The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-25
President Taft Shows the Fight
That Is in Him.
He Talks Directly at and About
the Colonel.
FORCED TO SPEAK PLAINLY
Says the Campaign Is Not a
Personal Matter.
Cause Demands Roosevelt Be
Shown in True Light.

Springfield, Mass, April 25.-President
Taft made answer here today to crit1-
cisms that Col. Theodore Roosevelt has
made of him and his administration
In a speech that bristled with indigna-
tion in which he named Col. Roosevelt
over and over again, Mr.. Taft told a
crowd that filled Springfield's public
square how he believed Mr.. Roosevelt
had not given him a square deaP' and
how he had ''misstated" and 'distort-
ed'' the facts concerning Mr.. Taft's
conduct and actions in the White
House
He replied in some detail to many of
the charges that Col. Roosevelt has
made against him since the present
campaign. He took pains to make plain
Mr.. Roosevelt's knowledge of and COM
plete agreement with many of the ac-
tions and policies Of the present ad-
ministration which lately he has con-
demned and denounced.
The president declared that after the
Columbus speech of Roosevelt he
found the country unresponsive and
that he shifted his method of cam
paign from a declaration of ''princi-
ples'' and proposals of reform to at
tacks on the administration
Mr.. Roosevelt's doctrine of the re-
call of judges and the recall of de-
cisions his willingness to disregard
the wise custom" that forbids a third
term, whether consecutive or not, his
appeal to 'class hatred and preju-
dices'' and his absolute failure" to
put forth any concrete propositions for
true reform and true progress, Mr.
Taft said. all combined to make him
believe that the American people
should not choose Mr.. Roosevelt again.
Forced to Speak Plainly.
Mr.. Taft began his speech by de-
claring he spoke plainly only because
ne believed it time for him to do so.
He brought in Colonel Roosevelt's
name only because events had forced
him to use it.
I'm 1908 Theodore Roosevelt rec
commended to the people of the United
States that l. then the secretary of
war. be nominated by the Republi-
can party and elected. He labored
hard and long to bring this result
about and he succeeded. felt the
deepest gratitude to him.
Neither in thought nor in word
or action have 1 been disloyal to the
friendship L owe Theodore Roosevelt.
When the time came for tn is cam
paign to begin I let the people know
that I would like to have my admin
istration approved by their giving me
another term.
'At that time Theodore Roosevelt
said he was not a candidate and that
it would be a calamity if he were
nominated. Since then he has changed
his mind
So far as he, personally, was con-
cerned, the president said he never
would have attacked Colonel Roose-
Welt nor had a quarrel with him.
Not Personal Matter.
80 far said he, 'as personal ambi-
ton is concerned, so far as personal
feeling is concerned I would never an
swer his charges, but 1 cannot act for
myself. I represent a cause. I repre-
sent an element of the Republican
party that believes in wise progress
under the guarantees of the constitu
ton. BY misstatements throughout the
country Mr.. Roosevelt has led many
people to believe charges made against
me and my administration