The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-01
ANONYMOUS CHARGE.

a prominent politician, name not
given, has been telling the New York
Press, a Republican newspaper n story
which seriously reflects upon the integ
rity of President Theodore Roosevelt
and Secretary George B. Cortelyou, who
is chairman of the National Republican
Committee and presumably the personal
political representative of the Presi-
dent.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was urging
through Congress the bill providing for
Governmental inspection OF the pack
inghouses he was antagonized on some
particulars of the proposed measure by
Hon, James Wolcott Wadsworth of
Genesee, New York. distinguished Re
publican member of the National House
of Representatives and chairman of the
House Committee on Agriculture. AT
the time it was asserted by the friends
of the President that Mr.. Wadsworth
was seriously interfering with the pro-
gramme which had been mapped ont
by the Chief Executive-that, in fact,
the New York Congressman was using
his influence as chairman of the Agri-
cultural Committee, TO destroy the eff
fectiveness Of the bill On the other
hand Mr.. Wadsworth claimed, and his
friends joined in his statement, that he
was merely seeking to have the bill
made effective and Just in its provisions
Now that informant of the New York
Press says that President Roosevelt and
Secretary Cortelyou sent two Of their
trusted emissaries into the Thirty fourth
| District of the State of New York.
where Congressman Wadsworth was
running for reelection, and procured
his defeat as a matter of revenge for
| his failure to accept the dictation Of
the Chief Executive regarding legisla
ton in Congress. The accusation is
specific. and the fact that Mr. Wads
worth was defeated is cited as the ulti-
mate proof Of the truthfulpess of the
charge. Two years ago Mr.. Wadsworth
was elected to Congress (for his tenth
term) by vote Of more that thirty
| two thousand, while his Democratic op-
|
votes in round figures This year he
was decisively defeated, and as there
had been no local issue TO occasion the
change, and as Mr. Wadsworth by vir-
tue of his standing in the House, had
| become more. valuable and important
to his constituents, il is assumed that
only the Presidential dsfavor and the
political activity of Mr.. Roosevelt and
Secretary Cortelyou could have been
sufficient to dislodge him from the peo-
| ple's trust.
The accusation is one of iufamy, and
it is astonishing 10 find it, without
contradiction or question, in the col
umns of n Republican newspaper. That
the President OF the United States
could condescend TO wreak his per-
sonal revenge upon an eminent Con-
gresham, could be traitor to party,
could misuse the power of his high
Office, could direct member Of his
Cabinet and the chairman of his Ma
tional party to aid the opposition-all
these are beyond belief, unless one
were 10 accept the idea that Theodore
| Roosevelt looks upon himself as not
/ only the Executive but the legislative
branch Of the Government and most
of the citizenship OF the country COM
| bined The millions of admirers of
Mr.. Roosevelt will prefer TO believe
that the New York Press and its un-
named political informant are treas.
enable to the President than to be.
iievc that he could be such an Infamous
traitor to his party and to all the
decencics of public life.
There is a widespread opinion among
thinking folk that the present Chief
Executive of the Nation treads close
to the danger line in his attempted
influence upon Congress; but this is to
be attributed to his zeal for improve
ment in legislation for the benefit OF
the whole country and not to mere
egotism which will not brook any
other opinion than his own without
melting MIN to deadly revenge.
Mr.. Wadsworth was a valuable mem
Der of Congress, n veteran of the Civil
war, an experienced business man,
scholar, a bigh-minded patriot; his
loss will be kccnly felt in the councils
of the Nation; but that loss ought not
to be attributed to the President of
the United States and the leader of his
party without better evidence than is
furnished by an anonymous accuser