The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-26
ROOSEVELT'S REPLY.
The Colonel Defends Action in the
Harvester Matter.

Oyster Bay, N. Y. April 26.-"The
talk about the suppression of the re-
port is nonsense said Colonel Roose-
welt in a statement setting forth his
connection with the international Har-
veSter case. Colonel Roose-
welt asserted that at a meeting with his
cabinet at which Mr.. Taft was present,
it was decided that the bureau of cor
porations be instructed to complete its
Investigation of the harvester
before any suit was instituted, follow
ing the usual course of procedure in
such cases. Mr.. Taft, he added, con-
CURED in this decision.
During the remainder of his admin
istration, Colonel Roosevelt said, the
commissioner of corporations was IN
able to complete his investigation. He
said that Mr.. Taft any time since could
have ordered suit against the harvester
company, or could have fastened the
investigation, but that Mr.. Taft had
taken no action, except that now taken
five days before tho Massachusetts pri-
mary.
Colonel Roosevelt also said that when
the Northern Securities suit was
brought against the Morgan interests
in 1904 he was expecting to run for
president, but that when the harvester
company matter came up in 1907, he
knew he would not be a candidate for
the following year, so that if the action
taken in this case did secure the good
will of any of the Morgan interests
for anybody, it secured their good will
for Taft.
Sums Up the Case.
In summing up Colonel Roosevelt
says: Let me sum up:
Il! 1 took precisely the action in the
harvester trust case that 1 took in all
similar cases.
SO. 1 am entirely responsible for the
action taken but it was taken with the
full approval of the entire cabinet, in
GLIDING Mr.. Taft, who was then a mem
Der of the cabinet
30. There remained at the time less
than a year and a half of nay admins
tration. During this time, for the rea-
sons given by Mr.. Smith, he was not
able to finish the report. AS Mr.. Smith
writes me, the only instructions 1 gave
him in regard to the report were orders
intended to facilitate it's preparation
and publication.
"a. over three years have elapse
since Mr.. Taft became president. Dur
this entire time the letter of Mr.. Smith
has been in the office of the attorney
general and Mr.. Taft canno have for
gotten the debate about it in the cabi-
net meeting when he was a membe of
the cabinet and in which he took part.
% Not only did I not suppress any
papers connected with the case, but 1
left every paper on file.
&c. Mr.. Taft has been over three
years in the White House. During that
period he has ample time either to
publish the facts or to take action
against the harvester trust.
Says Job Was Put Up.
81. This matter was brought up in
the senate on the motion of Senator
Johnson, who. as a member of both
committees to investigate Mr.. Lorimer,
has been his earnest supporter and ad-
Vocate The circumstances under which
it was passed and responded to give
ground for the belief that the prear-
ranged was to show that some
improper reasons had favored the har-
vester trust Ind the Morgan interests.
When under my administration the
Northern Securities suit was brought
to run and as a matter of fact did
run for president in 1904. When this
harvester trust matter came up, it was
certain that I was not going to run
and Mr.. Taft expected to run and 1
expected that he would run in 1908
The action that I took gains Mr..
Morgan was taken when I personally
sulting from Mr.. Morgan's i'll will. If
the action taken in the harvester trust
did secure the good will of that trust,
or any of the Morgan interests for
anybody it secured their good will for
Mr.. Taft.
but as a matter of fact, in neither
case did 1 consider in any way whether
any support would be gained for or
alienated from eithe me or Mr.. Taft.
In both cases and in all other cases
of the kind, I considered nothing but
what was demanded by right and JUS
tice."