Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-14
Son-in-Law Longworth's Proposition Startling

after Ciercupce tiie collector as an I'M
desirable citizen while denying on the
eve OF = campaign that the collection
was ever made. In nay Judgment, I'M
til NJ Roosevelt has had the manli-
ness and the courteouSness to admit
he was wrong when he denounced
Judge Parker as willful and mali
cious falsii;er when the judge exposed
his trade with the plutocracy he has
no right to continue his pose as a NOR
al uplifter and an ethical teacher.
A Continuing Dynasty.
Mr. Nicholas Longworth. the son-in-
law of the president has contributed
materially 70 the interest of this. cam
paign and somewhat to the gayety Of
the presidents opponents by his speech
in which he declared that President
Roosevelt would be n candidate in
1916. Mark how this figures out, The
president succeeded President McKin-
ley in 1901 he served out that term,
was elected again In 1904. In 1908 he
selects-that is. if the American people
will permit this successor. That sue
Mr. Taft's sponsor in politics returns
cheerfully to take up the politicians
burden and to become once more the
president. This cheerful proposition
for self continuing dynasty must ap-
peal strongly to the American people
There is no reason why it should stop
with the return of Roosevelt to office
I,rx n
end of one term his son-in-law Long
worth would be able to take up the
heavy task of governing the American
people and by the end of his term
Quentin or Kermit or some other
Rooseveitian youth would be of age
to accept the scepter handed down to
I him
But. seriously. it is a matter for the
American people to give careful thought
| to when the proposition is made that
| a political combination which has had
| twelve years Of uninterrupted power
| should be given twelve or sixteen years
more The management of affairs at
| Washington is not so wholly beyond
| and above suspicion that an occasional
| change In those who have control of it
would not be good thing. Aside from
\ the government, l believe that every
| right thinking citizen will hold it well
to have an occasional housekeeping.
| You who read this may not believe in
| the immediate reduction of the tariff
| You may not believe in the guaranty
| Of bank deposits. But If you knew
your Washington as l do you would
believe in a clearing out of the cob
webbed Offices in which clerks who
have outlived their usefulness are
housed and, even more important. the
| trim and gorgeous offices in which de
| partment heads who draw salaries OF
| $500 a year and spend three times
that much are luxuriating
What Might Be Done.
The election of Democratic presi
dent who would install a new set OF
| department heads would accomplish
this reform and, besides saving mil
lions Of the peoples money, would
make for greater efficiency in all ex
ecutive departments. But my ole
friend Champ Clark pointed out to m,
the other day that even though W.
should lose the presidency-which mel
Their he nor believe we will-the cleo
ton of Democratic house Of repre-
sentatives would contribute to tn,
same result. Mr.. Clark pointed on
that Democratic house would elect
Democratic speaker-of course b,
would be that speaker-and that tn,
Democratic speaker could apnoipt sey