Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-05-15
TAFT DENIES He
FAVORS CATHOLICS
Declares That He Treats All
Churches Alike.
SEES EVIDENCE OF A PLOT
AS President Starts for Tour of Ohio,
He Issues Statement Concerning
Certain Attacks Made Upon
Him.

Washington, May 13.-President
Taft started his second invasion into
Ohio when he left this city accom-
panied by several Of his political ad-
visers and Secretary HiIles and Major
Rhoades, his military aide.
The president will make whirl-
wind tour of the state and this stump
ing trip will continue until May 81
when the primaries and county con-
ventions are to be held.
Treats All Churches Alike.
The following statement was issued
from the White House:
Among the insidious methods of at
tack pursued by some against me, is
the attempt to arouse religious prejur
dice on the charge that am in some
manner unduly favoring the Roman
Catholic church. 1t has been my Of
fetal purpose first, as the governor
general of the Philippines; second, as
secretary of war, and third, as presi-
dent, to encourage every church as
far as possible where this does not
involve inyidious distinctions, and
does not depart from the rule which
separates our state from official rela-
tiOns to all churches. I have unduly
favored no church but have treated
them all with absolute impartiality.
In 1902 1 visited Rome and con-
fe d with Pope Leo XIII. in an at
tel to settle the friar land con-
troy arsy, which had arisen in the Phil
ippines while 1 was governor general,
and after a time l succeeded in doing
so. When last March my aide, Major
Butt set out on a trip solely for his
health and proposed TO visit Rome
he asked me for d letter of introduc-
ton to the present pope that he
might have the privilege of an audi
ence and 1 gave him such a letter.
The letter contained nothing but state
ment Of who Major Butt was and an
expression for the hope that he might
have the honor Of being received. The
only note or letter from the pope or
any representative Of his in answer to
this letter of introduction which |
have received is a cablegram of con-
dolence for all concerned, sent by
Cardinal Merry del Val by direction
of the pope at the time of the Titanic
disaster, and making an inquiry as to
the fate of Major Butt, to which l re-
piled expressing my thanks and giving
the fact. The letter introducing Major
Butt contained no reference to the re
cent appointment of American cardin-
ais and comment on or reference to
the Catholic church or any matter re-
lating to it. The stories circulated
that | have made any 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 without foundation
Sees Evidence of Plot.
''The evidence that there is a con-
spiracy for the purpose of arousing
religious prejudice against me is
shown by the fact that at the instance
of some one unknown to me, it was
reported in great many very re-
spectacle newspapers that l sent a
message of welcome and congratula-
tons to the newly appointed apostolic
delegate by wireless to the incoming
steamer, which was bearing him to
New York. No such message was sent
by me, or by any one by my authority.
A denial Of the published report was
Issued from the White House, but the
denial has obtained no publicity
THE statement that / suspended an
order made by the Indian commission
er affecting the garb Of the teachers
to the government, is true. I did this
In Indian schools, which have been
transferred from the Catholic church
without awaiting his conclusions The
for the reason that the commissioner
had issued the order after consulting
with the secretary Of the interior and
without awaiting his conclusions. The
propriety Of the order has now been
made the subject of an open, free dis
cussiOn by all the parties in interest
and the decision of the secretary of
the interior will soon be handed down.
[ say nothing of the merits Of the con
troversy except that the order re-
Versed a condition which has existed
fer years, and affected thirty or forty
teachers, who, as nuns, had been long
before my time incorporated in the
service of the government and who
would be in effect expelled from that
service by the order should it prevail.
They were, therefore. entitled to a full
hearing. "WILIIAlI II. TAFT