The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-05-25
TAFT is GETTING FRIGHTENED
PRESIDENT BEGINNING TO REALIZE WHO THE REAL
PEOPLE ARE-cWES GENERAL DENIAL TO
MENACE CHARGES IN PUBLIC LETTER.

A copy Of No. 5s Of The Menace vas
seen lying upon the presidents desk
last Friday. u was evidently some.
thing he hadn't seen before. for II
is the hrst time In this Campaign
he has given out a personally signed
Ftatomcnt In which he denies several
things We have asserted from the be.
ginning.
President Tsft's signed statement
follows:
Among the insldious methods Of
attack pursued BY some against me.
s the attempt 90 rouse religious pref.
udice on the charge that I am. IN
some manner. unusually fayoring the
Catholic church.
II has been my ofilcial purpose.
first. as the Eovcrnorgenerai OF the
Philippines: second. as secretary OF
war. and thind. as president TO On.
courage every church as far as pos.
sible where this does not involve In.
yidious distinctions. and does not par:
from the rule which separates our
state from ofhcial relations TO all
churches.
Il have unduly favored no church.
hut have treated them all with abso-
lutte impartiality
In 1902 visited Rome and con.
ferred with Pope Leo XIII. In an at.
tempt TO settle the friar land contro.
versy which had arisen In the Phil.
ippines while I was goyernor-gener.
al. and after n time I succeeded In
doing so.
when last March my aid. MAJ.
Butt. set out on a trip solely for his
health and proposed 70 visit Rome,
he asked me for a letter Of introduc.
ton 10 the present pope. that he might
have the privilege OF an audience. and
gave him such n letter.
Letter Merely introduction.
The letter contained nothing but
a statement Of who Mai. Butt was and
an expression OF the hope that he
might have the honor OF being re-
celved. The only note or letter from
the pope or any representative In an.
swer 20 his letter OF introduction
which I have received Is a cablegram
OF coincidence for all concerned sent
BY Merry del Val by direction OF the
pope at the time OF the Titanic dis.
aster. and making an inquiry ns TO
the fate OF MAJ. Butt, 20 which l re-
piled expressing my thanks and CIV
ing the fact.
"The letter introducing Maj. Butt
contained no reference to the recent
appointment Of American cardinals
and no comment on or reference to
the Catholic church or any matter
relating TO Il.
"The stories circulated that have
made another inquiry or have taken
anywhere at any time any part or
manifested any interest in questions
OF social precedence OF the recently
appointed cardinals are wholly with
out foundation.
"The evidence that there is n con-
splracy for the purpose OF arousing
religious prejudice against me Is
shown BY the fact that at the In
stance of someone unknown to me, II
was reported in a great many very
respectable newspapers that ! sent a
message OF welcome and congratula-
tion 20 the newly appointed apostolic
delegate by wireless TO the incom-
ing steamer which was bearing him
10 New York
"No such message was sent by me
or by anyone by my authority. A
denial OF the published report was Is
sued from the white house, but the
denial has obtained no publicity.
Admits suspendins Order.
"The statement that suspended an
order made by the Indian commits
sioner affecting the garb Of the teach
ers In certain Indian schools, which
have been transferred from the Cath
Ollie church 10 the government, is
true. I did this for the reason that
the commissioner had issued the or.
der after consulting with the secre.
.tary of the interior. and without
awaiting his conclusions.
The propriety OF the order has
now been made the subject OF an
open. free discussion by all the par,
ties in interest. and the decision Of
the secretary OF the interior will soon
be handed down.
Il say nothing Of the merits OF the
controversy, except that the order re.
versed a condition which has existed
for years, and affected thirty or forty
teachers who. as nuns. had been long
before my time incorporated in the
service Of the government. aud who
would be In effect expelled from that
service by the order should Il prevail.
They were. therefore. entitled to a
full hearing. WILLIAM II. TAFT"
Now, Mr.. Taft, The Menace is going
10 reply TO your attempted vidication
OF your official acts, appreciating the
lily yeiled sarcasm attempted In your
reference 20 the all too obvious fact
that lit was reported in a great many
very respectable newspapers" that you
sent a message OF welcome and con.
graduation 10 the newly appointed
apostolic delegate by wireless. to the
incoming steamer bearing him TO New
York.
Time is brief. To recapitulate in
the short time we have before going
to press. the many instances where
YOU HAVE unduly favored the RO-
man Catholic church. would be i'm.
possible unless weightier matters were
passed by.
How many distinctively Protestant
affairs have you attended this last
year?
Can Won answer7 They are so few