Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-03


YC
Influential in congress and politics
Whatever their designation, whether
leaders or bosses, do not hesitate to
say that 1t involves the most audacious
effrontery on his part to attack me. be-
cause men he characterizes as bosses
lare now supporting me, and to charge
lme on that account with helping ma
chine politics.
This is peculiarly unfair on his part
in view Of his wellknown political his
tory, and is another instance Of his de-
lparting from the rule Of the square
IDEAL"
Mr.. Taft charged that Mr.. Roose-
ivelt and his supporters during their re-
cent campaign in Illinois, linked his
name with that of Senator Lorimer in
such a way as to give the impression
that a vote for Taft was a vote for
Lorimer.
81 have not seen Mr.. Lorimer for two
years and have had no communication
with or from him. In Illinois Mr.. Lor-
inner was conducting a campaign of
his own. did not ask his support. He
did not tender it to me. Any influence
he may have given in my favor was
not because he liked me. but because
he felt more bitter toward Mr.. Roose-
velt. Without further circumstances or
knowledge, 1t would have been unfair
and unjust for Mr.. Roosevelt to at
tempt to draw down on me the popular
Indignation against Senator Lorimer
and thus to carry the state Of Illinois
against me; hut 1t was peculiarly un-
fair in Mr.. Roosevelt to do this when
he knew what he did know as to my
actual attitude toward Senator Lori
mer"
Mr.. Taft then read a letter he wrote
to Colonel Roosevelt on January 6,
1911, in which he said he wanted the
movement to oust Senator Lorimer to
succeed. The letter, marked Person
al" follows:
1.-The White House, Washington, jan
uary 6. 1911.
my Dear Theodore:
1T comes to me. perhaps without
foundation, that you are going to write
strong article on the Lorimer case
and publish it in the Outlook. have
been doing everything I could legiti-
mately to have the closest examination
made into the Lorimer case / have
read as much Of the evidence as
could get at and am convinced that
there was a mess and a mass Of cor
ruption upon which his election was
founded that ought to be stamped with
the disapproval Of the senate. But
want the movement to oust him to sue
ceed. I have urged different senator's
to read the record carefully, and after
talk with Root and Burton and Knute
Nelson and Crawford and some others,
believe we are going to line up ma
jority Of the regular Republicans on
what I consider decency and honesty
In politics. It leaked out that I had
been taking some interest in the mat
ter and / fear that 1t has not helped
the situation generally because Of that
strong feeling Of clubdom In the SEN
ate and in the resentment at outside
interference which nobody who is not
intimately acquainted with the situa-
ton can know the weight Of. I was
talking to Borah this morning. have
consulted a good deal with him on this
subject, and he and I agree that 1t
would be unwise for either you or me
to come out now against Lorimer and
in favor Of his being ousted; that 1t
would enable those who are 'determin-
ed to keep him in, especially among the
Democrats, Bailey and others, to use
an argument against outside interfer-
ence that would hold number Of DEM
ocrats and would deprive us OF the
strength we should get by quiet pre-
sentation Of the facts on the floor OF
the senate from the senate itself. Root
is going to make a speech, so is Bur-
ton, and 1 believe Lodge will do the
same thing. Now. nothing would have
stronger weight than speeches from
them, whereas, If either you or I came
out with an attack, 1t would enable the
friends Of Lorimer to shift the subject
from the tainted character Of his seat
to the independence of the senate in
acting as judge Of the qualifications OF
it's own members.
81 suggest, therefore, that II you
have an article on this subject, you
hold it until after the case Is more
plainly made by speeches on the floor
of the. body in which the contest Is to
be won. 1 want to win. So do you
This is my excuse for writing you.
Sincerely yours,
"William H. Taft"
"P. S.-Of course, may be misin-
formed as to your purpose in this mat
ter. Since debating the above / have
had the telephone conversation with
you, but let 1t 60"
Roosevelt Endorsed Reciprocity.
Mr.. Taft added that by the tele-
| DnOTe COHNeISdlloll auu py oubSSdaShN
correspondence he would not publish
unless Mr. Roosevelt desired, he learn
ed that no such article was contem-
plated, but Mr.. Roosevelt said he
would assist in the matter in other
ways.
'I have never given Mr.. Roosevelt
or any one else the slightest reason to
suppose that I had changed my atti-
Itude."
Mr.. Taft charged that Mr.. Roosevelt
was now seeking to take advantage Of
the supposed feeling among the far
mers of the country against recipro-
city with Canada. He said he would
not object to this, but for the fact
that he consulted Col. Roosevelt ten
days before he made the agreement
with Canada and that the latter ap-
proved the agreement in the most en-
thusiastic. terms. Mr.. Taft quoted
letter from Mr.. Roosevelt dated jan