Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1907-04-11
ooNTRovsRsY MgANs MAAr,


Most thinking people in Washington
believe that the controversy between
Mr.. Hartman and the President over
harFiman's alleged contributions "a
the campaign fund Of 1908 ia a par. Of
widespread scheme for discredlting
the administration with the public h
order to divert attention from them.
selves. Itis simply drawing a red
herring across the trail TO confuse the
scent. Nobody particularly cares
whether Mr. Hartman contributed
$4,000 to the campaign fond as he
save he did, or not. After the way he
had looted the Alton railroad, he was
we'll able TO contribute million Il he
wanted to-. But that he came "a
Washington at the solicitation OF The
President, and contributed the money
a. the solicitation Of the President.
nobody for q moment believes. There
would be very little hesltation in the
minds of most people In accepting
President ROosevelt's word before that
OF Mr.. Hartman, and the mere fact OF
whether he ever made the contribu.
ton at all, ought to be easily estab-
lished from bic own check book or the
records of the Republican Campaign
Committee. Secretary Cortelyou,
who was then chairman of the COM
mittee, says that no such contribution
passed through his hands, and Corue-
lius N. Bliss, who is VIGOROUSLY a tact.
turn, unapproschable old person, re-
fuses TO discuss the matter at all.
II would be good thing. how.
ever, for the reputation OF the
party II the members OF the committee
would for once come cot into the open
and admit Whether or not they receive
ed the money. Conclusive proof that
the contribution as we'll az the method
of it was q fiction, would do more
than anything else TO stop the cam
paign OF elimination that the rail-
roads are now wsging against the gov.
eminent simply because they fear the
government Is going to make them act
fairly by the shipping public. This
Is not a party matter, and the bitterest
party man can afford TO look At il
fairly. II il were the Democrats
party that was in power, the same
campaign OF investigation would be
waged against the railroads, perhaps
an even more severe campaign, Aud
ia that case, the railroads would be
Just as ready TO attack the investigs.
tors. The fiRht that is on now IL no
party matter. IL is one Of public pol.
icy, and the people at large will be
wise IL they see Il in that light,
The Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion IL going this week TO put Mr..
Hartman on the grill again. They
will not have him on The witness stand,
but the representatives Of his railroad
system will present arguments neIoFe
the commission as to why he should not
be compelled to answer the questions
that be evaded during the recent New
York investigation When the argu-
ments OF the railroad and the govern.
meut attorneys have both been IRE.
sented, the commission will decide
whether TO take the case to New. York
courts and ask for a role compelling
Hartman 20 answer the questions eel
20 his private stock jnbbing exploits.
Whether this is done or not, the evi.
dence accumulated IN the case will be
certified 10 she Department Of Justiee.
where the Attorney General will de-
eide whether TO institute civil or q
criminal action against Mr.. Hartman.