New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-26
PRESIDENT TAFT BITTERLY
ATTACKS COL. Roosevelt
Continued from first page.

ator of Massachusetts. man of high nina,
OF most generous instincts Il most efficient
public servant, and one who looks 10 me
interests Of his constituents and VINO To-,
lows the business of the Senate win ths
greatest devotion MIR. Roosevelt inVlteu
him to manage his Presidential campalgn
in 1904. But Mr.. Crane does not now sup
port Mr. Roosevelt and must be conden'neu'
The truth with respect to mo is tho
same as Il is with respect to Mr.. hoose-
welt. Whom | am running for the fres'-
dency I gratefully accept such support as
comes to me. Mr.. Roosevelt has done so
in the past; he is doing so now. am
making no bargain am agreeing to no
conditions that would embarrass or
government should ! be re-elected. ! do
not say that Mr.. Roosevelt has done SO.
or is doing so. But whom consider the
eaeerness will, which Mr.. Roosevelt has
accepted in his various campaigns the
assistance OF Mr.. Aldrich. Mr.. Cannon,
Mr.. Penrose, Mr.. Quay, Mr.. Plat, Mr..
Foraker and many other men prominent
and influential in Congress and politics
whatever their proper designation
whether leaders or bosses, do not hes'.
tate to say that it involves the most
audacious eHrcntery on his part to at
tack me because men he characterizes
as bosses are now supporting me. and to
charge mo on that account with helping
machine politics. This is peculiarly un.
fair on his part in view Of his well
known political history, and is another
instance Of his departing from the rule
Of the square deal.
False Statement in Lorimer Case.
THIRD The seat Of Mr.. Lorimer from
Illinois In the Senate ot the Unitcd States
was contested in the last session. \ hear
ink was had before the Elections Commit
tee and the Senate. and the contest was de-
feated and MIR. Lcrimer's title to mis- seat
was declared valid. \ retrial was ordered
on the ground Of newly disc overed evidence
ana is now pending. The issues arising oul
% this contest have colored in every wa!
the politics of Illinois and aroused strong
feeling against Senator I.ormeI among the
Republicans CT the state. IN inc reCeht
canvass OF that state MIR. Roosevelt Wno
spoke at many places in the state, ana me-
campaign managers, did not hesitate TO INK
my name with Mr.. LorimerS IN Slch way
as to give the impression to his AUDITORS
that vote for me was a vote Tor NJ.
Lorimer. 1 have not seen Mr.. lorimer foI
two Years and have had no communication
with or from him. Mr.. Roosevelt at
tempts TO connect Mr.. Lorimer with me
through Mr. Mckinley. | have no KNOW
edge OF any special relation between them,
except as active Republicans from the
same state. ] asked Mr.. Mckinney TO help
me in my canvass. because he was go9u
to the Philippines, and because ne was
chairman OF the Republican National Con
gress Committee and had been reCentE
elected TO that position by inc VOTES vi W.
| insurgent Republicans of the House. Who
| supported him avowedly because ne hau
| been fair to them
In Illinois Mr.. lormer was conducting
campaign of his own with his own
nominees. | did not ask his support. ne
did not tender it to me. Any influence
he may have qven in my favor was NOT
because he liked me, but because ne fet
more bitter toward Mr.. Roosevelt win
out further circumstance or knowledge
for Mr.. Roosevelt to attempt to draw
down on mo the popular indignation
AGAINST Senator lorimer and thus TO
carry the State of Illinois against me;
but it was peculiarly unfair IN Mr.
Roosevelt to do this when he knew
what he did know Al 20 my actual att
tude toward Senator lorimer.
In January Of 1911 / wrote to Mr. Roose-
welt a. follows:
The White House.
asfington, January 8, 1911.
My Dear Theodore: II comes TO me
perhaps without founda ton. That you are
going 10 write strong article on the
Torin1eT case and publish II in The Out
look" | have been doing thing
could legitimately to have the closest OK
animation made into the Lorimer case;
nave read as much of the evidence as
could get al and am convinced that uleIe
was a mess and mass Of corruption upon
which his election vas ionhdeu a,s s1at
proval of the Senate. But ! want the
movement to Gust him 10 succeed. nave
urged different Senators to read me rec
ord carefully and after a talk with Root
and Burton and Knute Nelson and CraW-
ford and some others ! believe We are
going to line up a god many OF the
regular Republicans on the side OF what
I consider dccency and honesty IN pom
tics
II has leaked out that have been TAX
ing some interest in the matter. ana
fear that it has not helped the stu
alton generally, because or that strong
feeling of cluhdom In the Senate ana
that resentment against OUTSIDE lnterltI-
ence which nobody who Is not intimate
" acquainted with the situation can
understand the weight of | was talk
ing with Borah this morning. L nave
consulted a good deal with him on the
subject and ne and agree that II would
, be unWiSe either for you OF Tor me 10
come out now against Lorlmer ana ~
favor Of his being ousted; that IL Wouo
enable those who are determined to Keep
him in. especially among the Democrats,
Bailey and others. to use an argument
against outside interference that would
hold a number Of Democrats and would
deprive us of the strength we should get
by a quiet presentation OF the full facts
on the floor Of the Senate from the sen
ate itself Root is going 10 make
speech. so is Burton, and believe
that Lodge Will do the same thing
Now, nothing would have stronger
weight than speeches from them where
as IL either YOU or ] came out with an
attack il would enable the friends OF
| Lorimer TO shift the. subject from me
tainted character Of his seat 70 inc IN
/ dcnendence Of the Senate In acting as
the judge of tho qualifications OF Its own
| suggest. therefore. that II you have
! an article on this subject You hold IT.
| until after the issues are more plainly
made 10y ,0eeches on the floor or the
! body in which the contest is to be won.
! I want TO win. So do YOU This is my
excuse for writing W yGJ s,1c IL FA YF@TT''
| Hon. Theodore Roosevelt.
/ The Outlook, PSI Fourth avenue, New
York. n. y. ,
| p. S.-Of course, 7 may he misinformed
| as 10 your purpose in this matter.
| Since debating the above ! have had
| the telephone conversation with YOU, but
| 7 let II go.
BY the telephone conversation and by
subsequent correspondence with Mr.. Roose,
welt. which ] do not publish. but which !
am ready 10 publish II desired by MIN,
/ learned that no such article was contem-
plated. but that he would assist IN the mat
/ ter IN other ways
would not use this letter OF mine II !
had not been forced TO do so in self
/ defence. hope that my strong expires,
/ sion Of opinion in this letter, formed
without hearing argument, may work
no unfair prejudice in cause that re-
mains undecided. feared that tho case
was ooinu by default on the summary
report Of the committee, and wished
10 challenge Senators to read the rec
| ord.
make this letter public only to show