The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-08-27
Washington Letter.


The strange transformation that has
taken place in Mr.. Roosevelt within
the past few mOnths-his conversion
from the fierce hussar, besworded and
bespurred, seeking the bubble reputa-
ton even at the cannon's mouth, into
the meek and peaee-loving civilian
wrapped in gentle silence, is generally
and disrespectfully regarded as mere
political dodge. 1t Is assumed that
wholly for the purpose of getting votes
be is making a belated effort to live
down his violent past.
His conduct continues to be favor
able topic Of conversation and discus
sion here in the national capitol where
ever politicians of either party do con-
gregate.
This assumption that Roosevelt may
be doing this repression act for effect,
may be doing cruel injustice to an
awakened and repentant man, Goaded
by a sense of wrong, therefore. Mr..
Roosevelt may ere long burst into
indignant speech and explain that he
always wss in reality the quiet, inoffen-
sive and modestly retiring person we
now behold, and that the other Roose-
velt with whom the world has grown
familiar was the creation of Loeb, his
secretary since be became governor of
New York, and who seems to be his
evil genius in every way,
X
Through the malign influence or
Loeb, be may tell us he was fired with
warliks ambition. 1t was Loeb who
induced him to charge up San Juan
Hill and snoot craven and fleeing
Spaniard in the back. 1t was Loeb
who impelled him to make khaki
campaign for the goyernorship of New
York. 1t was Loeb who prompted him
to instruct Admiral Dewey in naval
matters, to insult Admiral Schley, to
retire General Miles after lifetime of
military service without word Of
thanks, and to flood the country with
photographs Of Theodore Roosevelt in
his rough rider uniform; photographs
OF III 3dore Roosevelt in fringed buck,
skin, rifle in hand, with his moccaslned
foot on dead bear; photographs of
Theodore Roosevelt, cowboy, on his
pony, with pistols and lariat all CON-
plete. It was Loeb who hYpnotized
him into delivering antitrust speeches
which eventuated in no useful action,
but had the distressing effect Of repell-
ing trust checks from the campaign
fund. 1t was Loeb who inclted him
to those early addresses favoring tariff
reform, which, in humbleness of spirit.
he has since recanted. 1t was Loeb
who gave him the big stick which he
shook at the Spanish-Amerlcan repub-
lies and in the face of the rest of the
world, leaving the United States not 6
single frierd south of the Rio Grande
1t was Loeb who put him up to tht
absurdity of uttering hundreds Of ora
tions on purity in politics and high
minded honesty in office, and at tn,
same time to do business right along
: with Quay and Addicks and Platt, o.
) any other boss of the machine. l
was Loeb who had the llmitles
effrontery to supply him With th,
phrase, Swords are good when backed
) by deeds, and only So" 1t was Loci
! who caused him to whoop about hav
l ing all the departments "as clean as
) hounds TOOTH" and then to brIng tn
investigation Of the postoffice to lam
; and lmpotent conclusion. n was Loci
who induced him to steLl Panama from
Colombia, when better route for th
inter.oceanic canal could have beef
} honestly obtained. 1t was Loeb VIII,
: instigated him to undermine disciplin
, in the army by jumping DR. Woo'
D into msjor-generalship over th,
Q heads Of hundreds Of educated Gicer
! whose lives have been spent in th,
service. 1t was Loeb who injected
/ into his brain the fancy to have tn,
5 navy down to Oyster Bay tor tb,
! amusemen. of the children, but a
! great cost to the taxpayer. 1t wa
} Loeb who, night and day, whispered
into his ear the notion that it woulC