The Washington times., 1913-08-05

! 1907 in -7hich Mulhal said Foraker had
| asked him to canvass public opinion on
his Presidential candidacy
II was charged with that crime" said
Foraker. "Mulhall never came to Ohio,
and l never wanted him for that rea-
son." Foraker said Mulhall was always
taking the initiative in letter writing.
He wrote me pages" he said. Il in
variably answered in five or six lines"
Denied Being Candidate.
Foraker rambled Off into a denial OF
his ever having been a candidate for the
Presidency in 1907.
I'VE didn't want the man nominated
who later was" he said. But / did
accept Mulhalrs offer made December
ganizatiOns indorse me as a Presidential
candidate. This / did after the Ohio
legislature had passed complimentary
resolutions addressed to me-"
no answer until January Z, 1908, when
Mulhan wrote him that he had not re-
ceived any answer to his letter
II didn't think he had received the
letter then. but / have some doubt
now" said Foraker.
Tells Of Mulhall Letter.
Nothing came Of this, Foraker said,
until June. 1908, after Taft was nomi-
mated, when Mulhall wrote him, telling
him how important part he had play
ed in the nomination. In this letter
Foraker said Mulhall for the first time
used the expression, THE work you have
done for our people"
Il never did any work for those
people" said Foraker. emphatically. 'I
nearly always opposed what they want
ed OF course, before we got SO good
as we are now, / used to be glad to
stop and talk to anybody who wanted
Foraker's mildness astonished the
committee. He rambled on easily, oc-
casionally wandering of into a discus
sion of political history, and smilingly
denying any espousal OF the N. A. NJ.
cause.
II rarely saw Mulhall," he said He
wrote me extravagant letters at odd
times, full of praise, and l answered
them all as shortly as possible"
To prove that his attitude toward Ia
Dor had always been favorable, the
witness read interminable extracts from
Congressional Records, showing how he
had spoken on various employers la
bility laws. He said he opposed the law
which made working more than eight
hours misdemeanor for employer and
employe. Otherwise, he said, he had
supported every labor law and opposed
every anti-injunction law ever before
the Senate.
referring 10 mulndliS claim IN a letter
to ]. p. Bird. that he had seen George
B. Cox enter Foraker's office on Sep
teniter 10, 1905, Foraker said he must
have been mistaken"
Cox and l were in different camps
then" he said. I'VE did well to pass
each other on opposite sides Of the
street"
Foraker also denied that MuIhall had
come to Washington on September 10,
as he claimed in his letter, at his invi-
tation.
why" asked Walsh, have you felt
1t necessary to come here II facts are as
You state themT
Denies Conference At Home.
Il thank you for that suggestion"
answered Foraker. II had almost for
gotten. 1 read that Mulhall had testi-
fed that he had attended a secret con-
ference OF Republican Senators in JAM
uary, 1908 at my house, with Vice Pres
ident Sherman. MulhaI is in error
about that There never was a confer
ence at my house and Vice President
Sherman was never in my house, unless
II was In 1904, when he attended q gen.
eral reception at my house"
The committee had great difficulty in
finding this letter, and at first Senator
Reed doubted Its existence. II was
finally found, however, Explaining the
presence of the five names on an en-
velope which Mulhall said had been
given to him by Foraker, the witness
said he had given Mulhall the pames at
his solicitation. after Mulhall had told
him he wanted the names Of men who
could help him in the Ohio campaign
of 1908
He gave him the names while on the
train, he said.
'It wasn't any mystery" he added. !
'T never expected to see the names
again. but here they are"
Explaining the letter Of Introduetion
which he gave Mulhall. Foraker said:
'Mulhall, I thought was anti-Taft and |
was on his way to the Chicago con- |
vention. Kurtz had been my secretary |
when l was governor and he was out |
together. Mulhall and Kurtz might do
something" |
Foraker, smiling genially at Mulhall,
continued:
II don't want to say anything unkind
OF Mulhall. In the years knew him, |
thought him honest. but l never |
thought he was as great man as he
did himself
Reed Fights Temper.
Senator Reed cross-examIning For
aker, had difficulty in controlling his
temper under the latters ironical an
swers.
Foraker said the publication of let
ters in 1908, showing his connection with |
the Standard OIL Company. had destroy
ed his chances for reelection.
II didn't withdraw from the race" he |
said. because by doing so, l would have |
confessed to wrong-doing There was
no secret in that matter, and / never I
tried to keep it from anybody. But isn't
this getting away from lobbying he
asked.
Senator Reed said he thought not
well go ahead" smiled Foraker.