Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-08

magnificent a game Of politics as has been
played in a quarter Of century, II not
rtrce the foundation Of the republican ATTY,
is now on. and unless all =, fail the M
terest will grow in inte ~ Ill the ma
tional convention meets q {, IS.
President Roosevelt dea T>%< night.
He is at his best In the 70 u Y mble
of political battles, and the = .Nas
thrown down to his enemies, ~
says Mr.. Hartman is one. will be ~
IN every state OF the union by TN, ~
are either disgruntled or have been y
out Of ONCE because Of inability, or
cause OF worse things they have done. I.
Hartman letter TO Sidney Webster and the
instant reply Of President Roosevelt with
voluminous correspondence has been the po-
Mtical sensation OF the week and cannot help
but have a decided effect upon the cam
paign being waged in several states in be-
half Of favorite sons.
Edward II. Hartman may be a novice in
the game Of practical politics. but he is no
spring chicken. His has been life of
oeaseless activity since his Ast year, and
the property which he has amassed, TO say
nothing Of the vast railroad holdings which
he has gathered together and which he
controls through agents. being looked upon
as one OF the great forces in the COM
merciai life of today, warrants the asser-
ton that when his letter TO Sidney Web
ster was printed, It was the beginning OF a
concerted effort upon the part Of those in
imical to the theories and principles Of
Theodore Roosevelt to bring about his un-
doing If such a thing be possible.
Aimed PRIMARILY at Taft.
1t was the beginning Of movement in
tended primarily to encompass the defeat
OF Mr.. Roosevelt's preferred candidate for
the presidency William II. Taft 1t was
the beginning OF what those engaged In
the movement hoped would prove to be a
far-reaching criticism Of the presidents po-
sition regarding the regulation Of railroads
and a condemnation of his activity in the
prosecution OF land looters and grabbers,
illegal feAcers OF the public domain and the
horde Of petty pllfererB whom he has prose-
cuted.
There Is no more astute politician than
Theodore Roosevelt He knows the game
both fr6m it's theoretical and practical side
and ne is no coward. He fights in the
opelh, much like the men Of olden days did
with pistol and rapier. This was his
method when he denounced as a malicious
and deliberate "lie" Mr.. Harriman's state
Inent that he had raised at the presidents s
request 100000 for the campaign Of 1904; and
It was by this vigorous language OF the
presidents tnhC Lne issue was JOlhSN
Letter Inspired by Trust MagnateS.
President Roosevelt believes the Harri-
man letter was inspired by a crowd Of
trust magnates, the head and front Of
which Is IN Pennsylvania, but having "in-
terests" I'm Ohio Indiana, and Illinois,
that It's purpose is not only to control the
next national convention and TO fix upon
some reactionary candidate ultimately, but
also TO check reform legislation by con-
Eress next winter. President Roosevelt
looks upon Mr.. Hartman as the head
devil" IN the movement to discredit his
policies Since the Webster letter ap-
peared the president has told certain Wis
itors to the White House that while he
does not choose often to give names in his
Characterization Of certain classes Of
men. he has taken a peculiar satisfaction
lately in linking the name Of Hearst, Debs
and Hartman.
Realizing that the hght VIII be desperate
and that the battle for clean politics and
clean men will meet bitter opposition. the
president has begun systematic feeling
out OF sentiment in the various states,
particularly In the far and middle west,
with a view to ascertsining Just what
strength the reactlonary movement will
have when the state conventions meet TO
select delegates to the national convention
60 nominate Mr.. Roosevelts successor.
ERsct of civil Service in Ohio.
It has not been great many years since
a political situation such that created
in Ohio by the rival ambitions OF secre-
tary Taft and Senator Foraker for the
presidential nomination would result in
a wholesale decapitatiOn OF federal ONCE
holders In the state. The heads OF post
masters, collectors OF internal revenue,
United States marshals and attorneys and
all their subordinates would be brought
20 Washington and presented to the occu-
pant OF the White House II, say. the days
no further back than those OF Grant could
be recalled. II goes without saying, OF
course, that a great many II not the ma
3ority OF the chief federal ofhceholders in
Ohio owe their positions to Senators For
aker and Dick. Naturally these influential
persons will be inclined 20 cooperate with
Senator Foraker In the open night he has
declared against Secretary Taft When
confronted by a situation like this Grant
and most OF his predecessors moved with
great vigor and directnsss They decapi-
tated without mercy or delay every Of
Acial whom they had cause to suspect OF
disloyalty That was before the country
had become educated 10 the civil service
system which now prevails Under the
present dispensation every state federal
ofbcsholder below the grade Of chief Is
protected pg kAN avn eeANASe law ana ~
forbidden to participate in politics, al
though. OF course, he has the privilege 70
vote Presidsnt Roosevelt was once a
member OF the Civil Service commission
ana assisted In rigidly enforcing the law
ana protecting federal ofncials from Just
.ueh dangers as might beset them In Ohio
should there be a disposition 70 return to
the manners and customs OF some OF his
most nlustrious predecessors However.
should any federal ohloial In Ohio become
too active In the hght out there on either
side. but especially on one side, his head
could and doubtless would be chopped on
under the rules OF the Civn Service COM
mission, OF which the president is sx-