Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-02-27
TWO VIEWS OF THE PRESIDENT.


tredge Haskins of the Second, have both
given addresses recently in New England
cities before large gatherings of citizens.
Mr.. Foster spoke in Maine and Mr.. Has
kins before the Vermont Veterans associ-
alton at Boston. Very naturally, their
talks ran along on current themes, and
very naturally both discussed to some
extent President Theodore Roosevelt. 1t is
interesting to note how they agreed and
how they differed.
Mr.. Foster said that good citizens and
good Republicans might not like the
presidents methods, especially his habit
of speech, but that they credited him
with an honest heart, patriotic purpose,
unbounded courage end unparalleled
mighty work for good. We may differ,
said Foster, as to who should be his sue
cessor, but we cannot erase the fact that
Roosevelt has begun the policies that any
man who may follow him must continue.
As Foster expressed it,
Sand so it comes to pass that President
Roosevelt may place one hand on the
triumphs of Governor Hughes in New
York and the other on the victories of
the administration over the foes of good
government and equal opportunity and
the square deal, and say in all sincerity:
these are mine, for awakened the pub
lie conscience; l aroused public senti-
ment; summoned people back to their
duties, their privileges, their obligations
as citizens of the republic and citizens OF
their respective states
Now see how Haskins dealt with Roose-
welt. AS reported, he said
'sSome charge that Mr.. Roosevelt is re-
sponsible for the present financial panic;
others give different reasons for condi-
tions, but 1 have my own personal views
of the matter. / have great regard for
President Roosevelt; but instead of visit
ing different cities, as the chief executive
did, and telling what they should do, he
should have left it to the judicial depart
ment, or directed them in silence. The
result is that innocent men and innocent
corporations have been frightened by
the president"
Don't you see the difference between
Foster and Haskins in this matter? Fos-
ter admits that the president isn't per-
feet, but dwells chiefly on his virtues, not
his defects. Haskins merely alludes to his
great regard for the president, then turns
his batteries of criticism upon Roosevelt.
His brief word of favor is forgotten in his
condemnation.
OF the two estimates of Roosevelt, we
believe Fosters is not only the better and
the more correct, but that it represents
the views of nine out of ten Republicans
in Vermont.
on the same theme, are meeting with re-
buke from the home press, with the sim
gle exception of the Rutland Herald, an
intense anti-Roosevelt paper. Here are
some clippings
Kittredge Haskins, representative from
the Second Congressional district of YER
mont, is the most recent prominent pub
lie official to throw off Illicit bondage of
restraint and man-fashion to tell unre-
servedly his first-hand knowledge OF per-
nicious conditions as they obtain at
ans association in Boston Friday even
ing, he caustically reprimanded Mr..
Roosevelt for his assumption of dictato-
rial methods and charged him with bav-
ing done irreparable harm to individuals
and corporations by employment of those
rough-riding tactics which the president
employs in lieu of craftsmanship, and
which once served their intended pur-
pose, but which now have so discredited
the man in public estimation. Coming
from one who, heretofore, has been reck-
oned an sdherent of Roosevelt and whose
opportunities for gaining a correct judg-
ment of current public affairs are of the
sbest, Congressman Haskins' criticism is
both courageous and illumining and will
rebound most emphatically to his credit
Rutland Herald.
1t looks from this distance as though
Kittredge Haskins would have the fight
of his life to hold his place in Congress as
representative from the Second Vermont
district. His recent attack on the presi-
dent has apparently lost him many
friends. The following from the Morris
Vile News and Citizens is sample OF the
knocks he is getting from the state press
Evidently kit Haskins and the pres
ident are not on the very best of terms,
| before the Vermont Veterans association
/ in Boston last week. Kit says the pres
ident talks too much and we guess Kits
| constituents in Vermont are saying the
same thing about him when he thus criti-
cises President Roosevelt. Rutland
News.
Congressman Haskins has an undoubt-
ed right to his personal opinion of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his policies. He was
not required to sacrifice any part of his
independent judgment and manhood
when he accepted his election to Congress
and it would have been shamefully I'M
American il he had.
But Congressman Haskins was a good
soldier many years ago and he knows
that it is not considered the most encour-
aging kind of tactics in great battle to
stop to hold court martial of the leader
on the firing line.
Congressman Haskins gave aid and
comfort to the critics of President Roose-
welt two years ago even in the very act OF
accepting the commission of the Republic
can party of his district to go to Wash
ington and help Roosevelt in his great
/ of iaol