The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-05-24
ex-governor
GOODING REPLIES
TO CHARGES

Evening Capital News: woule
greatly appreciate an opportunity te
reply through your columns to the
charge of ingratitude toward Presi.
dent Taft, preferred by the Idaho
Statesman, in an editorial in the issue
of Monday. May 20.
l fully appreciate the truth of the
saying that ingratitude is sometimes
found in men, though never in dogs.
This is the first time have ever beer
accused of the offense of ingratitude.
At all times my friends and my enemies
have known my position on all public
questions and toward all men. If
have been given credit for anything,
it is that my position has always been
known
I accept the Statesman article as
deliberate intention to insult and injure
me. because I have not PERMITTED Mr..
Cobb to dictate to me in this matter.
l cheerfully admit my debt to Mr..
Taft on account of his trip to Idaho
in 1906. yet it has been my honest
conviction that my greater debt in
this matter is to Mr.. Roosevelt. No
one knows better TIM Mr.. Cobb that
Mr.. Taft came to Idaho at the request
Of Mr.. Roosevelt, then President OF
the United States. 1t is we'll known
to all who took an active part in the |
prosecution of Haywood, Meyer and
Pettibone, on account of the murder
OF Ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg
that President Roosevelt. showed
great interest in these trials. He sent
personal representatives to Idaho. who
made careful investigation of affairs
and then made absolutely unbiased
reports to the president Through
these reports he was convinced of the
need OF vigorous action on the part
OF the state. He then asked that the
prosecution of those charged with the s
ASSASSINATION of Steunenberg should i
not only be vigorus, but clean and
tar to the defendants. When he learn
cd through the reports of his personal
representatives that there was no ,
thought on the part of the state au-
thor't'es to be other than absolutely .
tar. he expressed his satisfaction, and :
both in private letters. and his public
utterances made plain his confidence !
IN the motives OF those engaged in :
the prosecution of the cases. :
Sent Personal Letters.
You say. Mr.. Cobb: "Mr. Roose- :
veit' then president. may have consent :
cd to Taft coming. but that is all he =,
DID, In this statement. you know 8
you are dishonest, for it was through :
your personal solicitation. more than !,
that OF anyone else. that President =
Roosevelt requested Mr.. Taft, then .
secretary of war, to come to Idaho. =
Through kilograms and personal let :,
fers to you and to myself. you know =
this to be true. You also know that -
when we met Mr.. Taft at Montpelier.
On his visit to Idaho in loO6,he knew
very little about conditions in Idaho. =,
IND had to be advised as to their -
nature. And you performed that SER
rice. W
l need make no apology to the peo- :.
ne OF Idaho for advocacy of Mr.. ~
Roosevelt as the proper nominee of "'
ne Republican party for the presid- rs
ncy. My position on all public ques-
IONS has been known tothe people of
I Idaho who were residents DURING II
~ two terms as governor. l have tr,
cen considered by all as an enemy St
criminal corporations. Both my lei
ff'cial actions and public utterances XII,
ear witnesses to this fact. In the alb
lterest OF American citizenship go
eiieve we have reached that period fol
our history when the sel6shness of VIC
len must be controlled. You have kir
ot agreed with me Mr.. Cobb, in this
osition. We have had a number of
eated discussions over these matters l
the past. have given you credit
v being honest in your convictions. Ne
ID hoped that you had been fair
Tough to also credit me with honesty I
conviction. ed
Always for Roosevelt les
ani Tor AR. Roosevelt for president r.
"a nave been for all the time. / To-
W. lett he more fully represented To
J H.e"s on the great questions now To-
ioIe the American people l take 10 10,
rious exception to your charge OF ro,
because as an American To,
izen ! ask the right to exercise m, To,
1gement in matters of such vital i'm 10y
rtance as the issues before the PEG ,h;Ss
at present. ioI:
hold in my heart no bitterness to- will
I'd Mr.. Taft. ! have a high regard ton
him as man, and shall be found W"