Bisbee daily review., 1907-04-09
THE HARTMAN MATTER.

HE SRHHimHH
 MATTER.
 President Roosevelt's explanation of the relation between him and E. H. Hartman is scarcely convincing. Of course, we must depend largely on the publications of the inspired press for an understanding of the presidents views of the case, but with all allow ance for possible errors there seems to be well-determined white house version of the story. On that the public are entitled to pass judgment, says the Republic.
 In the minds of reasonable people there can be but one conclusion. MT Roosevelt had an intimacy of associa- tion with Mir Hartman, and there was frequency of consultation between them that cannot be reconciled with the view now put forward that the president was holding the railway magnate at arms length. It is ob- viously only recent discovery that Mir. Hartman is so dangerous man he should only be admitted to the white house under metaphoricaI guard.
 The latest announcement that the Roosevelt distrust of Hartman was so pronounced that the last time liar riman tried to have a talk with the president the latter politely suggested that written record be made of what might be said during the interview" {" cannot efface the fact that the rail road king went to the white house more than once on the request of the president. MT. Roosevelt seems to have acquired distrust only when he learned Hartman was talking as he wrote in the Webster letter.
 1 It is quite safe to appeal for popular sympathy by attacking Hartman, who is generally accepted as exemplifying the worst tendencies of those who cor trol the great aggregations of wealth which have become the vital problem of the twentieth century. Hartman spells anathema for many millions Of Americans, so President Roosevelt commands a large measure of popular sympathy when he appears as the vic tim of a very unpoular man.
 But even those who are glad to see
 Hartman hammered by the "big stick" yielded at the white house can net be blind to the fact that these recent disclosures offer cumulative confirmation of the charge that the great corporations poured large sums of money into the republican cam paign treasury in 1904. This is not denied, but it is said. by way of ex cuse, that the corporations made theil contributions voluntarily and not as g response to bIackmailing demands The excuse answers a charge that was never made. It was not necessary to blacklnail directly. The need ot official favor made direct threat of of fciaI oppression superfuous.
 Gloss it over as you may with spe cious explanations. the story of the ad ministration's relations to the grea : corporations and tbe manipulating fl nanciers who control them makes un pleasant reading. Even democrats cal wish the record had never been made for it increases the complications o the grave problems of legislation thes' , powerful latter-day combinations O capital have imposed, both upon tn
 federal and the state governments. f doesn't help things in the least | t learn that President Roosevelt intend t to press his railroad policy with ir < creased yigor as a means of gettin :. even with Hartman. Wise leglsl' < ton cannot be conceived in pique o 2 enacted in 1t of resentment