal. as
he gives II to me. He garbled my To
iedo speech and twisted II so as tn
make me say believe in a govern
men by he few. never said any such
thing. That's his idea OF square deal
I ask you If Abraham Lincoln, whom
Theodore Roosevelt likens himself 10
would do anything like that?"