The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-24

1t was that inspired this unjust and cruel persecution against me. have not made any public answer to that question. I do it now. It was Theo- dore Roosevelt. True. he Mad to op- crate through others. Some of them acted with malice of the kind that animated Roosevelt. Others were driv- en to help in the great wrong through fear. It was like him to deny having anything to do with institutlng pro- ceedings against me until after I ;~as convicted Then he boasted, It was who aimed the gum The question naturally arises why he did it.
 When the Cuban Reciprocity leg islation was pending in the Senate, I made speech that made me tempor- arily notorious if not famous. I said, in substance, that I would not sup port thea measure In its .hen form. that 1t was plainly in the interest of the Sugar Trust that 1t would be . gift of many millions of dollars an- nuaily to that great corporation. and crushing blow to the beet sugar in- dustry: that the whole measure was conceived in hypocrisy; that 1t vicla- ted the cardinal principles of the Re- publican party on the tariff; that Cu- ba was prosperous, and did not need 1t; that the Cubans would not get the benefit of the reduction of the tarif Ou ba6aF IT Ah0dCs anu that lO ouP- port bill of this kind was either an insult to the intelligence of Republi- can Senators. or an indictment of their integrity, or both.
 When the caucus at which I made this speech broke up, it was with the understanding that the fight was over for the session. But smooth old Sena- tors were only pretending. They knew what the Sugar Trust had done for the Republican party, and did not care to oppose it's wishes, and they also wanted to stand in with the president. Hence, they were only too willing to give me and other Western Senators new to the game. far more credit than we were entitled to in the kill- ing of the bill. Had the members of the Political Community of Interest sincerely been for the measure, 1t would have been reported and passed.
 Machiaveflian Methods.
 At that time had not that knowl- edge of the Machiavellian method that so universally obtains in Senatorial management. I thought Senator's meant what they said. I learned to my sorrow that such was not always the case. That Senator who can best lie like the truth is the best equip ped to play the game, according to the modern way of doing things in Congress. Selfishness and fear are the controlling impulses there, ana everything rests on appearances. Words are used to conceal. not to express thought. I talked naturally and created a sensation. Roosevelt never forgave me.
 There was another incident that aroused the wrath of the president against me. could not agree with him about who was in command at the naval battle of Santiago. and I had the temerity to voice my convic- tione which is unpardonable crime with Roosevelt, unless what you say reflects his wishes.
 Mir. Burton referred at some length to the Kansas delegation to the Re- publican Convention of 1904, saving that the movement supporting Hoch for Governor was given false col- bring and the president believed that 1t was a light. under cover. on him. and that Burton was working Tor Mark Hanna. This. he said. was un- true.
 'This is why" he said. T was first struck down. why was bounded for wears for a crime I never committed; why all the vast enginery of the gov ernment was brought up against me to hunt me to death.
 .sBut the door of hope cannot De closed against me. nor against any man who will waste no time in pro- volring nor breeding over injury, but has an abiding faith in the phil osophy of good,