The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-03-08
REPUBLICAN RO0SEVELT'S
RECKLESS ROTTENNESS
PRESIDENTS EXTRAVAGANCE EXITES
FEARS OF HIS PARTY.
Costly But Tawdry White House DecOra-
tions-Million Dollar Suburban Home
Suggested.


\ dispatch from Washington
Say> that milli0n-dollar home III
tie suburbs ior the president and
the increase OF his salary to $4,000
a year are the latest steps toward
extravaganza fathered By republic
can leaders very close to the pres
enc occupant OF the white house.
Coming as these do coincident with
the request Tor all appropriation OF
500. 900 ior new stables to guard
against the Roosevelt horses con-
tr2cIins colds, they have served to
draw renewed attention to the I'M
wonted extravaganza which has
marked every phase OF the Roose-
vel! administration. The wiser re-
publican politicians are manifest
ing no little alarm over these de-
velopmentS. since they realize that
such evidences OF extravaganza
may prove a dangerous weapon in
the hands OF their opponents in a
campaign before the people, and
there is much effort in consequence
to cover I'D the Tacts.
Despite tie running to cover
which followed the diclosures
brought out By the S9o,ooo-stable
bill. it has been impossible for the
republican politicians to conceal
the many unpleasant facts which
serve to illustrate the wanton eN-
travagance OF the present adnll1sls-
trac;on. This has been accolnpa-
MED by a reckless disregard OF the
sac-edness OF the relics OF former
administrations which has shock
ed The people who seem to hold to
the idea that there have been a few
presidents worthy OF place in the
memory OF the American people.
Restoration" is the word used
bv the president about the way in
which the white house has been
ran>acked Of every tradition it pos
se>>ed and made over into an ilnita
ton OF newly n1illionarieS lnadefn
palace. There are many who will
take exceptions to this comparison,
claiming that It is 100 favorable to
the white house visitors from New
York. who were recently inspect
ing the improvements. and declared
thai the white house reSembled a
grand central depot. When Mr..
Roosevelt entered the white house,
it was supposed that the old build
ing had been put IN excellent con-
dit;on. True the corridors were
furnished in simple taste and there
was an absence from the rooms Of
ANYTHING like taydry hangings. but
there was on every side. the sug-
ses1ion OF historic interest and the
holnelike residence. behtting the
democratic idea Of what a presi-
dent stands for.
In striking contrast with all this
are the gold panels that meet the
eve on every side, fanciful contrap-
tons shading yellow, green, blue
and purple lights; all sorts OF es-
sentiallv modern decorations which
painfully clash with the simple CO.
lon;al lines OF the building.
One is aStounded to read the cost
the nation has been forced to pay
ior all this extravaganza, First. an
appropriation OF S475,445 was slip
ped into the Sundrv civil service
bill III June, 1902; to cover the cost
oi this sc-cailed restoration. In
st>ad of calling on the army ct ar
cllitects which the government en-
plovs for the construction of its
public buildings throughout the
country, and which numbers in its
ranks some Of the leading archi-
tectS in the United States, $500
was paid to a New York firm, the
head of which had the good fortune
to be personal friend of the then
secretary OF war. Mr.. Root. to furn-
ish the plans for what proved to be
the most fragrant piece OF vandal-
ism which any president has ever
had the nerve to commit upon one