The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1905-09-29
Senator Stone Describes Some
Of Mr.. RooseveIt's GIar.
ing Inconsistencies.

III 'l'HIHB u Sp'''H 1T DShS
cratic meeting at Suburban Park
st. Louis, on the 10Th iust. Sena.
tor William Joel Stone touched
briefly ON National politics as fol.
lows:
a word now, Mr.. President, as
to national politics-just few
words before | yield the floor to
Others you are waiting to hear
The situation which Roosevelt has
made is interesting and diverting.
lie keeps the great ones of his
party forever wondering and ask =
ing, Where are we at2' So
prone has he been to quit the res
crvatiOn and gallOp over into the
Democratic camp that they have
been kept busy roping and driving
him in. But, curouSly enough
these break ways-these perod p
ical half espOusals of Democratic
ideas by the president-have great
Ily contributed to his popularity,
In truth, that which has been best
IN the Rooseveltian regime was
Democratic, or quasi democratic,
and that which has been the worst
was Republican. For a Republi-
can president he has said strange
things, albeit very true ones, and
attempted strange things, albeit
very wise ones. The trouble with
the president is, that he lacks the
courage of his convictions. lie
thundrrs like II veritahle Cyclops
in the index, but invariably iizzles
at the finish. Nevertheless, his in.
consistcnccS, his maichings up the
hill and down again, his bold ad-
yaurrs and swift retreats, have
been delightful, and IN the next
campaign will be worth u king $
ransom to the Democratic party.
He has told us, what Democrats
have known and said for n genera
ton, that the Republican tariff
policy was destructive of our for.
cign trade, was Il nursery for mo.
nopOIy. and Il means for plundcr-
ing the great mass of American
consumers. Then he had n chance
to show his faith by his works,
and to furnish the country with IN
object lesson. lie exhibited the
object lesson, but ilunked i'll the
work when put to the test, lie
wanted to buy two ships for use in
building the Panama canal. Two
foreign ships, newly launched and
suitable for his purpose, were of
tered for $3.50, 600. There were no
suitable American ships ailoat
which could be had, aud tue presi-
dent and Secretary Taft opened
negotiations to buy the foreign
ships. Then the American ship
building trust opened its batteries,
swearing bv all the gods at once
that it was II measiy outrage for
the American government to pur-
chase foreign ships, and all the
stand -patters, y great and small
Joined in the hue and cry. But as
there were no American ships for
sale, naturally the president wanted
| to know what he should do. I'VE
will build you ships" said the
trust magnatcs. How long will
it take'" said the president
Eighteen months" they said.
In the meantime what shall we
do2' said the president. Rent
ships" they said. And what
will you charge TO build the two
ships we need'' said the president
Fourteen hundred thousand dol.
lars" they said. Then the presi,
dent arose in his wrath and roared
like a lion, seeking whom he might
devour. What" he said, shall
we wait eighteen months, paying
enormous rentals in the interval
and then take 81 400, 900 from tn,
treasury to pay you for something
we can get ut once for $3.50, ,OOOi
That would be robbery, it would
be Il crime" And he cried aloud
with rising infection, Never,
Never, Never" Then the stand
patters" swarmed, with Uncle Joe
Cannon, Senator Aldrich and Con,
gresham Dalzell Mt their head
The president thundered again
but they thundered back They
told him with painful candor thai
he was attacking a cardinal prin
ciplc of the Republican faith, that
he was playing into the hands Of
the Democrats, and that he woult
surely split his party in twain
1T is robbery" the president
said. But with good reason the,
answered, What right has th,
government TO complain of sucl
eXt0rtions while it compels tn,
private citizen to suffer themi'
And so the tempest in the teapot
ended, The president backed cut
The foreign ships go on sailing tn,
foreign flag, and the ship trust ha.
had its way. The president thun
dered in the index, but fzzled a
the finish. Pitiable was the deer
damnation of his heading off, ,
but fortunately he held aloft tn,
object lesson and sowed seed FOR {
future harvest. The ruthless hand,
of the stand -patters" and tn,
trust beat him into submission
but It's sweet to remember thai
the blood of the martyr is the seet
of the church" "
| wish, Mr.. President, that | hat
time to elaborate other incidents
of like kind in this phenomena
presidential career, each of whicl
! WOull 'pOint n moral and adOrn u