The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-29
DEFENDS ROOSEVELT.
Fairbanks Says Corruption Charges
Don't Touch Him.

Helena, Mont, Sept. 29.-In his prin-
cipal speech here Senator Fairbanks
discussed at some length the charges
of corruption made against the Repub-
lican party, extending and making
more specific his remarks at Great
Falls. He refrained carefully from
mention of Judge Parker'S name, but it
was understood by all that the speech
was inspired by the utterances of the
Democratic candidate on this subject in
his letter of acceptance. Speaking of
the part played by President Roose-
welt in the prosecution of the postohice
department scandals, Mr. Fairbanks
said:
He has enforced the laws. He has
driven corruption out of public places.
We know that in private experience
in every community there are evil
doers, but they are comparatively few
The one who will betray public trust
is the exception. He insinuates him
self into private eIl1 ployment, into cor
rnrate employment. into the public
employment. Theodore Roosevelt
knew that and he determined that so
far as lay in his power the betrayer of
the general interest should be whipped
out of place and power. He set to
work a corps of inspectors in the great
postoffice department, one of the
greatest pieces of official mechanism
in the world. Thousands are en-
pIoyed in it, yes tens of thousands. Is
it at all to be wondered at that now
should be one who should forget his
duty to his government and go wrong?
1t is not to be wondered at. The
president undertook to find out
whether some one was betraying his
trust and he made discoveries-no
many, but a few comparatively. Who
were the offenders? Some Repub-
licans, some Democrats. What did
he do? Did he undertake to conceal
the result of the investigation from
the knowledge of men? No. He
brought the evil-doers to the bar of
justice. The department of justice
prosecuted them, and in many cases
the guilty are wearing the stripes of
their guilt
Those who talk of corruption in the
administration must bear in mind, II
they be just, that there is no man living
with higher conception of civic duty
with more exalted ideal of official re-
sponsibility than Theodore Roosevelt,
president of the United States. He has
no sympathy with wrongdoers because
he is a rightdoer himself. Clean him
self, he wishes all men in public serpice
to be likewise clean. The continuance
of President Roosevelt's administration
means a continuance of rigid, search
ing scrutiny of all of the offices of the
government and the certain condemna-
tion and punishment of eVildoers, no
matter how low or how exalted they be.
This outline of the presidents course
was received with general applause.
Mr.. Fairbanks also discussed the tariff
question and the subject of irrigation,
again giving the president and SEN
ator Carter credit for much that has
been done toward extending govern
ment aid in the reclamation of the
arid lands. There were two meet
iugs here one being held at the Audi
! torfum and the other ar the Helena
theater. Senator Fairbanks and SEN
ator Polliver spoke at both meetings,
Fairbanks opening at the Auditorium
| and closing at the theater, while Dol
liver reversed this order. The meet
ings were attended by full houses and
| they were preceded by brilliant
street demonstration prepared by the
Roosevelt and Fairbanks Republican
| League club.