Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-05-17
Mr. RooseveIrs Relations With MT
Hartman

1t was said of George Washington
the first President of the United States,
that he could not tell lie. VIII the
historian of the future hold up Theo-
dore Roosevelt as a person of diamet-
really opposite capacity and habits in
the matter Of veracity? Such a histo-
rian will at least note that never before
the administration of Mr.. Roosevelt
had the personal honor of Chief
Magistrate been so repeatedly in con-
troversy. Never before in the history
of this country have questions Of We
racity arisen with such scandalOus fire.
ouency between President and men
either in the public service or IN pri-
waite station. We have had in the
White House men who were called
upon to face trying situations men
who were active in politics who were
in as close personal touch is Mr..
Roosevelt with public men and poll
ticis ms, Yet we cannot recall case in
which any former President consider
ed it necessary at periodical intervals
to brand as liars all men whose recol-
| lections regarding facts or interviews
did not coincide with that of the Chief
Magistrate.
In the course of human events; how
ever ii has been made clear that many
of Mr.. Roosevelt's imputations upon
the veraclty of his political opponents
and that OF Ger ain men who were once
conspicuous in his own party have
been reckless, unfounded and mex
cusable. His recent controversy with
Edward II. Hartman, for example,
furnishes absolute proof, if further
confirmation were needed, of the truth
of the charges made by Judge Parker
in 1904 respecting the contributions of
corporations to the Republ lean cam
paign fund. Judge Parker had no i'm
mediate opportunity to prove the
soundness of his statements. But the
insurance investigations and now the
revelations made by Mr., Hartman es
tablish conclusively that the corpora
tions did pour their money into the
campaign fund for the election of Mr.
Roosevelt. IL is not Judge Parker who
was guilty of lying, He Us absolutely
indicated, and the epithet which the
President flung at him could not stick
after it was possible to get at the
truth.
In the last three years the PRESIDENT
has denounced as liars Herbert W.
Bowen, former minister to Venezuela;
BeIlamy Storer, Ambassador to Austria,
I ex-senator Chandler, HI. Whitney,
John +. Wallace, Judge A. B. Parker,
PouItney Bigelow and Edward ii :.
Hartman. This is record of which no
Thief Magistrate can be honestly
proud. 1t suggests certain turbulence
and certain contempt for his fellow
citizens wholly out of keeping with
the code he has advocated in his. al
most innumerable addresses on the
characteristics of the COOL citizen.
{
Mr.. Hartman was delegate to the
Republican National Convention and
voted for the nomination of Mr.. Roose-
welt. The President wrote to him on
June 26, 1904: "As soon as you come
home | shall want TO see you. 1t has
been a real pleasure to see YOU" This
| letter it should be remembered, Mr..
Roosevelt. suppressed in the matter
given out for publication. On Septem-
her % the President wrote to Mr.. Har-
riman that there were one or two points
in his letter OF acceptance that he de-
sired to discuss with the railroad mag
nate. On October IA President Roose-
Welt notified Mr.. Hartman that he
wished to discuss certain Government
matters with Mr.. Hartman before he
wrote his annual message to Congress.
These facts establish the existence of
cordial and even confidential relations
between the President and Mr. Harri-
man at that period. Yet Mr.. Roose-
welt knew then exactly what kind of
man Mr.. Hartman was. he knew
that he was practical to the last de-
gree; that he was not in politics purely
Tor recreation OIL for un selfish or pa
triotic purposes. He said, in fact, in
one of his letters to Mr.. Hartman, My
dear sir, you and | are practical men. +"
The President, as practical politi-
tician," must have realized that the
corporations do not give generously to
! campaign funds for the mere joy of
i giving. He must have had knowledge
of Mr.. Harriman's method and con-
sidered himself fortunate to be in alli-
ance with him. Whether in 1907 Mr..
Roosevelt is justified in denouncing as
a liar the man whom in 1904 he de-
clared it to be ''real pleasure to see1
IL, 81.