The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-10-02
UNDERMINING A GREAT REPUTATION


We have yet favorable comment upon President
Rooseves advent the campaign special peader
Taft Upon the contrary the press of the nation filled with
presson similar the following from the New York Journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin:
The role of the great American controveras may
genial for Mr. Theodore Roosevelt does all bet
the president of the United States The dignity of the Office be-
ing seriously impaired by Mr. Rooseves frequent
the field of personal and partisan controversy and what of still
Importance totally misleading conception of the response
be which belong the chief executive of the nation being
impressed the public mind The presidential oath of Office
prescribed by the constitution implies solemn obligation faith
fully execute the office of president of the United States and to
preserve protect and defend the constitution The enumerated
duties Of the Office such naturally belong to the conduct of
the of free people, and its implied merely
such been conferred the nveture of power in
the president the chief executive of the United States Only in
particular the president been nrusted with certain de-
the discharge of his functions That is
shall time time give the information of the
of the Union and recommend to their consideration such
shall and expedent But there is
interval between informing OF the state OF
the Union and bandng accusation and abuse with the opponents
of his pav in the effort to inject ginger hitherto
usy dull political campaign With whatever zest the present IN
cumbent the executive chair be able to throw himself into
lgnobe strife like this he making precedent which only
disorganzng effect system of government and
which extremely likely to turn plague the people by whom
Lit is tolerated encouraged
The president be unfortunate in his advisers no
member official family finds enough to point out
fatally he undermining great reputation and how
little doing to the which ne has 50 c al
Of ecrnaon and dngng the more its real issues must
be dwared and insignificant must become the person
av of the candidate whose behalf he forges the restraints OF
his office To Mr. Roosevelt doing more sorry service
nv those frequent explosions of his as to the can
dae for whose nomination he stretched to the breaking point
he whole influence of his office Even the most ardent OF poll
cans would to be the path OF prudence TO retire
from the field partisan activity till people had found time to
raae that the candidate nominated under conditions so qes
tonabe at Chicago really OF exceptional character ca
~ and fitness for the office Whether Mr. Taft calculated to
ina as capagner he obviously handicapped by
he restless anxiety the public of his too ardent friend
Mr. Roosevelt the latter merely the occupant OF some
yae station subordinate Official position ne might oe
ed to employ his superuou without anybody be
mo- the worse for it. But his service dlsservlce to the cause
@ be insists on regarding primarily if not solely his own
must be reckoned of minor consequences when compared with
tho lasting injury he is doing to the respect and consider
which belongs the Office of president OF the United States
That Is an exceedingly ugly story that the New York world
rn regarding President Roosevets connection with the so
ting and obtaining of campaign contribution oy the
committee the Standard Oil Company and which is
e5 in another column of this paper appears that Sec
Coeyou requested the contribution and sent treasurer
RIies t receive it. The amount was SIO00oo RooeVet e
ono If his famous that the light OF pub
MIL he is cornered ordering that the contribution be re-
d But it was returned and instead an additional SUD
was requested President Roosevelt cannot plead that he
m know that the money received and expended ana Cor
u hAd with place in his cabinet; and yet he hypocriti
asauts Governor Haskell alleging that ne IS SO close TO
Standard Oil that could contribution to the Democratic
fund from that corporation
cdad that BRYAN will carry Nebraska by larger vote
~ he received in 1896 certain to be found IN the
column and all other states of the west clear TO ana
icnding Ohio are placed in the doubtful column.
oiun contributions from trusts to the Republican fund
% from high patriotic motives asserts President Roose
The neope will something to regarding these same
motives and will express their opinions at the oao
box in November