The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-08-21
Washington Letter.


PRESIDENT Roosevelt has, through
the medium ofd letter to Governor
Durbin Of Indiana, made public a
most powerful homily on lynching and
the growth OF that crime In; this
country, a homily which has called
forth editorial commentator from
newspapers OF all parties and ia all
parts OF the country. The President
calls on an enlightened public sent,-
ment 70 oppose with all its Influence
the tendency to mob violence. lie
declares that Lynch law Is lawlessncss
that lawlessness grows with what ii
feeds on, and that when mobs with
impunity lynch criminals for one
crime they are certain t0 begin to
lynch real or supposed criminals for
other crimes, statement which has
been borne ont within the recent past,
| when the telegraphicnews has brought
word OF lynchiDgs for assault and bat
terry, murder and In one instance for
simple ''insult". The President
points out that when the minds OF
men are habituated to the use OF tor
tur5 to avenge crimes of a revolving
description, other lawless bodies will
avail themselves Of torture to avenge
crimes OF an ordinary type. The
President also calls upon the negro
race TO recognize that the member of
that race who perpetrates that crime
which most often results In lynching
commits greater crime against his
race than is possible for a white man
and urges, therefore, that the negroes
themselves, be prompt TO aid in the
apprehension Of this class of criminal.
Secretary Root has placed his resg-
nation 10 the hands, of the President
to take effect as soon as the President
may see fit but not later than Jan. j,
and 1t Is generally believed that Gov.
Taft will succeed him. The occasion
Of Secretary Roots REIMBURSEMENT OF
the portfolio Of war, which IL a mat
ter OF grave regret TO the President,
Is Mrs. Roots objection to living in
Washington, her dislike to Washing
ton society where her social duties
necessitate her entertainment Of Of
fcials rather than Of a select coterie
OF friends most congenial to herself
and her husband, and Mr.. Roots de-
sire to resume his law practice In New
York. While neither Secretary nor
Mrs. Root have referred to the tnan-
cial end Of the situation, it is known
that the most economical member of
the Cabinet cannot live within his
salary, unless he be a bachelor, and
that in most instances a cabinet men,
ber's expenses amount to from two to
three times his salary, Sec. Root
feels that he has completed the more
important work for which he was
called to the cabinet. He has inaug-
urated the general staff plan for the
army, plan which will relieve the
Secretary Of War in tho future, from
the grave responsibilities which have
heretofore. rested on him, having
transferred them to the general staff
lie has accomplished peace In the
Philippines and closed, with honor,
the stewardship of Cuba, and he has
paved the way to the civil govern
mcnt under which Porto Rico is now
prospecting. Mr.. Root will leave for
England on the 22nd to participate
In the deliberations OF the Alaskan
boundary commission. On his return
he will prepare his annual report and
his retirement will doubtless follow |
very soon thereafter.
The appointment Of Governor Taft |
Is regarded as the logical selection for
the vacancy which will be made by
MIR. Roots retirement: Governor
Taft has administered the affairs of |
the Philippines under the most trying
with great credit to
his country and to himself aud it is
probable that the most difficult prob
lens which will confront the secretary
OF war in the next few years will re-
late to the island possessions of this
country, so that Governor Taft's In.
innate knowledge Of Philippine af-
fairs renders him especially Compel
ent. While there have been many
prominent republicans who fav. red
Governor Taft's candidacy for the
vice presidential nomination, 1t is
doubtful II the Governor himself ever
looked with favor on the project, and
i he is appointed Secretary Of War
the President will probably urge his
political friends to abandon their
campaign for Gov. Taft before the
tnn |