The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-05-13
THE HARTMAN, MATTER.

IIt IfRftnINlhNs WAL
President Roosevets explanation
'of the relations, between him and T..
|H. Hartman ~ .searcely convincing.
|Of course, we must depend largely
on the publications ( In the inspired
press for an understanding of the
Presidents view of the case, but with
Jail allowance for possible errors there
seems to be well-determined White
House version of the story. On that
the public are entitled to pass judg-
ment.
| in the minds Of reasonable people,
There can be but one conclusion. Mr..
Roosevelt had an intimacy of associa-
'tion with Mr.. Hartman, and there
was frequency of consultation be-
tween them that cannot be recon-
cied with the view now put forward
that the President was holding the
railway magnate at arms length
1t is obviously only q recent discOv-
|ery that Mr.. Hartman is 80 dan
|gerous man he should only be ad-
United to the White House under
metaphorical guard.
The latest announcement that the
Roosevelt distrust of Hartman was
SO pronounced that the last time
Hartman tried to have a talH with
President Roosevelt the latter polite
lly suggested that written record
be made of what might be said dur
ing the interview" cannot efface the
fact that the railroad king went TO
THE White House more than once on
the request of the President. Mr..
Roosevelt seems to have acquired dis
trust only when he learned Hartman
was talking as he wrote in the Web
ster letter.
1t is quite safe to appeal for pop
|ular sympathy by attacking Harri-
man, who is generally accepted as ex-
emplifying the worst tendencies OF
Those who control the great aggre-
cations of wealth which have be-
come the vital problem of the Twen-
Itieth Century. Hartman spells an
athena for many millions of Amer
leans, so President Roosevelt COM
mands large measure of popular
sympathy when he appears as the
victim of very unpopuIcr man.
But even those who are glad enough
to- see Hartman hammered by the
''big stick" welded at the White
House cannot 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 Re-
publican campaign treasury in 1904
This Is not denied, but it is said, by
way of excuse, that the corporations
made their contributions voluntarily
and not as response to Matchmaking
demands. The excuse answers a
charge that was never made. II
was not necessary to blackmail di.
rectly. The need of official favor
made direct threat of Official oppres.
tlsion superfluous.
Gloss it over as you may with
Ispecious explanations, the story NJ
the administrator relations to the
great corporations and the manipu
lating financiers who control then
'makes unpleasant reading. Ever
: democrats can wish the record hat
never been made, for it Increases the
complications of the grave prdhlem,
OF legislation these powerful latter
day combinations of capital have i'm
posed both upon the Federal ant
the State governments. 1t doesnr
help things in the least to learn tha,
President Roosevelt intends to pres.
) his railroad policy with increased
vigor as a means Of getting ever
with Hartman. Wise legation can.
not be conceived in pique or enacted
In a fit of resentment st. Ioui.
Republic.