The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-05-03
COL. ROOSEVELT
CONTRAD|CTS TAFT
insists Opponent Discussed Har-
vester Trust in Cabinet.
MEMORY CLEAR ON MATTER
declares Garfield, Strauss, Ronaparte
and CorteIyou Have Stated Cues
ton Talked Over Several Times
In Full Meeting.

Boston, May Theodore Roose-
welt gave out a statement in reply to
that given out by President Taft Sun
day night in regard to the harvester
trust" case in which he contradicted
Mr.. Taft by asserting that the case
was discussed by his cabinet with Mr..
Taft present.
Here is Colonel Roosevelt's state
ment:
"Of course Mr.. Taft was away, as
every one knew, while | was discuss
ing this matter in personal interviews
with officials of the department OF
commerce and labor, including the bu-
reau of corporations and Of the de-
partment Of justice, but both before
and after he came back the matter
was repeatedly brought up in the cab
met and discussed at length. Mr.
Bonaparte has stated in the letter L
have quoted that Mr.. Taft took the I'M
tiative in approving the course | fol-
lowed. My memory is to the same eff
feet.
BE this as it may, however, Mr.
Taft had and could not have failed to
have full information as to the action
taken. Every important matter of this
kind, involving a question between
two departments of the administration,
was always thrashed out in full cab
met and this was especially true OF
the question OF this particular nature
between the department of justice and
the secretary OF commerce and labor
"Messrs. Garfield, Strauss, Bona
parte and Cortelyou have stated that
this particular question was discussed
more than once in full cabinet meet
ing. / clearly remember Mr.. Taft be-
ing present at one such discussion and
taking part in it. Moreover, | remem-
Der that Mr.. Taft has now been presI-
dept three years and two months, and
it is nonsense to say that during that
time he has not had the fullest oppor-
tunity to act upon the harvester case
If he so desired. When he came back
from his trip abroad | went over with
him not only this case, but every 9TH
er case of Importance such as that OF
the Tennessee Coal & Iron company,
which l thought might by any POSSIBLE
fly have any bearing on the general
policy of the administration.
eff he thought that the action l took
in the harvester case was in any way
inadequate or reprehensible, it was
his duty when he was in my cabinet
to protest, and 1t was even more his
I,,+ry ha m q
at once The action which after three
years Of inaction he actually took last
week must have been taken in collu-
sion with the Lorimer Democratic sen
ator who introduced the resolution,
and could only have been taken with
a view to the effect on the Massachu-
sets primaries.
This case illustrates all the differ
ence between the attitude Of Mr.. Taft
and myself toward big business and
indeed towards every species Of bust
ness. l handled and always handled
every question of big business and Of
all other business not from the stand
point of party or fractional advantage.
and without the least regard to my
own personal fortunes or to the polit-
ical fortunes Of any one else, but on
it's merits and with the sole object of
helping reach a satisfactory solution
of business problems in the interest
of the entire people Of the United
States.
Mr. Taft has treated this harvester
trust question in a way to show that
he subordinates the interests of the
people as a whole to the purpose OF
securing political advantage for him
self"