The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-04-25
PRES. ROOSEVELT GIVES
HIS CRITICS HARD RAPS
Deplores Efforts to Influence Justice and Re-
peats Condemnation of Undesir-
able Citizens.

whom -denounce represent the men
who have abandoned that legitimate
movement for the uplifting of labor,
with which l have the most hearty
sympathy; they have adopted prac-
tices which cut them off from those
who lead this legitimate movement.
IN every way shall support the law
| lbiding and upright representatives OF
abor, and in no way can better sup
port them than by drawing the sharp
sst possible line between them ON the
,ne hand, and on the other hand, those
preachers of violence who are them
selves the worst foes of the honest
aboring men.
Efforts to coerce Justice.
Let me repeat my deep regret that
any body of men should SO far for
get their duty to their country as to
sndeavor by the formulation Of socie-
lies and in other ways to influence the
course of justice in this matter. l
have received many such letters as
rours. Accompanying thom were news
paper clippings announcing demon
strations, parades and mass meetings
designed to show that the representa-
lives of labor, without regard to the
!acts, demand the acquittal of Messrs.
Haywood and Meyer. Such meetings
ian of course be designed only to
,oerce court or jury in rendering a
verdict, and they therefore deserve
ail the condemnation which you in
your letter say should be awarded
70 those who endeavor improperly to
influence the course of justice.
you would, Of course, be entirely
within your rights If you merely an
nounced that you thought Messrs.
Meyer and Haywood were desirable
.itizens,' though In such case should
AXE frank issue with you and should
say that, wholly without regard to
whether or not they are guilty of the
rhine for which they are now being
ried, they represent as thoroughly I'M
desirable a type of citizenship as can
be found in this country; a. type
which, in the letter to which you so
lnreasonably take exceptions, show
I'd not to be confined to any one class,
out to exist among some representa-
ives Of great capitalists as well as
lmong some representatives Of wage
workers.
Indifferent to Condemnation.
TN that letter l condemned both
ypes. Certain represen satives of the
great capitalists in turn condemned
ne for incldding Mr.. Hartman in my
condemnation Of Messrs Meyer and
Haywood. Certain of the representa-
ives of labor in their turn condemned
ne because I included Messrs. Meyer
Ind Haywood as undesirable citizens
together with Mr.. Hartman. l am
rs profoundly Indifferent to the con-
| iemnation in one case as in the other.
challenge as right the support of
! Ill good Americans, whether wage
sarners or capitalists, whatever their
occupation or creed, or in whatever
portion of the country they live, when
condemn both the types of bad citt,
!enship which / have held up to repro
baton. 1t seems to me a mark of
utter insincerity to fail thus to con-
iemn both, and to apologize sor either
robs the man thus apologizing of all
right to condemn any wrongdoing in
any man, rich or poor, in public or in
private life.
"You say you ask for square deal
or Messrs Meyer and Haywood. So
10 l. When l say square deal /
| mean a square deal to everyone; it is
equally a violation Of the policy of
he square deal for capitalist to pro-
lest against denunciation of capital
st who is guilty of wrongdoing, and
,or a labor leader to protest against
he denunciation of labor leader who
has been guilty of wrongdoing. | stand
Tor equal justice to both, and so far
as in my power lies / shall uphold
Justice, whether the man accused of
guilt has behind him the wealthiest
corporations, the greatest agregations
Of riches in the country, or whether
ne has behind him the most influential
labor organization in the country.
Truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt"