Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-19
The President and Penrose.

President Roosevelts relations with Sem
ator Penrose and other discredited leaders
of the republican party in Pennsylvania are
daily becoming more mysterious. Notwith-
standing his well-known hatred OF political
corruption and the methods of ringsters, he
remains silent while Penrose declares that
the President is in alliance with the ma
chine now in control of state affairs.
This in the face of Mr.. Rooseyelt's public
proclamation of his disguest at the works
and ways of this very gang, he having in
the course of speech delivered last fall
declared that II he we're voter in Philadel-
phia he would cast his ballot against the
men headed by Senator Penrose. who have
for years stood for graft ana corruption.
Has President Roosevelt changed his
mind about Pennsylvania corruption? He
has declared himself as holding aloof from
the factional fight In Iowa, pointedly refus-
ing to be drawn into that row. Yet It is to-
day asserted by the PenrOse gang in Penn
sylvania that the President Is with the ma
chine. and this assurance held in line for
the Penrose ticket many delegates to the
state convention who would otherwise have
demanded the elimination of boss rule
Pennsylvania is puzzled by the situation
and outraged by the feeling that the -ad-
ministration Is being used as a stalking
horse by the gang. even when the President
is on record in denunciatton of these very
men, The Philadelphia Ledger, in recent
editorial. pointedly puts the case in terms
which expresses the amazement of the hon
est citizeng of the keystone state:
THE cables from London are at present
laden with news OF the British horror at
political. social. moral and economic condi-
lions in the United States. 1t seems that
Americans on foreign shores are obliged to
bow their heads for shame. 1t Is a pretty
poor American who cannot stand up for his
country in any conceivable situation. But
that Is by the way. The British journals
and business men and citizens of all de-
gree, from statesman to London cabby. de-
ride Americans, alleging that the whole
body polite Is as rotten as their meat
The tenor of practically all the comment
Is that the American people are overcome
by greed; that morals are lacking: that the
Americans as a whole are without moral
stamina and that President Roosevelt Is
engaged in terrible struggle almost SINGLE
handed to lift the sodden people to his own
level.
This appreciation Of the fine qualities.
the courage, the enthusiasm and patriot
ism of the President is just. but perhaps
the Jumping of the whole American people
into one unregenerate mass Is little too
sweeping. However, accepting the char
acterization as the British idea. what. in
the name of Righteousness, would our Brit
ish cousins or any normal human beings
think IL 1t were suggested that the Prest-
dent. who Is fighting valorously for purity
against corruption should throw his in
fuence or give his countenance to the most
degrading and corrupting influence in Amer
lean politics and lfe-the republican organi-
cation of Pennsylvania.
How by any possible explanation could
the doughty champion of good government,
good morals. high ideals of citizenship and
clean politics join forces with an evil coterie
against the courageous, Independent, honor
able men and Influences in American life in
this great commonwealth in a vital con-
fiict? Or. In other words, Is pure meat a
greater issue than pure men and good gov
ernment?
The question answers itself. of course,
President Roosevelt cannot stand with the
gang in Pennsylvania and justify himself
before his British admirers or his American
supporters. The mere suggestion is an IN
suit to Theodore Roosevelt
There was no hesitation at the White
House about denying any connection with
the Iowa fight. Yet for some reason which
Is yet to be fully revealed. the explanation
department of the Presidents office becomes
tongue-tied whenever Pennsylvania is mem
toned Why this difference?