The Washington Post, Sunday 5th April 1908 (Page 3)

MR. TAFT AS BOUT PROMOTER
Secretary Knows of Japanese Wrestler Who Could Beat Gotch.
Special to The Washington Post

    Chicago, April 4 - Secretary Taft became a wrestling match promoter today. After reading an account of the Gotch-Hackenschmidt bout, he announced he knew a 400-pound Japanese who, he believed, could become the world's champion wrestler
    "I'd like to get this big Jap wrestler over here and set him at Mr. Gotch." said the Secretary "I believe he could win the laurels that Gotch captured."
    This unpatriotic announcement nearly caused a stampede in the ranks of Chicago Republicans, who are still hoarse from cheering the Iowa farmer on to that spectacular victory that obtained the world's wrestling honors for America.