The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-18
MONDAY, APRIL 1S, 1904.
THE MAYFLOWER AND THE SPE.
CIAL TRAIN,

Secretary Moody has presented to
naval committee a statement answer
ing criticisms upon the president for
using the naval steam yacht May
flower as his private property. The
reply is that the president has used the
NIayfiower in this way less than forty
hours, and travelled in it ninety miles.
Members Of the presidents family,
however, it is confessed have used it
for week and Travelled 40 miles. AS
an offset it is declared that expendi-
lures of every nature occasioned by
such private use of public property
have been paid for by Mr.. Roosevelt
himself.
The public will accept this statement
as far as it goes in vindication of Mr..
Roosevelt The custom of taking
revenue cutter or other vessel belong
ing to the nation for a private yacht is
an evil one and ought to be abolished
1t makes no difference who is respon-
sible for it, and we censure equally
President Roosevelt and President
Cleveland and any other executive who
gives cOuntenance to the vicious rule.
OF course no injury has been done to
the people, and they are put to no extra
expense, but the example is a wholly
perniciOus one. The chief executive of
the land should be the last to furnish
an apology by his own acts for a lax
rule Of public morality which, carried
to its legitimate conclusion, lands SEN
ator Burton in Jail.
The explanation about the May
flower, however, is merely straining out
a gnat. Something much more serious
remains behind begging for explana-
ton. President Roosevelt has been ac-
cused publicly and repeatedly, without
reply, Of having Travelled over the coun-
try with gorgeous accommodations in
special trains at the expense of the
great railroad companies. His friends
and apologists have swallowed that
camel at gulp. Not one word has
been uttered in his defense so far as
we know, and the accusation sticks.
VIII some cabinet official in his behalf
tell the public the facts about the
presidents journey to and from the
Pacific coast, and who paid the piper?
Even if Mr.. Roosevelt had used the
MayAOwer constantly for his private
comfort, it would be comparatively a
small affair. He would have turned
public property to private use, which
is bad enough; but if he made the
grand tour of the United States at a
cost of tens of thousands of dollars.
the expense being borne by those great
corporations which he has since yigor-
ously assailed and upon which he can
have no possible proper or personal
claim, what shall be said of his ideas
of official propriety and OF personal
honor? 1t is said in his behalf that he
refunded to the government every dol
lar Of expense incurred by his use of
the Mayflower. Has he refunded or
has any one in his behalf paid back to
the railroad companies the cost of his
swinging around the circle?
That question should be repeated in
the press and on the platform, in con-
gress and out Of it, until we get some
official and satisfactory answer. Who
paid the bills for the presidents cleo
pioneering junket? If the railroad COM
panies bore the expense and the pres
tdent of the United States is to that
great amount in their debt, ought not
the Indebtedness be discharged by a
special appropriation by congress, if
necessary, in order that the shame of