The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-01-11
ROOSEVELT FLAYS
METHODS OF TAFT
Revolving Duplicity" and Fool
lsh and Dishonorable," Some
OF Colonel's Adjectives.
Letters Are in Warm
Language.


NEW YORK Special Former
Presiuent Theodore Roosevelt il fbe
auJnOr OF another furious assault uDon
the policies Of President Taft i'm cor
TeSpondence which passed between
Roosevelt and promoters of the peace
ulhner IN this city and which were
made public today
In this the former President became
more personal than at any time Dre-
vl0usly' declaring that the very men
who back the arbitration treafios g.
enthusiastically would be the FIRST 20
repudiate them the minute that some
thihS Tor which they care was in
volved in dispute.
He Attacks Taft.
IN MT. Roosevelts first letter, ex-
planning to Willard J. Bloomer. secre-
tary of the executive committees of
the New York Peace Society, why he
couIo not attend the banquet at the
w aIoort-Astoria in this city tonight,
at which President Taft will be the
guest OF honor, he attacks President
Tafts abrogation of the treaty of 1S39
with Russia and the pending arbitra-
ton treaties.
All the correspondence that passed
between Mr.. Roosevelt and the pro-
motors of the peace dinner was made
public at the demand of the former
10 show why he refused to attend the
dinner.
1t was at first reported that the let
ter would be read at the banquet, but
IN the interest Of harmony this plan
was changed and the letters were
given out by Mr.. Bloomer.
Looks Like War"
II LOOKS more like war than peace "
was Mr.. Boomers comment when he
gave out the correspondence. He
then commented at some Length ~,
the friction within the peace commit
Tee itself, lkening the members TO
TWO packs of wolves warily watching
each other and fearing what the
other might do.
There are two distinct factions
within it, he said, "one being led nv
Andrew Carnegie"
According TO his version the Car
negie element fear the springinr of
a poiltlcal bomb by the other side at
the banquet TO be given, while the
opposition faction would not he s1,r-
pflSed 10y an attempt OF the oDpouef.ts
[" come out with a strong endorse
ment Of President Taft. his treaties
ana mis- policies IN general
III settlhS forth his position on the
peace question Mr.. Roosevelt sa,-s ~
der date of December 5th:
"A Hypocriiical Move
or instance, If YOU people propose
90 support the arbitration treaties mn
amended. then L think that you are
H't merely wrong. but that YOU are
worthy, and. however unconsciouslv
"a hNpocritical move. against the in
terest OF peace and against the honor
ana interest OF the United States and
OF civilization.
"Cpholders of the unamended treat
les nave occupied two positions Mt
terly incompatible. They, first of Ali
announced that we would arbitrate
everything, even questions OF national
hohor and national interest; then i'm
meulateiy' when a practical question
came up, they announced thar Of
course. they did not intend TO arhi-
trate such matters as the Monroe Doc
Urine principle, or the immigration of
Aslatics or the validity of State bonds
and so forth
Revolving Duplicity."
hypocrisy never pays and to an
nounce in treaties that we intend IN
arbltrate everything when no human
being IN his senses imagines that this
country would arbitrate evervthin., is
TO put us in position OF revolving
duplicity.
II we mean what is now said. for
instance, by supporters of the un-
amended treaties-namely, that we do
not intend 10 arbitrate the Monroe
Doctrine and similar questions OF GOV
eminent policy-then we should make
the assertion clearly in the treaty and
not put on appearance of shutting and
double dealing. As nation We should
not make promise which we have
not the slightest intention of keeping.
II we do not mean what We say
in the unamended treaty. then il ought
not 10 be ratified. But if we do mean
what We say. then still less ought il
To be ratified"
The colonel goes on TO explain that
ne Is against President Tafts arhi-
uauon plan because IL would put us i'm
Il position of hypocritical insinceritN"
Foolish and DishonorabIe."
Former President Roosevelt next at
Jacks the New UrN Times. DECLARING
mat II showed its insincer.ty by sup
porting both the arbitration treaties
ana the aorosation of the Russo
American treaty OF 1882.
Now. If YOU don't believe that the
questions 1 have named (the Monroe
doctrlne, Russian passports. immi-
Sration and the validity OF state
DondS), continued Colonel Roosevelt D.
should be arbitrated. then YOU oc-
cupE an improper and. from ma
tlonal standpoint, u diShonOrable Do
Slilon II YOU desire to see these trra-
ties ratified without being amended.
u course, if YOU believe in arbitrat-
ing all questions of national honor
ana interest, including the Monroe
doctrine. the Jewish passport ques-
tloh' the immigration OF Asiatics and
the question of State bonds, then Won
are justified in wishing to pass the
treaties as they stand. although in
such case l think that you occuDV
a very foolish and dishonorable DO
SitiOn."
Asked Ii He Would Serve.
when Secretary Boomer noticed.
IN looking at the list OF the Peace
Dinner committee, as il stood on De-
cember Sd, that the mar I Colonel
Roosevelt was missing. h. wrote TO
the latter and asked Wheeler the eX-
PRESIDENT was willing to be a mem
Der OF the committee if he were ask
cd. The lengthy letter OF December
oth was Colonel Roosevelts reply.
IN answer to Mr.. Boomers next
letter assuring the colonel that he
believed the banquet was merely for
the ends of peace. in general, with .
out regard IL politics or any particu- +
lar treaties. Roosevelt replied on De F
c~nher 18th:
II thank YOU for your most frank
and manly letter. and J deeply APP
ptcCiatc it. AS Nou state aua under .
stand tae matter l ann entirely in
sympathy with ID. TlU is. am in
favor OF O. broad. honest peace move
mcnt in line with the Traditional pol
icy of the country. OF GooCWiu and F.
iair treatment for an the nations OF
The Special Imitation.