The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1913-03-07


an unpopular administration with most unpopular act and
one that the Christian people of the country had right to
expect would perform differently We were not OF the
original Taft His environment in Cncnnat his threat
as Secretary War recommend the restoration OF the
beerselng caneen; his speech in Topeka Kansas some
years before which he attacked the Prohbory law OF that
state feel that he sympathy with the liquor
traffic in sympathy with the criminal liquor athc
is fit to be President of the United States.
Some four or weeks before the election when he
first candidate for the presidency requested by mu-
ual friends of Judge Taft and myslf Cincinnati and
have talk with him about this matter did So lie I'M
pressed me as who open-mnded and tarninded
with little knowledge to the actual operations OF the
liquor traffic and Comparatively concerning the great
temperance of the country In his conversation
he condemned the attitude OF Speaker Cannon Tor packing the
Judiciary Committee in way the report of bills
he did brought forward and especially the Interstate
Liquor Shipment bill He confessed the necessity OF such
legislation expressed his belief in the constitutional right
of Congress remedy the condition seeking to cor
rect Short the interview satisfactory and we no
longer justified making statements of opposition
his candidacy that ground He even went SO lar
as to saw that if Senators and Congressman consulted him
about our Interstate Liquor Shipment he would
courage rather than discourage the OF such meas
ure him again by appointment about week after
election, which time he invited me to call and see him
when he became president and talk with him
posed legislation contemplating pressing before Con-
gress After had been President about had
an Liquor Shipment bill prepared by careful
attorneys and took the to the President with the request
that he would put this in the hands of his attorney general
get his opinion its consttutionaty He did So
After days the President returned the bill with the
that the attorney general did not want to make
written opinion but had him verbal opinion that the
measure was constitutional He then said in the follow
ing language: q quote from memory0
"You go ahead and have prepared and pre-
scented will in the judgment of people remedy the
difficulties you trying to reach and you will have no
trouble at end of the line" Meanng with himsef)
He was asked make this pledge; he did vol
unfairly regarded the time with perfect sincerity
Then the Webb-Kenyon bill prepared The opinions
of large of welknown attorneys sought and
the question of the constutionality OF this
measure. think there whose opinions were
sought before the presented either IN or
out of Congress that not clear to its cons-
tutonay The presented and fully discussed
before both branches of Congress- Those
wso the ground of its not being constitutional
showing these hearings Though the best at
orneys that quomoney could purchase brought to
Washington argue against it, passed both branches OF
Congress by overwhelming majoes and went to the Pres
dent for executive approval and he vetoed it.
WHY DID HE VETO 1T?