The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-05
ExrRAvAeANcE OF SPEECH.


 what it calls Intoxicated Speech" says that the President has not brought men to believe that MT. Root is the greatest statesman of his time because he has said so; nor was the reputation of Mir. Quay whitened by MT. Roosevelts fervid assertion of friendship for the Pennsylvania boss; nor does any one who permits his mind to work believe that there was really no show of evidence against Mir. Paul Morton. The truth is that, popular as he is. Mr. Roossvet's words have lost weight by reason of these extreme utterances. He Is popular, would be difncult to find free man who would act on any of the Presi- dents obvious overestimations. As an indorser of men he has lost caste"
 There is no doubt that one of the worst faults of the President is his in- temperate habit of commenting his friends and the extravagant language he uses on such occasions. It has caused his strongest friends and most ardent supporters to fear that he is lacking in either judgment or sin cerity, and there are those who be- lieve that he is lacking in both. Either he does not weigh his words or Is a poor judge of the effect of lam guage. or else he has the habit un- becoming in a man occupying his high position, of 'Jollying" those for whom he has a liking. In a number of cases he has spoken in such extravagant terms of his friends who were leav- ing the public service-terms which the country knew were entirely above the deserts of the persons whom they were eulogizing-that people must be ex- cused for doubting their sincerity or appropriateness.
 And while on this subject 1t looks very much as If Secretary Wilson. by following the Presidents style in this respect, has rather tangled things, in the case of Chief Statistician Hyde. The President we are told. was very much disgusted because Hyde resigned under fire and immediately left for a trip to Europe. His testimony it is thought might be of value in the in- | vestigations to be made into the af- fairs of the Agricultural Department and 1t looked very much as If he had skipped out to escape being . witness, or that he was afraid that he would be incriminated if a rigid investiga- tion should be ordered and conducted. But 1t transpires that Secretary Will | son gave Hyde "a highly compliment tary parting letter." following his chiefs style.
 Suppose, now, that charges should | be made against Hyde. would he not present the letter of his chief as might be brought against him? If he does we don't see what the President can do about it, except to admit the letter as evidence for the defense. He can't reprove Secretary Wilson be- cause. as The Herald says. "he. him. self. has the habit of saying extraordi- narily sweet things about departing public officials concerning the value of whose services the country does not agree with him."
 And so it goes. and one bad effect of 1t is that his example in this re- spect is followed by men in lesser po- sitions. When Governor La Toilette, of Wisconsin. had bad night on the Illinois Central Railroad he com plained bitterly of the lack of acco- modations and declared that he would like to hang Stuyvesant Fish," who is President of the road. From a private citizen this would be merely an ex- hibition of temper, resulting probably
 from a sleepless night. but from the
 Governor of great State 1t is not
 at all proper. For the same reason
 Roosevelt's Intoxicated speech" has a
 significance and effect that would not
 attach to 1t If 1t came from a private
 citizen.
 To offer as an excuse for this bad
 habit the common expression, that
 he speaks without thinking only adds
 to the offence. Every public utter.
 ance of his is published broadcast anc
 read and commented on by the people
 Those who believe in him will takt
 his words as gospel and follow hi:
 lead, while those who do not believe 1T him will point to his utterances as ad ditional evidence of unreliability. | would be we'll for him and for tn, country if he would weigh his word! ! and not say anything that he ma, have to repudiate, or that his enemie! can lay hold of. As The Herald says
 It might not seem proper to sa,
 that the Presidents high words g . for nothing, but they often go fol very little. and they may be discred ited; at least. he gains nothing b!
 same way, the people who are opposed to corporations. whether they are O use to the community or not will no help themselves or their cause b! shrieking out that they desire to hant r the presidents of the companies. wh'
 are proDably doing nothing that the. have not been taught that they hat the right to do, whether that be reall.
 right or wrong. If the shriekers woul, be silent for moment. for a momen , long enough to enable them to stud,
 the subjects, economic and other. abou r which they are talking, they migh be able to show their fellow country conduct are not right, but wrong , Yelling will do them no good.
 .-4.-+.. The Ten for one" issue of Tn Birmingham News Is highly creditabl
 to all engaged in its preparation an'
 n