Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-08-31
FROM WASHINGTON

The strange transformation that
has taken place in Mr.. Roosevelt
within the past fen months-his
conversion from the fierce hussar.
besworded and bespurred, seeking
the bubble reputation even at the
cannon's mouth. into the meek and
peace-loving civilian wrapped in
gentle silence. is generally and dis
respectfully regarded as Il mere
political dodge. 1t is assumed that
wholly for the purpose of getting
votes he is making a bclated effort
to live down his violent past.
His conduct continues TO bd a
favorite topic of conversation shd
discussion here in the National Cap
ital wherever politicians of eitler
party do cengrcgatc.
This assumption that Roosevelt
may be doing this repression ST
for effect, may be doing a cruel b.
Justice to an awakened and Sepent-
art man. Goaded by n sense Nt
wrong, therefore, Mr.. Roosevelt
may ere long burst into Indignant
speech and explain that he always
was in reality the quiet, inoffenSivC
and modestly retiring person we
now behold, and that the other
Roosevelt with whom the world
had grown familiar was the crea-
ton of Loeb, his secretary since he
became Governor of New York. and
who seems to be his evil genius in
every way.
Through the maleGc influence of
Loeb, he may tell us he was fired
with warlike ambition. 1t was
Loeb who induced him to charge
up San Juan Hill and shoot era
ven and fleeing Spaniard in the
back. Ii was Loeb who impelled
him TO make a khaki campaign for
the Govenorship OF New York. 1t
was Loeb who prompted him To in
Struct Admiral Dewey in naval
matters, to insult Admiral Schley.
to retire General Miles after life
time of military service without
word of thanks, and to flood the
country with photographs of Theo-
dOre Roosevelt in his Rough Rider
uniform; photographs of Theodore
Roosevelt in fringed buckskin.
rifle in hand, with his moccasined
foot on dead bear; photographs
of Theodore Roosevelt. cowboy, on
his pony. with pistols and lariat al
complete. 1t WAS Loeb who hyb-
Noticed him into delivering anti
trust speeches which eventuated n
no useful action, but has had tbe
distressing effect of repelling trust
checks from the campaign fund.-
1t was Loeb who melted him tol
those early addresses favoring tariff
reform, which, in humbleness of
spirit he has since recanted. lit was
Loeb who gave him the big stick
which he shook at the Spanish
American republics and in the face
Of the rest of the world. leaving
the United States not n single
friend south of the Rio Grande. 1t.
was Loeb who put him up to the
aOsurdlty of uttering hundreds of
oratons on purity in politics and
mgh-mlnded honesty in office. and
at the same time to do business
right along with Quay and Addicks
and Platt, or any other boss with a
machine. Ii was Loeb who had the
hmitless effrontery to supply him
with the phrase, words are good
when backed by deeds, and only
so. 1t was Loeb who caused him
to whoop about having all the de-
partments "as clean as a hounds
tooth," and then to bring the in
VeStlgatlon of the Post Office to a
Iame and impotent conclusion. 1T
was Loeb who induced him to steal
ranama from Columbia, when a
better route for the interoceanic
canal could have been honestly OBJ
tanned. 1t was Loeb who instigat-
ed him to undermine discipline in
The army by jumping DIR. Wood
INTO a major-generalship over the
heads of hundreds of educated Off
GERS whose lives han been spent in
lhe service. 1t was Loeb who in
lected into his brain the fancy to
nave the navy down to Oyster Bay
Ior the amusement of the children,
put at great cost to the taxpayer.
IL was Loeb who, night and day,
whispered into his ear the notion
Ihat 1t would charm the American
people to have their president
model himself on Germany's inn
perlal War Lord. 1t was Loeb who
ioqnSelled him tn snhst;tnta axacu-