The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-09
REYBURN STANDS PAT
"WhyShOuldn't | Rap ROOse-
Yelt?" He Asks.
UNITED STATES, NOT RUSSIA
Mayer of Philadelphia Refuses 20
Retract Any Statements Made Be
fore Young Republicans Regard
ing the Capitalization of Power
in the Hands OF One Man.

Philadelphia. April S.-'If merely be-
/ cause happen to be mayor of the city
1 must stand by like Il nincompoop and
have nothing TO say upon important pub
lie questions. I had better quit right
now"
With even greater freedom and greater
vigor than he had shown in his original
comments. Mayor Reyburn to-day thus
expressed himself in discussing his speech
before the Young Republicans OF Phiia-
delphia Saturday evening.
Asked if Il was his intention to criticise
the President in that speech, Mr.. Rey-
burn replied;
Suppose it had been. what of it? Mr.
Roosevelt is no better than sou or or
any other American citizen.
If we were in Germany and I should
have dared to critietse the Emperor. peo-
pie might have raised their hands in sur
prise. But this IS America, not Germany
or Russia, and why should criticism OF
the President or his policies be construed
as a crime?"
Mr.. Reyburn seemed vastly surprised
that his address had attracted such wide
spread attention as has bee given it,
but observed that the very fact that his
remarks We're apparently resented by the
Roosevelt supporters on the ground that
the President should be above criticism
emphasized the tendencies TO which he
had directed attention in his speech.
Roosevelt Subject to Criticism.
The mayor said very frankly. that, while
hs hgd h.aA uf sTfc
else or attack President Roosevelt had
he desired to do either. the President had
rendered himself justly liable to criticism.
and that the mere fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
happens TO be the President should not
exempt him from honest criticism Al
various times during the interview the
mayor displayed considerable feeling.
Asked the direct question, whether his
speech meant that he was prepared 10
aid Senator Penrose in capturing the
Pennsylvania delegation to the next Re
publican national convention in the in
terests Of Senator Knox. the mayor par
ried by replying:
When I spoke or Saturday night.
was not thinking whether Knox should
remain a Senator or Roosevelt a Presi-
deuls was thinking OF something bigger
of something greater ! was thinking of
the necessity of the men of our CITY. our
State, and oCr country familiarizing them
selves with public questions, so that they
might exercise intellgently the right OF
citizenship"
Mr.. Reyburn emphaticaliy denied that
he had held any conference with Senator
Penrose, or any other political leader. in
references to his speech, and declared that
it had been made upon his own Initiative
Mayor Reyburns attention was eaIIee
to the fact that his reference to the big
stick was an unmistakable reference 10
the President.
I never mentioned the big stick
quickly rejoined the mayor
Did Not Mention big Stick"
Indeed, throughout my entire speech 7
was careful TO refrain from any reference
to the big stick What / did saw was
that the trainers of our Constitufiop
never contemplated any government nv
"A great father at Washington TharI
such an idea was contrary 10 our Amer
In C1rfe Tuns,h Sa-..ss z,,,