The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-21
THE "SECRET SERVICE" NUS.
ANCE.

The bearing ana the nGnlleT, as wei
as the utterances, of Theodore Roose'
Welt indicate one thing which is neces-
sarily recognized by all persons. ire
spective of their admiration or dislike
for the President in other ways. That
thing is personal courage, an attribute
which will excuse much with the
American people. 1t is. therefore
both irritating and a matter of per-
plexity to see him when he is visiting
the people of the country surrounded
by a squad of educated roughs whom
euphemism has seen fit to dub mem
bers of the Secret Service" AS a
matter of fact We all know too well
that the Secret Service" is composed
simply and solely of human sleuths-
man catchers-beings who violate the
code of civilization and are bred back
to savagery through the needs of civil
ization itself. The average citizen
shows his dislike of the profession OF
the detective, while recognizing that
he has his place to fill in a complicated
society The distrust is innate, juries
will often refuse to follow their tes-
timony. even, unless it is most strongly
corroborated. Yet the very qualtles,
the very Willingness to perform the
duties expected of them are neces-
sary to supply the need There is
wanted for a detective man who has
grown up with and associated with
crimes and criminals. His Sensibili-
ties are naturally blunted. Therefore
it is illogical to expect in a member
of the profession of the dark, the self
control, the kindness, the almost SUI
per-human judgment which would be
necessary to enable him to fill his place
ideally Whether he is the brutal. red
faced rough which distinguishes the
force" of the larger cities, or Wheth-
err he rides on the boot of the Presi-
dents carriage with high hat and
long coat and his finger on the trig-
ger of a pistol, merely constitutes
degree of opportunity. The instinct,
the blood-lust, the idea of making
arrest is the same.
In the case of the men who travel
with the President, there is no protec-
ton for the citizen at all. A police
man has on blue clothes. These men
are posing many of them as a part
of the sightseeing crowds. If they
keep quiet and only act when it Is nee
essary, they will not appear to be
earning their pay. Therefore the
temptation to make opportunity is
great They are dangerous especially
by reason of the fact that they are
not known, that they are armed, that
they are licensed to personal violence
in their own discretion. Frequently
these so-called pick of the Secret Ser
vice were really chosen as thugs VINO
in certain known instances have been
reformed criminals, and as men who
are conceived to be adopts in the game
of rough house." Consequently they
ply their trade with the lack of refine
ment and the Grass mis-judgment
which might have been expected from
their antecedents and their ambition.
This was shown to a marked degree
during President Roosevelts visit to
Raleigh. He was surrounded by these
calcimined roughs. To the casual eye
they looked like gentlemen. In their
own breasts they were itching for
chance to make a spectacular arrest.
As a result a number of citizens were
subjected to insult and violent treat
ment Members of the reception COM
held by these gentry while their hip
pockets were felt for "guns." Members
of the press with their special badges
on the lapels of their coats were
cursed and jostled when they attempt
ed to get to the positions of vantage
which it was their right and duty to
occupy. An old man, an ex-COnfeder-
ate made a step from the curb to at
tract the Presidents attention with a
salute He was seized by half a dozen
of these plain clothes men, thrown
back on the side walk and roughly
searched. When President Roosevelt
had concluded his speech and, sur
rounded by members of the Govern
or's staff and other specially invited
guests. started down the steps to
luncheon, the largest and most pow
erful of the Secret Service men
brushed rudely through the crowd,
showing aside ladies as he went and
with an absolute lack of regard or
even respect threw a OBTAINING arm
across the body of the President while
he put his own ponderous bulk in
front of his chief. Instances of like
character could be multiplied ad
We submit that a program on Of
fetal visits like the above does vio
lence to every instinct of democracy
and is in reality little more than
glaring insult to a brave people. Mr..
Roosevelt has no monopoly on