Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-14
Longworth and the Mud SINGERS,


That Congressman Longworth. the
new son-in-law of President Roosevelt,
is level-headed and sensible young
man has been manifest to the country
for some time, but he has won in
creased respect by his recent speech in
Chicago at the Appomattox day dinner
given by the Hamilton Club. His
theme was the same as has been an
nounced that the President himself
will take today in his speech at the
laying of the corner stone of the office
building of the House of Representa-
tives. Though he did not use the ex-
act term, he dwelt upon the ''man with
the muck rake" the writer for the
sensational newspapers and magazines
who has been indulging in such hyster-
lcal rant of late under the pretense of
'r.form' and ''exposure."
Tie sentiment expressed by Con-
gressman Longworth in his discussion
of mudslinging at public officials
through the medium of the yellow
press will be endorsed by millions and
millions of good citizens, who have be-
come very tired of the wholesale and
indiscriminate abuse which has filled
many publications of late. It is high
time to call halt in this business. and
tn speech Of Congressman Longworth
in Chicago. which will be followed by
an even more emphatic utterance
along the same line by President
Roosevelt today, will drive the muck
rakers to cover and accomplish d vast
amount of good. Here is the sub
stance of Congressman LOngworth's
ing Chicago papers:
at seems to be the fashion nova
days ne said. ''to assail all public
men, to belittle their characters. and
to impugn their motives. If you are
to believe all you hear and all you
read you might well conclude that
there is scarcely man in public life
today whose motives are wholly pure
and free from suspicion. You well
might believe that all politics is graft
and all graft politics.
IF one does not happen to agree
with the views of a public man it is
the fashion to aSSail his motives and
insinuate that corrupt influences are
behind him. The railroad rate bill
furnishes an adequate example. I'm
derstand I am not discussing the merits
of the bill. but 1 merely wish to point
out that it is fact that some sena-
tors honestly believe that the Hepburn
bill should be amended. and that some
eminent lawyers in that body believe
that the bill without an amendment
providing for a review of rates by the
courts would be unconstitutional.
"Now, because / believe that the bill
is constitutional with the rates regu-
lated stringcntly as the bill provides.
is that any reason why 7 should assail
the motives of the members who dis
agree with me- When read that
such eminent and able men as Senator
Knox and Senator Foraker and SEN
ator Spooner are traitors to their coun-
try because of their stand on this bill,
"'' W dtluleSCe. VII tne contrary,
L repudiate such expressions.
The practice of assailing public men
| mas come to amount to a hysteria- If
the government of cities, if the gov
ernment of states, is dishonest. If
Judges are corrupt. if senators are
traitors. how is it that this country
mas been able to progress and become
| prosperous?
| 'Rrt. my friends. believe that in
stead of growing worse the country is
growing better. What would a for
eigner of education who hears tbis
talk think of our institutions? wonld
ne not think that this is a nation of
corruption? Would he not think that
the administration of justice is q
farce?
of course, there are instances ~
corruption in the nation and in the
state governments. and yet 7 believe
, that things are better today than wears
| ago. The standard Of public men i.
getting higher instead Of lower To
day the standard of public morals il