The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-17
STEEL TRUST SEEKS
TAFT, NOT COLONEL
Perkins, 1t Is Learned, Is No
Longer a High Priest
of Morgan.
palladium Specially

Palladium Specially /,
WASHINGTON, ID. G.. Jan. 1T,
Sources close to the White House let
the word go out today that George w,
Perkins, whose alleged activities for
Roosevelt's nomination have been ad-
vertised through White House agen-
cies, did not speak for the steel trust,
but simply as an individual in what
ever he may have been dong political !
ly. Thus, after building Il man of
straw the Presidents friends proceed
to knock 1t down. II did not require
the White House to supply the intor
nation to persons familiar with the
financial conditions in New York that
Mr.. Perkins has been in no position for
months to speak for the dominating
factors in Wall street. 1t is under
stood that Mr.. Perkins was practical
ly unfrocked as a high priest OF pl-
nance in certain of the leading Wall
street agencies months ago wnen he
went out of the firm of J. p. Morgan
and company.
With the information from White
House sources that Perkins is no long
er the accredited agent of the steel
trust and does not speak for that al
legged "Malefactor OF great wealth.
his activity can no longer be charged
to concern for the outcome OF innocu-
Gus government suits against that
trust.
Trust Is For Taft.
When Perkins retired several
months ago from Wall street activities
he let the fact be known publicly that
he intended to devote his time in the
future to civic matters. COincident
with the announcement from the
White House that Perkins does not
speak for the steel trust comes the in
genius statement that the officers of
the steel trust corporation desire the
reelection of Mr.. Taft. Immediately
the sinister aspect or steel trust &C
tivity in politics disappears with the
reinsurance that the trust is not for
Roosevelt but for Taft.
1t is such politics as is disclosed by
the Perkins story that is daily demon
! strating to the Republican leaders in
congress that President Taft is not
available as a candidate of his party
for reelection. Following the Perkins
story a list of names of Republicans
| throughout the country, more or less
prominent, are placed in the "undesira-
ble'' class by the White House news
agencies. Their advocacy of Roose-
welt or La Toilette is ascribed to no
worthier motive than an attempt to get
| revenge upon the President. The
President, who invites the confidence
of his party representatives in his
availability as his party's candidate
by proclaiming in public speeches that
he is certain to be defeated and retire
to Cincinnati to practice law at the
expiration of his term, does not appear
disposed to give his party leaders
credit for implicit faith in his ability
as prophet, even though they may
doubt his ca pacity as candidate.
Held Politics.
The parading of list of names Of
such Republicans as Clifford Pinchot,
Governor Stubs, Charles r. Crane, of
| Chicago, and Edward NJ. Lee, of 1ndi-
ana is disappointed office-seeker be-
cause they have pronounced for
Roosevelt or La Toilette as more like
~ to be elected than President Taft
is regarded by the Republican leaders
as very poor politics not to say ingra-
cious treatment to party colleagues
This list was circulated by White
House news agencies yesterday and to-
day, and yet it has been only a few
days since the president caused the an
nouncement to be made that he would
not countenance any attack on Col.
Roosevelt or his friends.
! The alleged activity of Ormsby, Nc
Harg, in the South in quest of Roose-
welt delegates is put down by the
same agencies as an act of revenge
upon President Taft for resembling
a contract as an Indian attorney and
the inference is that the president
was originally OPPOSED to this con-
tract. The fact is that President Taft
approved this contract under which
McHarg drew $4,000 year even af-
ter Indian commissioner Valentine and
former secretary Ballinger had each
in his turn disapproved it. The presi-
dent took no steps to rescind it until
after a committee of congress con-
demned it in a report. McHarg would
not have had the contract in the first
instance had not the president over
ruled the interior department and ap-
proved it. McHarg was then working
for Taft in politics instead of for
| Roosevelt.
! Thomas Robert MacQuoid, the Eng
| lish artist, who is nearing his ninety
! second wear is still able to use his pen