The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-16
Roosevelt and Hanna.
Unauthorized Stories IndustriOusly Cir
culated.

culated.
Within the past two weeks all sorts
Ct yarns have been spun by indus
trious correspondents and political
agents In regard to the relations of
President Roosevelt and Senator Han
ma. The latest example of this sort of
literature is the story that the Presi-
dent said he should smoke Mr.. Hanna
out and make him either fish or cut
+ bait, a saying which would have been
most ill-judged and indiscreet if it had
come from the President. An en-
phatlc denial followed close on the
story, and, moreover, Mr.. Roosevelt
wishes ii to be generally understood
that if any more interviews with him
are quoted, in which he Is represented
as saying anything of the kind about
political matters affecting himself.
they are not to be credited.
1t seems as if child ought to be
able to see that TO make a rash state
ment of that kind with regard to Mr..
Hanna, at such a time as the present,
would be a piece of foolishness of
which man of any experience in pol
ities would be incapable President
Roosevelt may be a strenuous fighter,
but he is not fool, and he under
stands quite well the necessity Of
keeping his personal opinions of
ieigning politicians to himself. He
also understands the folly of spread
ing the net in the sight of any bird,
and If he happened to be antagonistic
TO Mr.. Hanna, or anybody else, he
would not be likely to unfold his plan
of campaign before using it.
Unfortunately, there are persons
who are laboring diligently TO create
among the people an erroneous Inn
preston OF Mr.. Roosevelt's character.
His liking For outdoor sport, a liking
which hundreds of college men of his
generation share, and are the better
for it, is represented as a pose; his
conviction that country ought to be
prepared for war so long as war Is
possible is distorted into desire for
military glory las if a man who IN
sisted on making his house burglar
proof were inviting burglars) and
his straightforwardness and decision
are dubbed impulse (as if the power
to act when it is necessary, and act
quickly, were not the very backbone
Of the business talent Of this coun-
tIy). He is, it is true, different from
any other President within the mem
ory of this generation, because most
of them have been fgureheads for
their party, and, moreover, have not
been called upon to solve problems as
difficult as those which have confront
ed Mr. Roosevelt. The main differ
ence between this Administration and
other Administrations is that the pow
er is in the White House instead of
behind the throne.
But in spite of all this tortuous and
ingenious misrepresentation of facts
the country is not likely to suppose
that the President is playing pitch
and toss with his chances for re-elee
ton to the extent that this anecdott
would indicate. He is not going u
sacrifice any of his principles for the
sake Of getting the nomination, anC
be would be very foolish If he did
for the whole platform on which The
odore Roosevelt stands is his reputa
ton for honesty, independence, snC
ability to see the right thing and d.
1t /: and he is not likely to sacrifice on
plank of that platform. But to in
dulge in making gratmtOus and taste
less personal remarks for fun, to tn
detriment of his own interests, is no
bis style at all. That sort Of thin;
belongs to sovereigns ike Charles ii
or unique individuals like Tom Reed
not 10 Americans who believe a
thoroughly in organization, publi
spirit, and loyalty 10 party as Presi
cent Roosevelt.