Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-17
President As A Collector.

I From the New York sun Oct sthj
4 BY royal command that excellent
gentleman and trustworthy custodian.
Mr.. George r. Sheldon, the treasurer
J. the Republican National Committee,
has visited the White House to sit as
/ Saul at the feet Of Gamalie and learn
from an eminently practical" man how
best 20 raise the sinews of war. The
White House bulletin which narrates
the important meeting gives the assur-
ance that the President having put
some ginger in the campaign most
chemists would call it dynamite will
now impart vigor to a delicate patient
by a.hypodermic injection Of greenbacks
The Washington correspondent Of our
neighbor the Herald, thus speaks Of
the immediate effects Of the active in
tervention Of Mr. Roosevelt in the
matter Of a comparatively empty cam
paign treasury
There will be something doing in
the region in which Mr. Sheldon circu.
lates w the very near future. Balance
sheets Of the campaign fund totals
from which are reported to the resi-
dent indicate that il has increased
heavily since he took up the matter Of
adding to the assets. Several large
contributions which nave been hanging
back have been shaken down by the
President S vigorous methods and have
ratified into the treasury
Mr.. Roosevelt qualifications for this
work are beyond dispute The past has
shown thatin raising campaign funds he
Is unembarrased by ordinary considera-
tions Of official propriety or common de-
cency.
Who but Theodore Roosevelt would
have sent for My dear Hartman to
raise money on the eve Of an election,
coupling with the invitation the stmu-
lating assurance that IA few weeks
hence. before ! write my message,
shall get you to come down to discuss
certain Government matters not con
nectcd with the campaign" A Tam
many CRATER taking his toll Of suffer
ing and shame could not have been more
direct
Who but Theodore Roosevelt would
have directed two years later an inves-
tigation by the Interstate Commerce
Commission Of the Union Pacific Rail-
way system. upon the receipt Of infor-
nation conveyed by Mr.. James School
craft sherman that Mr. Hartman de-
clined to be muictcd further for cam
paign contributions?
Who but Theodore Roosevelt could
have detached from his Cabinet the
Secretary who was officially most init
matoly connected with commerce and
industry. and therefore with great cor
poration,. and make him the chairman
of the Republican national committee?
Who but Theodore Roosevelt would
have sought. through his personal
selection Of such chairman. contribu-
tion of $4,000 from the Standard Oil
Company. to help re-elect himself?
Who but Theodore Roosevelt would
for his own protection have written
simultaneously letter which directed
Mr. Cortelyou to return the Standard
OH contribution and then tacitly permit
lis retention and actual use in the
campaign?
Who but Theodore Roosevelt, with
the money Of Mr. Hartman. the
Standard oil Company and the nsur-
ance companies actively in use for his
reelection, could write letter to his
rival candidate for Presidential honors
so full of assumed Indignation and
righteous horror at truthful accusa-
tion that his countrymen gladly accept
ga the false answer for the true charge
and triumphantly carried the recipient
and chief beneficiary Of the corporation
contributions toa great personal triumph
as the very Exemplar of moral probity
and superior righteousness?
Who but Theodore Roosevelt could so
steal the livery % the court of heaven
by clothing that which closely bordered
on executive blackmail in a cloudy veil
Of SNUG hypocrisy
Notwithstanding Mr.. Roosevelt
special qualifications as campaign
collector we venture the prediction
that the contributions which will follow
his Intervention will not fall as thickly
as do the autumn leaves
AT least the thinking portion of the
American people know Mr.. Roosevelt
better than they did four years ago.
Letter to G. w. Wonnen.