Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-29
ROOSEVELT FLATLY
CONTRADICTS TAFT'S
TRUST SUIT" DENIAL

BOSTON, April 29-Flatly contradicting
President Taft. Mr.. Roosevelt during his
campaign tour Of Essex county today is
sued statement replying to that made
by the President last night in regard to
the harvester trust case.
The President had stated that so far
as my recollection goes never heard the
harvester trust matter mentioned in any
cabinet meeting that l attended,
Col. Roosevelt said, in his reply issued
in the form of statement written on the
train:
Il clearly remember Mr.. Taft being
present at such discussion and taking
part in IT.
He added that the President had
treated this matter lin a way to show
that he subordinates the interest Of the
people as a whole to the purposes OF
securing political advantage for himself
Here IS Col. Roosevelt's statement:
Matter Considered Several Times.
"Of course Mr.. Taft was away. as every
one knew. while l was discussing this
matter in personal interviews with OFF,
cials of the Department of Commerce and
Labor, including the bureau of corpora
tions and of the Department of Justice,
but both before and after he came back
the matter was repeatedly brought UP in
the cabinet and discussed at length.
Mr.. Bonaparte has stated in the letter
| have quoted that Mr.. Taft took the
initiative in approving the course l fol-
lowed. My memory is to the same effect.
Be this as it may, however, Mr. Taft had
and could not have failed to have full
information as to the action taken.
Every important matter OF this kind
involving question between two depart
ments Of the administration was always
h had ;,, f,r11 nd fc Uyp
especially true Of the questions of this
particular nature between the Depart
ment of Justice and the Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor. Messrs. Garfield,
Straus, Bonaparte and Cortelyou have
stated that this particular question was
discussed more than once in full cabinet
meeting. / clearly remember Mr.. Taft
being present at one such discussion and
taking part in 1t.
Discussed All Cases With Him.
Moreover, 1 remember that Mr.. Taft
has now been President three years
and two months, and it is nonsense to
say that during that time he has not
had the fullest opportunity to act upon
the harvester case IL he so desired.
When he came back from his trip
ABROAD went over with him not only
this case, but every other case of Inn
portance. such as that Of the Ten
nessee Coal and Iron Company, which
l thought might by any possibility
have any bearing on the general policy
or the administration.
If he thought that the action l took
IN the harvester case was in any way
inadequate or reprehensible, it was his
duty when he was in my cabinet to pro-
test, and 1t was even more his duty after
he became President to act at once.
The action which, after three years of
inaction he actually took last week must
nave been taken in collusion with the
senator who intro
duced the resolution. and could only have
been taken with view to- the effect on
the Massachusetts primaries.
Shows Difference In Attitude.
This case illustrates all the difference
between the attitude of Mr.. Taft and my
self toward big business. and indeed
toward every species of business. 1 ham
died and have always handled every ques-
tion Of big business and Of all other busi-
ness not from the standpoint of party or
factional advantage and without the
least regard to my own personal fortunes
or to the political fortunes of any
one else, but on its merits and with the
sole object OF helping reach a satisfac-
tory solution of q business problem in the
interest Of the entire people of the United
States. Mr.. Taft has treated this har-
vester trust question in a way to show
that he subordinates the interests of the
people as a whole to the purpose OF secur-
ing political advantage for himself"