Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-06-26
A Premature Answer,

WHICH IleSlOenL ROOSeVelt and his
party crossed the continent in such
magnificent style, few weeks ago,
and then answers the question by stat
ing that "a stocky built individual,
with a ratty mustache, font OF double
plea teeth, and face set with Yale
time-lock, Theodore Roosevelt, footed
the bills"
In the first place, to make his off,
cious statement pass for anything else
than stake driven to strengthen a
palpably weak place in the Presiden-
tial fence, it is we'll to consider
whether veritable Somebody has yet
asked the question, or indeed, yet
given it serious consideration, at this
early day of investigation of a candi-
dates doings to establish his fitness or
unfitness for public trust? Then it
might be we'll to inquire who is Will
liam Allen White, who answers the
question in such positive and dog
matte way? Then We want to know
how he knows, that the President paid
the usual, or indeed any compensation,
in the standard unit of estimating
values, for either trackage, train, COM
missary stores, or squad OF secret-ser-
vice men, who accompanied him on
his six.weeks' trip?
1t should be borne in mind that no
innocent doubter is responsible for
raising the question just now. 1t is
only a Dampho0l friend who has
sprung it at this inopportune time,
and demonstrated necessity for it
being answered in some form. and sug.
costing what the lawyers call general
denial OF material facts.
Will it be believed for a moment,
however, that Mr.. Roosevelt paid any
thing more for the train service than
he did for the countless costly and
sometimes suggestive mementos
showered upon him by those in line
for slice OF party pie? Does any one
honestly believe that he paid any more
for the palatial palace cars drawn by
a corporation that delights to bask in
Official favor, than he did for the trout
caught from Lake Tahoe by gentlemen
prompted by just as praiseworthy mo-
tives for recognition some time in the
dim vista of futurity?
The bestowal of such special favor
as impels the president of a great
railroad corporation to ride on the
pilot in advance of the Preside entail
train to ensure Mr.. Roosevelt's safety,
is not matter of mercenary consid.
GRAFTON of few dollars, but may very
naturally be influenced by a deeper
feeling based either upon personal re.
gard (Which is decidedly improbable),
or of expectation OF official favor
(Which is about the only thing under
the broad dome of Heaven that soul.
less corporations bend the knee to
sway to do their bidding)
That William Allen White, 10 par.
lance of the street, is talking through
his hat, 10 shown by his concluding
sentence: "Mr. Roosevelt is the first
President of the United States, OF re-
cent years, who has refused all cour-
tesies from the railroads. and pays his
way, and by the same token, he 10 the
first President Of recent years whom
the railroads are going to fight" This
in connection with late self.
prompted interview with President
Mellen, published in the Eastern pa
pers, that he is unquali6edly for Roose.
velt's election to the Presidency. shows
that Mr.. White has been impelled by
the same sort of enthusiasm which
influenced local lightning-rod politi.
clan TO inscribe on the by.ways marked
out for the Presidential procession at
the State Capitol the cabalistic fig.
ures: 1884 + 1908"
Oh. no; there is nothing unusual in
the zeal which forestalls possible emer-
gencies in party management.