Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1904-10-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Us Made Of the Post Office Department
and the Department Of Commerce.
n ROOsEVELTs TWO THOUGHTS.
Every Farmers Private Affairs Re-
ported and Corporation Secrets
Made Useful-Extraordfn Per-
version of the Rights OF the
Governed.

Made Useful-Extraordfn Per-
version Of the Rights OF the
Governed.
Men who are rarely deeply interested
% the fortunes of political parties, con-
ddent that the Constitution aud the
law of the land will prevail, whatever
the principles of the Executive; men
who seldom give utterance to their per-
bonal opinions save when crisis is i'm
minent now discuss with great earnest
ness the remarkable exhibition present
ed by Chairman Cortelyou in collecting
Tor the Republican party. President
Roosevelt's defiance of public opinion
in making use Of the Department of
Commerce in his effort to be elected
President Is one of the most amazing
performances of this strenuous and
spectacular citizen. 1t shocks the So
Der minded. 1t reveals in measure
the depths to which an ambitious man
will sink when he casts aside restrain
ing influences to reach out for covet-
ed prize.
Republicans know that President
Roosevelt has, since he became Presi-
dent, been controlled by one thought
nomination. He whipped party leaders
into line. With patronage as club he
thumped Senators and State leaders
until they promised allegiance In
Washington his handling of the ma
chinery of government so that every
branch became q tool was well under
stood. Old politicians were amazed.
Roosevelt developed into Napoleon of
politics. His usurpation of government
tai rights was so stupendous that old
time Republicans whispered among
themselves: "Will the people tolerate
this man?" Master of the machine,
Roosevelt arranged the details of the
Chicago convention wrote the program
and let it go through the movements of
nominating him for the Presidency.
Nominated. Mr.. Roosevelt became
possessed by a second controlling
thought-election.
Mr.. Roosevelt had moved every pawn
on the chessboard before his nominal
ton, and now he is moving every pawn
and piece to be elected in November.
Before his nomination Mr.. Roosevelt
was in need of information. On the
eve of county and State conventions in
every State and Territory Mr.. Roose-
Welt knew better than the leaders what
delegates would be elected. This in
formation was secured for him by the
Postoffice Department. Every rural
delivery postman had faithfully done
his work. This grand inquisitorial sys-
tenn has been reduced to a science by
order Of the President. The Secret Ser
vice is farce comedy alongside of the
Presidents rural delivery. An accur-
ate report of every farmers family is
made by the postman. 1t would be
easy for the President to tell any far
mer in the United States how many
men live on his farm, when they voted
last, how they voted and how they will
vote. He can tell him whom he owes and
who owes him; whether his crops were
good or bad, his habits, ETC., etc. Every
thing which may affect vote is noted
and reported. Such is the system built
UP by Mr.. Roosevelt, who believes in
the axiom, knowledge is power
Mr.. Roosevelt believes in the spy sys-
TEN.
When the President realized that the
so-called '.monied powers of Wall
Street" did net regard him with favor
be secured from a loyal and complaeent
Congress the power to start an inquisi-
torial establishment especially devoted
to investigating the doings of corpora
lions. Over the Department of Com
merce he placed the faithful Cortel-
you. To give special bureau, that of
corpora tons. proper start, he OBJ
tanned special appropriation of $780,
900 to bring the trusts to toe the mark
The lamentable history of trust prose-
cution is one Of the scandals of the Adj
ministration. But it had its effect. A
seeming activity by the Department of
Justice gave dramatic color to the in
vestigations of Mr.. Cortelyou's bureau.
True no report has ever seen the light.
But Cortelyou has been taught knowl-
edge is power.
And now comes Mr.. Cortelyou, ex-
Presidents secretary, ex-Secretary of
Commerce and Labor, clothed in the
official robes of Chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee, with a
bowstring in one hand and a subscrip-
lion list for campaign funds in the
other. Did a Grand Vizier of a Sultan
In his most palmy days ever seek a
gift for his Serene Majesty under hap
pier auspices? What the Postoffice De-
partment did and does to secure infor-
nation about voters the Department OF
Commerce has done and is doing to Sc
cure information about contributors.
No wonder grave men look graver:
no wonder the press, the guardian of
peoples liberties cries out against
these outragesi
But the people will decide whether
Theodore Roosevelt's methods of gov
eminent are a usurpation of govern
mental functions of government
created to govern with the consent of
the governed or not.
How can Cortelyou's master pledge
himself to prosecute violators of the
interstate commerce act, expose the
evil ways of corrupt and pillaging COR
porations, and restrain the trusts in
their nefariOus extortions when Cortel-
you, the servant, is exchanging absolu-
lions for checks among the Wall Street
money changers. Truly Cortelyou is d
wizard. Those who a year ago de-
clared Roosevelt "a dangerous man.
now express themselves as having con-
ddence in him. A game of confidence
Rll around.
Can the money of corporations so
control national elections that the great
voice of the people can be heard only
beneath the ruins of the Constitution
and the curtailed liberties of the citi-