Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-04
RoosFvr1rAND HARR1MAN.


The interchange OF personal compli-
ments precipitated by the publication
OF the Hartman letter charging bad
faith on the part Of President Roose-
welt will evoke widespread discussion
and may be only the first chapter in a
series Of ordinations and re-crimina-
tious, bat the essence OF the contro-
versy does not seem to strike very
deep. If the outbreak on the part OF
Mr.. Hartman is, as has been sug-
gested, part Of a plan to discredit the
president with the people who have
steadfastly supported him in his pub
lie policies, Il is sure to miscarry. The
president 30 far, at least, has decidedly
the better of the situation and where
the two men differ in detail of the In
terviews that passed between them the
president has the advantage of disin-
terested motive
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Harri-
man agree on one vital point. Both
we're interested in the 1904 state cam
paign in New York. Mr.. Harriman's
interest was peculiarly personal. He
had become identified with the insur-
ance interests in New York-he ad-
mits that he was drawn into 1t unwil-
lingly and without knowledge of the
situation---and many of his interests
threatened to suffer by the defeat of
Mr.. Higgins, the republican candidate
for governor. President Roosevelt's in
terest in the campaign could not have
been based on anything more than de-
sire to have the republican state ticket
elected His own success, as presi-
Dental candidate in New York, was
never questioned even by democrats.
His election was assured without the
electoral vote of New York, and the in
timation that he sought financial or
other aid for the national campaign in
that state must fall of its own weight.
Mr.. Harriman's error, probably a
natural one, lies in his notion that his
personal concern over the result on the
state ticket in New York was shared
by Mr.. Roosevelt as to the national
ticket.
Mr.. Harriman's contentious are also
weakened by his assertion that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had agreed to make
either Senator Depew or James Hazen
Hyde ambassador to France. The pres
dents most bitter political enemies
admit that he possesses political fore
sight of a rare order. That admission
acquits him of the charge of ever hav-
ing seriously considered the appoint
ment Of either of the men named to
the Paris post, even in 1904. President
Roosevelt must have known both De-
pew and Hyde and known them we'll.
Later developments in the insurance
scandals furnished ample justification
Of the presidents wise refusal to con-
slider either of the men. b.
The revelations contained in this
correspondence may throw an interest
ing light upon the recent visits OF Mr..
Hartman to the White House and his
proclamation processing intense desire
to cooperate with the president and
the public in the interest of better
understanding and more harmonious
relations. It is safe to assume that the
president will pursue the course
mapped out for perfecting government
control and supervision of railroads re-
CARELESS of the position of Mr.. Harri-
man and his associates, who have evil
IDENTIFY been trying first to persuade.
and then to brighten, the president into
a course conforming more to their
wishes.