Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-12
ROOSEVELT INSULTS STATE BY APP
POINTING JAMESON.

President Theodore Roosevelt, point
ed TO by his party as a model of clear
politics. the man who could. not he
moved 10 commit wrong. no matter
how powerful the influence brought
bear upon him. has yielded at last
The Cook county machine brought
him around to do its bidding in the
appointment of Doc Jameson. than
whom il Is conceded by his own party
PAPERS there i no more corrupt poll
fician i'm the state Of Illinois. He has
been named for naval officer at Chi
cagO. Walter Wellman tells the story
in the Chicago RecOrd-Herald. an in
dependent newspaper that is partial
10 the republican party. Welman
sends the following dispatch from
Washington 10 his paper under date
of Wednesday,:
Washington. Feb. 9.-Presideni
Roosevelt today sent to the senate
the nomination of f.. y. Jameson to
be naval officer at Chicago. This act
ion was taken by The president in the
face Of The most serious charges
againts Jameson and in spite of pro-
tests of many Chicago business men.
Moreover. the nomination was made
suddenly and without awaiting I he ar
rival Of detailed and definite charges
against Jameson and in spite Of pro-
had been informed were on the way.
signed By responsible persons. In his
anxiety to please the machine Mr..
Roosevelt turned a cold shoulder upon
those who were cons cientiOusly try
ing TO save him from Il blunder which
viii hurt him more than il will hurt
anyone else.
Saturday last the president agreed
to appoint Jameson at the behest Of
Senator Hopkins and Representative
Lorimer. with Senator Cullom giving a
prefunctory aquiescence. Before he
went 10 bed that night the president
was informed of the record and char
acter of Jameson. The following day
more particular statements concern
ing the fitness of his prospective APP
puintee were placed before him, and
ne was informed that the business men
of Chicago wished 10 he heard and
that formal protests would soon be at
hand. The president was surprised
and panied to learn that information
concerning the character of Jameson
had been withheld from him. anI was
severe in his criticism Of those who
had not dealt frankly with him. He
said If course the appointment would
he held up pending a careful investi
gaticn Cf such serious charges. 50 that
both sides might he treated fairly in |
giving both the accuserS and the |
friends Of Jameson chance to he |
heard
The nomination of Jameson was |
held just - hours. Instead of sending |
it To the senate on Monday. the preSi- |
dent sent it on Tuesday. Our pains /
taking and deliberate president wasted |
one whole day i'm making an inVestiga-
ton Of the fitness of Il man who had
behind him Il record OF years Of just
the sort of sharp 'On-thc-make poll
ties, which MIR. Roosevelt throughout
his whole career had fought and OPP
posed at every turn. MIR. Rocsevelts
displeasure at those who had not ad-'
NiSed him frankly quickly disappeared
under machine pressure.
From Il statement issued at the
white house today il appears that Mr..
Roosevelt from the first had some
doubt of the exclusive value OF
by Hopkins and Lori
mer. because Saturday he asked to
have the Endorsement of John Nj.
SmNth added. Lorimer was quick to
take the hint. He at once teiegraphed
and had a number of recommends
tons of Jameson forwarded to the
white house by wire. On receiving
the first protests from Chicago bust
ness men against Jameson, the preSi-
dent himself wired Mr.. Smyth. OF
course Mr.. Smyth's reply was prompt
IL forwarded When SmNth's tele-
gram came. with the bunch of other
messages which Jameson and Lori
mer had secured. the president con
cluded there was no use waiting for
the formal protests from other Chi
camo business men which he had been
told were On the way. and immediate
action was decided upon.
When at 1890 this morning a most
serious. formal. definite charge against
Jameson reached the white house. a
charge TO which any president not in
a dreadful hurry would give earnest
and patient consideration. the bearer
of il was amazed to learn that 1t was
TOO late. The nomination had already
gone to the senate and the president
declined to recall it. ~ Senator For
aker once said. president Roosevelt
i all right-but he Is a little quick on
the trigger
Probably on the ground that such
an extraordinary action required some
sort of defense or explanation TO the
public. the following statement was
given ont at the white house today:
After the bill creating naval Of
ficer ut Chicago was signed by the
president and the senators from Hi
nois suggested the name of Mr. Jamie
son. the president stated that a he
did not know Mr.. Jameson personally
he would like the recommendation of
some business men on his behalf.
Senator Hopkins asked the president
If the recommendation Of John NJ
Smvth would be satisfactory and the
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