Evening journal., 1912-04-26

BOSTON, April So-flesluehI '"'e
last night cast aside his policy OF
avoiding personalities in his campaign
for denomination and devoted his en-
tire speech to an attack upon Col.
Theodore Roosevelt and a defense OF
himself and his administration against
charges Colonel Roosevelt recently
has made on the stump.
Mr.. Tafts speech bristled with
counter-charges against his predeces-
sor i'm the White House. He declared
that Mr.. Roosevelt had wilfully mis-
represented him, had falsely distorted
some of his public utterances, had
failed to live up to his policy of a
square deal and had violated solemn
promise to the American people not to
be a candidate for third term.
THAT promise and his treatment of
IT," said Mr.. Taft, "only throw an
informing light on the value that
ought now to be attached to any
promise of this kind he may make for
the future"
Declaring that Mr.. Roosevelt Ought
not to be selected as a candidate OF
any party Mr.. aft said the for
mer President might be paving way
If successful in the present campaign
TO remain the Chief Executive of the
nation for as many terms as his ma
tural life would permit
If he is necessary now to the
Government, why not later?' asked
the President and continued:
"One who so lightly regards Con
st tutional principles. and especially
the independent of the judiciary
one who is so naturally inpatient oi
legal retraints and of due legal pro
cedure, and who has so misunderstood
what liberty regulated by law is, coult
not safely be entrusted with success
sive Presidential terms ! say this
sorrowfully, but / say it with the full
conviction of its truth"
Mr.. Taft referred to some Of Mr.
Roosevelt's charges against him al
the loose, vague indictment of ont
who does not kno and who depend
only upon secondhanded information
for his statement"
Most Painful Duty, He Says.
The president said that his speech
was one of the most painful duties Of
his life; that it was in response to an
obligation that he owed the Republi-
can party which selected him as its
who eletced him President.
"It grows he said, "out of phase
Of national politics and national life
that ! believe TO be unprecedented II
our history. So unusual Is the eXig
ency that the ordinary rules of pro
priety that limit and restrict Presi
dent in his public addresses must b.
laid aside. and the cold naked trutl
must be stated in such way tha
it shall serve as a warning TO tn
people of the United States"
Mr.. Taft said Colonel Roosevelt'
Columbus speech. accepted as hi
platform. "sent thrill of alarm
through all the members of the com
nunity." Mr. Roosevelt, he said. thel
found that if the nomination were Z
come to him he must minimize the i'm
portance of this charter of democra
cy'' and must find some other issu
lpon which to succeed. Without Civ
ing up the principles announced il
his Columbus address, the Presiden
said Mr.. Roosevelt relegated them 4
an incidental place and changed hi
campaign to one of criticism OF Tai
and the Taft administration.
Takes Up Eleven Charges.
One by one the President took up
charges made against him by Colon'
Roosevelt and sought to retute then
In two instances he quoted from col
respondence between himself an
Fl Colonel Roosevelt. and said he wa
prepared to make other letters publ
If Mr.. Roosevelt should desire.
"By excerpts from my speeches Nj
Roosevelt has sought to show and ia
charged that / am one who has pul
icly announced that | am in favor
an aristocracy of political bosses, an
that I am linked with political bose
IN seeking my denomination. j
charges that the patronage of II
q Government is being shamelessly use
10 secure my denomination, and I'M
In the conventions and primarl'
which have been held fraud and VII
lence have been systematically use
to defeat the will of the people al
to secure delegates for me. He sa'
that am not progressive. but r
dictionary; that / was nominated
Drogressives and after election Join'
he ranks of those who opposed me f
nomination, and he intimates that
have not the spirit of the progressi
Or the Imagination or the clear-head'
purpose essential to the makeup
such a person. He says that ] am
friend of the interests and an uphol
or Of special privilege. and that Vo
for me is a vote for the interests az
against the people. He minimlzes al
aouts the Importance of the laws e
acted and the Executive action tax
during my administration.
Says Duty PrecIudes Silence.
''If in this contest there were
stake only my own reputation or q
satisfaction of my own ambition,
would. without the slightest qua
and without care as to the resu
continue my silence under these y
Just attacks. l would do so becar
Of the personal relations that have {
listed between Mr.. Roosevelt and 7
my debt of gratitude to him and
inclination. because of the off1ce
hold. not TO indulge in personal c'
troversy. / would hope that in
future near or distant, facts wo'
disclose themselves showing the