The Irish standard., 1912-05-18
Says There is Evidence of a Con-
spiracy to Arouse Religious
Prejudice Against him.
Major Butt not Sent on Mission
to Rome, as the Presidents
Enemies Asserted.
Defends his Stand on Question
Relating to Nuns Teaching in
Indian Schools.

1t is becoming more and more evil
dent that there is an attempt being
made on a large scale to withdraw
support from President Taft by max
ing it appear that he is the tool Of
the Catholic Church in this country.
One of the latest charges made
against Mr.. Taft was that he sent
Major Butt. who lost his life on the
Titanic, to Rome on a special mission
to the Pope. The President issued a
denial of these rumors over his sig
nature Monday. The statement is as
follows:
among the insidious methods of
attack pursued by some against me
is the attempt to arouse religious
prejudice on the charge that 1 am in
some manner unduly favoring the
Roman Catholic church. 1t has been
my official purpose, first, as the gov
ernor general of the Philippines; sec
ond, as secretary of war, and, third,
as president, to encourage every
church as far as possible where this
does not involve invidious distinctions
and does not depart from the rule
which separates our state from Off
cial relations to all churches. 1 have
;,induiyy favored no church. but. have
treated them all with absolute i'm
partiality. =;
Conferred Over Friar Lands.
'In 1902 I visited Rome and con-
ferred with Pope Leo KILL, in an at
tempt to settle the friar land contro-
versy, which had arisen in the Philip
pines, while I was governor general,
and after a time succeeded in doing
so. When, last March, my aide, Major
Butt, set out on a trip solely for his
health and proposed to visit Rome, he
asked me for a letter of introduction
to the present pope that he might have
the privilege of an. audience, and
gave him such letter.
"The letter contained nothing but
q statement of who Major Butt was,
and an expression of the hope that he
might have the honor of being re-
ceived. The only note or letter from,
the pope or any representative Of his
In answer to this letter of introduce
ton which I have received is q cable
gram of coincidence for all concerned,
sent by Cardinal Merry del Val by di-
rection Of the pope at the time of the
Titanic disaster and making an in
quiry as to the fate of Major Butt, to
which I replied expressing my thanks
and giving the fact. The letter in
Producing Major Butt contained no
reference to the recent appointment
Of American cardinals and no COM
ment on, or reference to, the Cath
olic church or any matter relating to
it. The stories circulated that have
made another 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 with
out foundation.
Conspiracy ls Evident: -,
"The evidence that there is a con-
spiracy for the purpose Of arousing
religious prejudice against me is
shown by the fact that at the instance
of some one unknown to me, it was
reported in a great many respectable
newspapers that sent a message OF
welcome and congratulation to the
newly appointed apostolic delegate by
wireless to the incoming steamer
which was bearing him to New York
No such message was sent by me OF
any one by my authority. A denial OF
the published report was issued from
the White House, but the denial has
obtained no publicity 80"
"The statement that suspended ar
order made by the Indian commission.
er affecting the garh Of the teachers
in certain Indian schools which have
been transferred from the Catholic
church to the government. is true. ]
did this for the reason that the com:
missioner had issued the order after
consulting with the secretary of the
interior and without awaiting his con.
illusions. The propriety Of the orde