Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-16
President Categorically Denies
That Aide Had Any Mission
to Rome Whatever.
NOT PAYORING ANY CHURCH
Cites Proof That There Is a Con-
spiracy for the Purpose OF
Arousing Religious Preju-
dice against Him.

Washington May Eat the Whlte
House tonight a personal statement by
President Taft was given out Categorical
" denying that Major a. w Butt the
Presidents military aide. who was lost
on the Titanic. had gone to Rome on any
mission whatever from the President to
the Vatican. President Tafts signed
statement follows:
Among the ;nsidious methods Of attack
pursued by some against me is the at
temnt to arouse religious prejudice on the
charge that am in some name ra
favoring the Roman Catholic Church. 1t
has been my Official purpose, first. as the
Governor General of the Philippines
second, as secretary of war, and third as
President. to encourage every church as
far as possible whore this does not involve
invidious distinctions and does not depart
from .he rule which separates our state
from official relations to all churches. I
have unduly favored no church but have
treated them all with absolute imparti-
alty.
"ln 1902 | visited Rome and conferred
with Pope Leo XIII in an attempt to set
tie the friar land controversy which had
arisen in the Philippines while I was
/ Governor-General and after time I sue
ceeded in doing so When. last March, my
aide. Major Butt. set out on a trip solely
for his health and proposed to visit Rome.
| he asked me for a letter Of Introduction
to the present Pope that he might have
the privilege Of an audience. and I gave
him such letter.
| COINCIDENCE ONLY ANSWER.
THE letter contained nothing but a
statement of who Major Butt was. and
an expression of the hope that he
might have the honor Of being receiv
ed The only note or letter from the
Pope or any representative of his in
answer to this letter Of introduction
which have received is a cablegram
of coincidence for all concerned sent by
Cardinal Merry Del Val by direction
of the Pope at the time Of the Titanic
disaster and making an inquiry as to
the fate of Major Butt. to which re-
piled expressing my thanks and giving
the facts The letter introducing
Major Butt contained no reference TO
the recent appointment of American
cardinals and no comment on, or ref
erence to. the Catholic Church or any
matter relating to II. The stories cir
culated that l have made any inquiry
or have taken anywhere at any time
any part or manifested any interest ir
questions of social precedence of the
recently appointed cardinals are Who'll
ly without foundation.
The evidence that there Is a con-
spracy for the purpose Of arousing re.
ligious prejudice against me is shoWr
by the fact that at the instance OF
some one unknown to me. it was re-
ported in great many very respect
able newspapers that 1 sent a messag,
Of welcome and congratulation to tn,
, newly appointed apostolic delegate b,
wireless TO the incoming steame,
bearing him to New York No mes
sage was sent by me or by any on,
. by my authority. A denial of the pub
lished report was issued from tn,
White House. but the denial has OBJ
tanned no publicity.
DID SUSPEND THE ORDER.
, The statement that I suspended a.
order made by the Indian commissions
, affecting the garD of the teachers il
, certain Indian schools. which have bee
. transferred from the Catholic Church t
the government. is true. did this 70
, Inc reason that the commissioner ha
, issued tho order after consulting wit
the secretary OF the interior and with
out awaiting his conclusions The pro
,, prlety OF tie order has now been mad
the subject of an open. free d,scussio
by all the parties in interest and tn
> decision of the secretary of the interio
will cooE be handed down. say moth
Ing or tcc merits of tao controversy eX
oept that the order reversed n condi
ton which has existed for years an
affected 30 or 10 teachers who. as nun:
had been long before my time incol
porated in the service Of tho govern
ment and who would he in effect eS
! PEELED from that service by the orde
Q should 1t prevail. They were therefor
entitled to a full hearing.
(S!sned) 'WlI.LIAM II. TAFT"