Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-26

| Tafts conduct and actions in the
White House.
The President replied in some detail
to many of the charges Col. Roosevelt
had made against him since the pres
ent campaign began He took pains to
make plain Mr.. Roosevelts know ledge
of and complete agreement with Enstny
Of the actions and policies of the pres
ent administration which lately he had
condemned and denounced The Pres
ident declared that after the Columbus
speech of Col. Roosevelt he found the
country unresponsive and he shifted
his method of campaign from a decll-
ration of principles" and proposals of
reform to a series of attacks upon the
administration. Mr.. Roeseyelt.s doc
trine Of the recall of judges and the
recall of decisions, his willingness to
disregard the wise custom that for
bids a third term, whether consecutive
or not his appeal TO class hatred
and prejudice and his absolute fail
ure'' to put forth any concrete prepe-
sitions for true reform and true pro-
gress, Mr.. Taft said, all combined to
make him believe that the American
people should net choose Mr. Roosevelt
to sit again in the White House.
Mr. seraft began his speech by de-
ciaring that he spoke plainly only be-
tsansaa he. believed it was time for him
to do so. He brought in Col. Roose-
volt's name only because events had
forced him to use it.
In 1908 Theodore Roosevelt recon-
menJed to the people of the United
states that /, then the secretary of
war, De nominated by the Republican
party and be elected. He labored hard
and long to bring this result about and
/ he succeeded l have felt the deepest
gratitude to him.
Neither in thought word nor ac-
| ton, Rave I been disloyal to the
| friendship / owe Theodore Roosevelt.
| When the time came for this can't
paign to begin | let the people know
| that would like to have my admins
tration approved by their giving me
another term. At that time, Theodore
| Roosevelt said he was not candidate
and that it would be a calamity if he
were nominated, Since then he has
changed his mind"
| So tar as he personally was concern
ed. the President said he was never
have attacked eoianel Roosevelt nor
had d quarrel with sllim. so far" said
| lie. "as personal ambition is concerned,
SO far as personal feeling is. concerned,
would never answer his charges.
bat / cannot act for myself. / rep
resent cause. I represent an element
of the Republican party that believes
| in constitutional government and its
presentations. thai believes lin wise
progress under the guarantees of the
constitution.
by mis-statements he has led many
people to believe the charges against
me and my administration.
What do you think of that for a
square dealo He took a quotation from
my Toledo speech and garbled it.
The President replied to Mr.. Roose-
velr,s charges that he had received
the support of thas BOSSES.
Ills definition of man changes,
said the President, according to whom
that man is supporting. A man against
him is a boss, a man who is for him
as a leader. I am using the arguments
he uses against me to show how un-
fair he is
Mr. Taft praised Senator Crane, and
said that Col. Roosevelt, who now at
tackled him, had asked the senator
three times to enter his cabinet and al
SO to conduct his campaign in 1904
The exigeney of a political campaign
and the heat and passion that bring
about a denunciation of high minded
public men is responsible. Mr.. Roose-
welt has not learned one thingrin his
long life and that is to be a good loser
The President declared that Mr..
Roosevelt had charged him with
burglary, larceny. and most of the
crimes in the calendar in connection
with primaries.
eff there was fraud in sthegNew
York summaries why did the Ronse
veHap eoplelnot go into court and asris-
tain their charges? I will tell you
why: because proof is necessary in
court, and it is not needed lin the head
lines of the newspapers, or thou
sand miles away. T
Seventy per cent. of federal of
ice holders were appointed by Theo-
dore Roosevelt, and some of them are
supporting him and he knows it,
-.