Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-15
TAFT DENIES HAVING ANY
CHURCH BIAS


arouse religious prejudice against
MIN, and that to that end false re-
ports are in circulation while his de-
malls are given scant publicity.
1t is surprising that the president
has just awakened to the fact that his
campaign has been seriously injured
by the sentiments to which he now re.
fers. One has but to read the various
church papeTs-and politicians migh
well take a day off every week and
glance over them-to realize that Il
feeling very closely approaching bit.
terness has been generated agains
the president because of his ALLEGED
leaning toward one church. The SEN
timent has been rapidly spreading
that Taft has gone out of his way to
show feeling OF undue friendship for
the interests of particular faith, The
result has been considerable censurc
Of the president in the columns of va
rious Protestant church papers, reach
ing a tremendous number of people
in the aggregate and unquestionabIy
exerting a great influence over the po-
litical sentiments of their readers.
The eyes of the president have been
finally opened to the fact that the re-
ports as to his official actions have
done him very serious injury-injury
it is hardly probable he can repair by
his late-day explanations, denials and
accusations.
In his communication to the public
published generally on Monday, thu
president categorically denies that he
sent Major Butt on a mission to the
Papacy that he sent a special mes
sage of welcome to the new Papa
delegate, recently arrived at New
York, or that he has in any way fay-
Ored the Catholic church unduly or in
opposition to the sentiment of thu
land against union of church anc
state. Furthermore, the president
charges that these accusations against
him are part of a gross conspiracy
and that his previous denial of them
has not been given the publicity ac-
corded the original charges. While
he does not descend to the plain Ian
guage of Roosevelt the president as
serts that the statements referred tt
are malicious lies, created and circu-
lated for political effect.
There is no doubt that the reports
referred to have tended to leave =
very bad taste in the mouths of MANY
millions of citizens who are intense.
ly opposed to anything that savors OF
an approach to a union of any church
and state or to any close relations
Detwecn them even of an unofficial
nature. Baptist. Methodist, Presby.
terrain and other church papers have
resented the presidents alleged course
in these matters. as we'll as in that
Of the Indian schools. The president
has been unfortunate in postponing
his denials to such a late date, as
there is hardly any question tha'
these matters have hurt his candidac!
greatly in a number of states, prob
bly, largely accounting for Roosevelt
wonderful victories in Pennsylvani1
and some other states. Why proper
cirCulations was not given to the
presidents denial of these things is
not ascertaiuable. but from his state,
ment it does look as though he ha}
been subjected to some pretty shame
full treatment in these matters. He
says emphat;cally, over his own sigma
ture:
Among the insidious methods o
attack pursued by some against me is
the attempt to arouse religious preju
dice on the charge that | am in SOM
manner unduly favoring the Roma
Catholic church. 1t has been my Off
cial purpose, first. as governor gen
eral of the Philippines; second, a,
secretary of war, and third, is presi.
dent, to encourage every church q.
far as possible, where this does no
involve invidious distinctions and doe
not depart from the rule which sepa
rates our state from official relations
to all churches. l have unduly fay
ored no church, but have treated then
all with absolute impartiality."
President Taft suffered somewha
in his first campaign from attacks
made on him because his religious
faith, that of Unitarian, is offensive
to many, That fact alone would
probably have made him very careful
to avoid giving otfense TO any relig-
ious sentiment There is no reason +.
do otherwise than accept his present
refutal of the stories that have beer
given such wide circulation, and al
though the damage done him canno
he undone, the spirit of fair play il
American breasts should see to it tha
there is an end to such attacks tha'
are declared by the president himself
to be entirely baseless and the result
of entirely falls items, disseminated as
news. His emphatic assertion should
cloe these incidents as campaign ma