The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-05-31
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S HUM
lLlATING PLIGHT.

The humiliating position in which
President Roosevelt now finds himself,
charged with falsehood, bad faith, with
not merely deserving his allies, but, as
one senator said, shooting them in the
back, suggests more than one lesson to
public men. 1t emphasizes, to be sure
the need of a better guarded tongue
than Mr.. Roosevelt has ever possessed.
But more than that, it strikingly il
Illustrates the unwisdom of the growing
presidential practice of attempting to
dominate every branch of the govern
ment.
Treaties are made, or attempted,
without the "advice and consent of the
senate" The Panama republic is set
up over night by executive action,
aided by United States warships. The
great work of digging the Panama ca
nal lags while congress tries to find out
"what the president wants"-and the
suspicion grows that the president
wants congress to adjourn without ac-
ton, leaving him free hand during the
recess. If there be rival factions in
state organization, presidential omni-
science volunteers to settle the fued.
In brief, the presidential finger is in
every pie and the big stick is flourished
over the head of the audacious legis-
lator or official who suggests that the
digit is out Of place.
Autocracy sometimes is pleasant
trade, most joyous for those who like to
be much in the public eye. But to
practice it successfully requires Pc
culiar capabilities. Perhaps the edu-
cation of the autocrat, as Oliver
Wendell Holmes said of that gentleman
should begin with his grandfather.
President Roosevelt has not practiced
it successfully. His efforts have re-
coiled upon him. Not one Of the great
measures he announced as the glories
of his second term has progressed to
enactment. Not one but has encount-
cred bitter opposition, within his party,
due largely to the presidents intoler-
ance of the rights and the dignity of
branches of the government co-ordinant
with his.
The fact is clear that it is to this
restless, this arrogant and self asser-
tive desire to be himself the fina
arbiter Of every governmental act that
President Roosevelt owes his present
discreditable plight. In order that he
might be thought the true author of a
law for rate regulation he trafiiced
with both factions, conspired against
each and finally betrayed one. The
evidence of his bad faith is too con
elusive to be set aside. He appears
not as the bold, straightforward Theo
dore Roosevelt of legend, announcing
in so many words his policy and
striving by honorable means to give il
effect. Rather he suggests the smoo, h
euuivocating, vacillating politician
posing as all things to all men, chang
ing his expressed views as thought OF
his personal glory dictates, and coming
out at the end the advocate of policy
he at first opposed, and the target fol
the scornful epithets of men whom he
deceived and betrayed.
The legendary Roosevelt has dis
appeared. The Roosevelt long know
to men in public life as one not jealou.
of his word nor tenacious of homo
when advantage is to be gained is il
the foreground.
1t is not the president of the United
States who will be on trial this week
but rather politician, who from tn
vantage.of the white house has TRADED
with this side and with that; usins
members and ex-members of the cabi
net as messengers boys, dealing witt
democrats and with both factions of tn
republican party, and finally caught il
the trap of his own mendacity AM
Gagged there for the regretful gaze of
mortified nation.--Chicago Examiner.