The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-30
Writes an Open Letter to Gov.
Hiram Johnson.
HE OWES PEOPLE AN APOLOGY
For Remarks DerOgatOry TO
President Taft.
He Calls Roosevelt the Great
est Two Faced Fighter.

New York. Sept SO.-F. W. Esta-
brook, member of the Republican ma
tional committee from New Hamp-
shire has written an open letter to
Gov. Johnson, as follows:
Hon. Hiram w. Johnson,
Sacramento, California
Sir:-I am astonished at the re-
marks made by you. as reported. In
your speech before the state convea-
ton OF your new parry at Columbus.
o., on September 5. 1t Is reported that
you SAID:
DO not for a minute consider the
president in this race. He Is a neEn-
glble quantity. 1t is with shame as
an American citizen, that 4 say today
the most humIllaung character In
American history is the president Of
the United States"
If you did not make this statement
as reported you ought to uisaVow IL at
once. Ii you did make it you ought
to apologize TO the American people.
1t is about the most shameful and dis
graceful statement ever uttered by q
candidate in a presidential contest. II
is an insult to the people of the whole
country Tor you to refer thus to their
president. 1t reveals an entire Ia *
of respect on your part for the hign
office of the president OF the United
States.
1t is one of the fine characteristics
of the American people that they do
chief executive and that they regard
this office as the highest in the world
They consider that the incum bent OF
it is entitled to respectful conside-a-
ton by every citizen. They resent
your foolish public reference TO the
president as the most humiliatinE
character in American history and
they will undoubtedly see To IL that
the man who made this statement -
not placed in a position where he may
be called on to occupy the high offieo
ne has sought to bring into contempt.
L do not believe for a moment thnt
you represent the viewpoint and char
acter of the western people. 1 believe
that they respect the presidency fully
as much as any other OF our people.
and that they VIII get the true meas
ure. OF your character ana act accord
ingly.
Your statement illustrates yoar
lack of the first elements of fairness.
You urge the American people to
pass over the president without con-
sideration. You urge them to neg
Iect and dismiss him without a min
ute's thought. You preach much about
fairness and justice but you will not
be fair to an opponent But / well
understand why you are anxious 20
have no consideration given to Presi-
dent Taft. You know that consider
alton of him and his record must
bring esteem and support, and that -
what you are trying to break down.
Your statement and attitude con-
cerning the president seem to be taint-
ed with vice of hypocrisy, for as a
man of affairs you must know as well
as others that the administration OF
President Taft has been a notable one
for important achievements of states
manship and accomplished results fo.-
the welfare and progress of our peo-
pie. You must know that your state
ment is shamefully false and meauty
cOntGmDtTDlp- know In ffgrs
eign affairs President Taft has won
for his country return and increase
of dignity and influence in the coun-
ellis of the nations. He advanced the
peace, through the important treaties
negotiated with Great Britain and
France, although these treaties were
made practically imperative through
partisan opposition in the senate. fTe
secured the abrOgation of tho former
treaty with Russia, so that the rights
of American citizens temporarily IN
that country will be better protected.
He secured a new treaty with Japan
whereby troublesome immigration
questions are settled in a way which
gives better protection TO the wage
earners of the United States. He has
wisely handled the difficult task Of
protecting the lives and property of
in Cuba and Mexico under
the threatening and disturbed condi-
tiOnS in those countries, and with his
great experience and ability he mas
worked tirelessly and effectively to
save our country from being embrOilcd
in a war with Mexico, with the great
loss of life and property, and ths
waste of money and energy, with busi-
mes distur bance, which such deplor-
able event would involve
The people viii not forget that
President Taft, whom you try to hu-
has had a long and distin-
guished career, crowded with import
ant public services, as judge, as ad-
in the Philippines, as ne
gotiator and agent of our interests in
Panama and in Cuba, and as head Of
manlike work he received the unqual-
flied commendation of President
Roosevelt and was picked out by him
as the man most worthy to become
his successor in the presidency.
As you must know, President Tat
secured the general acceptance OF the
plan of decentralization revis-
sion of the tariff and the first estab-
lishment of partisan commits
sion to get the facts on which to base
such revision. He vigorously enforced
the Sherman antitrust law WITHOUT
fear or favor, and the results in this
field of the first three years Of his I'D
are far beyond those Of
any preceding administration. The
Sherman law has been fully inter
preted and its meaning and power
made clear to the whole business
world. President Taft has accomplish
ed much more than any OF his pre-
decessors ever attempted for the res
toration of normal competition in
business. He has effectively grappled
with the worldwide problem of the
high cost of living by seeking the -
tablishment of an International scfen-