New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-27

their assistance at the price OF going
their way and opposing the cause OF
the people.
Hard to Answer Statement.
Mr.. Taft said yesterday that never
in thought, word or deed had he been
disloyal in his friendship for me. 1t IL
hard for me to answer such statement
save by calling 1t the grossest and most
astounding hypocrisy When Mr.. TAFT
made that statement he had just sent in
TO the United States Senate. on half an
hours notice, obviously in collusion with
the Lorimer Democratic Senator who
made the request, papers which were
intended to convey the impression that
had improperly favored the Harvester
trust by declining to prosecute 1t IN
1907"
Colonel Roosevelt repeated the asser-
ton that Mr.. Taft, as member OF MS
Cabinet, had approved the decision 10
delay the Harvester company suit.
When Mr.. Taft" he went on. "oovi-
ously to influence the Massachusetts, phi
mary, and obviously in collusion WIN
one Of Mr.. Lorimer's Senatorial sup
porters Of the opposite political party,
takes the action he did, he has not
merely in thought, words and deed been
disloyal to our past friendship. but has
been disloyal to every canon of ordinary
decency and fair dealing such as should
obtain even in dealing with a mans BIT
terest opponents. Such conduct repre-
sents the very crookedest kind OF
crooked deal, and when Mr.. Taft, within
twenty-four hours Of taking 1t. COM
plains that he has not been given a
square deal by me, he exposes himself to
derision and contempt.
This is not an exceptional instance OF
how he has behaved TO me. The same
course was followed last summer in con-
nection with the Tennessee Coal and
Iron Company. The assaults upon me
by Mr.. Taft's campaign managers, made
in Washington under Mr.. Tafts Very
eyes, have been foul TO the verge Of in
decency. But, remember, | am not COM
planning of these things; I care nothing
for Mr.. Taft's personal attitude toward
merely because Mr.. Taft lays such em-
phasis on the matter.
Reciprocity Under Discussion.
The speaker then turned to the SUBJ
ject Of reciprocity.
MIR. Taft says that I changed front
on the reciprocity measure" he began.
This is untrue. He publishes letter
Of mine. in answer to letter of his
marked CONFIDENTIAL Incidentally. one
of the objectionable sins on the part of
any man calling himself gentleman is
to publish confidential correspondence
without permission: as to this I care
nothing. but | warn Mr.. Taft that I'm
discussing negotiations with a foreign
power it is we'll not to publish such ex-
pressions as that I'm his letter about
ma king Canada only an adjunct of the
United States.
In this letter l told him that | would
support his reciprocity proposition.
did Loyalty support 1t I'm several differ
ent speeches At first l took the agree
ment OH the faith Of Mr. Taft's repre-
sentation. Later. when I came to look
I'D the matter, however. / became con.
vinced that the reciprocity agreement
as passed by Mr. Taft was unwise and
undesirable, because it improperly sacri-
feed the interests of our farmers and
fishermen and because 1t carried inde-
fensible action on paper.
"Neye: heless, because j had stated
that / would support the treaty. / said
not one word against it until 1t was
dead. Even then I declined to speak
ON the subject until in several states
Mr.. Taft's managers themselves, with
what can only characterize as unpar-
donable baseness, began to circulate the
fact Of my support Of Mr.. Taft's pro-
posal as a reason why l should not be
nominated.
MIR. Taft says" Colonel Roosevelt
continued, that the influence Of federal
officeholders in the Chicago convention