Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-24
The Hartman Matter,


President Roosevelt's explanation of
the relations between him and E. II.
Hartman is scarcely convincing. OF
course, we must depend largely on the
publications in the inspired press for
an understanding of the Presidents
View of the case, but with all allow
ance for possible errors there seems
to be a well-determined White House
version of the story. On that the pub
lie are entitled to pass Judgment.
In the minds of reasonable people
there can be but one conclusion. Mr..
Roosevelt had an intimacy of associa-
ton with Mr.. Hartman, and there was
frequency of consultation between
them that cannot be reconciled with
the view now put forward that the
President was holding the railway mag
nate ut arms length. 1t is obviously
only recent discovery that Mr.. Har-
riman is so dangerous man he should
only be admitted to the White House
under metaphorical guard.
The latest announcement that the
Roosevelt distrust of Hartman was so
pronounced that the last time Harri-
man tried to have talk with Presi-
dent Roosevelt the latter politely sug-
gested that written record be made
OF. what might be said during the in
lterview," cannot efface the fact that
the railroad king went to the White
House more than once on the request
of the President. Mr.. Roosevelt seems
to have acquired distrust only when he
learned Hartman was talking as he
wrote in the Webster letter.
lteis quite safe to appeal for popular
sympathy by attacking Hartman, who
Is generally accepted as exemplifying
the worst tendencies of those who con-
troll the great aggregations of wealth
which have become the vital problem Of
the twentieth century. Hartman spells
anathema for many millions of Ameri-
cans, so President Roosevelt commands
large measure of popular sympathy
When he appears as the victim of a
very unpopular man..
But even those who are glad enough
TO see Hartman hammered by the big
stick" yielded at the White House can
not be- blind to the fact that these re-
cent, disclosures offer cumulative con-
irmation of the charge that the great
corporations poured large umsof mon
ey into the Republican campaign treas
ury in 1904. This is not denied, but 1t
is said, by way of excuse, that the cor
porations made their contributions vol
unfairly and not as response to black
mailing demands. The excuse answers
"a charge that was never made. twas
not necessary to blackmail directly. The
need Of official favor made direct threat
of official oppression superiuous.
Gloss 1t over as you may with spe-
,cious explanations, the story of the ad-
iministration's relations to the great cor
porations and the manipulating finan-
ciers who control them makes unpleas-
ant reading. Even Democrats can wish
the record had never been made, for 1t
increases the complications Of the grave
problems Of legislation these powerful
ilatter-day combinations of capital have
imposed both upon the Federal and the
State governments. 1t doesn't help
things in the least to learn that Presl-
dent Roosevelt intends to pass his rail
road policy with Increased vigor as a
means of getting even with Hartman.
Wise legislation cannot be conceived In
pique or enacted in fit of resentment.
st. Louis Republic,