The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-13
ROOSEVELT HOLDING THE BAG.

IF the crime of lese majestic were possible IN
America moral turpitude' could not be applied, with
impunity, to the Presidential incumbent; and crit
cisms of Theodore Roosevelts connection with Ad-
dicks, the Delaware corruptionist, would die on fear
full lips.
By common consent, without compulsion OF law,
we observe a rule Of temperate speech in characteriz-
ing the Chief Executive or his acts. But surely 1t is
neither Incorporate nor unreasonable to conclude that
MI. Roosevelt is wanting in that principle which the
people demand in the President. In view Of his Ad-
dicks relationship, ~obliquity' would not be too strong
to apply.
Roosevelt, as author and critic, once called an
other President "a small politician, Of low capacity
and mean surrounding, proud to act as the servile
tool of men worse than himself" Whether proud to
be 50 or not, Roosevelt has been the willing tool Of ].
Edward Addicks, corruptionist and politician Of the
meanest type. ea1oei
To arrive at the extent to which Roosevelt stopped
in the appointment Of Addicks's man Byrne it is
necessary to consider that Mr.. Nields, the temporary
incumbent of the District Attorneyship, was Endorsed
for the position by nearly every lawyer in Delaware,
irrespective of party, by the entire judiciary and by
both Federal Judges; and that Byrne, aside from be-
ing the corrupter's man Friday, was signaly unfit,
having been notorious for 1neficiency during a for
mer tenure Of the identical Office and being opposed by
the better element of the Republican party and per-
SUuS VI SudldClCI u Ahu Soo w.
his unftness; and these men Joined with the whole
nation in protest against q person not only eoiled by
the Addicks infuence-the very representative Of Ad-
dicksism, and the gas mans chief lieutenant. These
were the immediate circumstances Of Roosevelts &C.
ton.
1t has even an uglier aspect when other facts are
known: Byrne had resigned the District Attorneyship
for an Interior political purpose, and desired to be re-
stored to his position. His resignation came about in
fbio ddiDl bod offouopfo6 n rnaEa a doo1
with Ball, then Representative, which would secure
the long-coveted Senatorship. Ball, a Regular Repub-
lican, repudiated Addicks, who determined to punish
him. When Ball sought denomination, in 1900, Ad-
dicks put up Byrne to beat him. Byrne resigned in
order to receive the nomination.; but the voters of his
own party could not stomach him; his opponent, a
Democrat, was elected. Addicks is quoted as hav-
Ing said that he would willingly sink the Delaware
Republican party in order to beat Ball.
Byrne, holding public duty and responsibility as
nothing, had stepped down from q high Federal po-
sition to become the temporary instrument Of Ad-
dicks's personal vengeance. Presumably he knew that
he could not be elected to Congress- Undoubtedly he
had Addicks's promise that, II defeated, he should be
restored to the District Attorneyship. Undoubtedly
absolutely there can be no doubt upon this point
Roosevelt knew the circumstances of his resignation,
his motives. his reliance upon Addicks's influence to
restore him; knew every fact in connection with the
case, and understood perfectly Addickss request for
the reappointment. Fully appraised Of these facts,
well knowing Addicks's character. and his methods,
cognixant- Of ,Byrnes record, and IN spite Of tho pro