Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-05
Giving Tit for Tat in Washington
City


me speech OF Mr. wnIett. as found IN
the Congressional Record of January Is,
Is spicy reading. II deals with Mr.. RoOse-
ven without any gsoves at al. u may be
what the German emperor would call lese
majaste, but in republic It stands for
Tit for tat and Mr.. ROosevelts enemies
will take considerable satisfaction that
the arraignment Is set down in black and
white
Everybody in public life who does any
thing receives criticism Sometimes they
give and take I'm good humor. AT other
times they kick up a dust and exploit
their indignation furiously. But II is the
truth and the facts that hurt In such en-
counters. II Mr.. Willett has stated facts.
the story OF 'sThe Passing OF Roosevelt
Will live and grow. II he has MADE lalse
or untrue statements, the recOn will hit
Mr.. wuIett harder than anybody else.
So we can give Mr.. Wnlett's side OF the
story and let II stand for itself, be IL
good, bad or indifferent.
He SAYS the president plays the tyrant,
but his play Is gOOd-to laugh at Ihat ne
IS constantly playing TO the gallery GODS
because that Is his style-as cowboy. with
urepoSterous notions as an assembiyman,
as a defeated candidate for mayor IN New
York city. as a Sherlock Holmes police
commissioner as a bitter opponent OF ed
rors far ahead OF him in style and learn
ing as knitting his chief in the back When
assistant secretary OF the navy, as tue
lone warrior in Cuba saved by black
troops at san Juan Hill. this particular
nraSident Is a comet that roves at VIII
regardless Of the law that applies 10
stars and planets
He saws Mr.. Roosevelt points out George
Washington's errors, says that Jefferson
was untruthful that Madison and Monroe
were great failures. that Jackson was ls-
nOrant and headstrong, that Martin van
buren, was wicked-served the Mammon
OF unrighteousness. that John Tyler was
a monument of littleness and Pierce was
little with low and mean beginnings, ana
Polk was the very smallest OF the sman
presidents who came between Jackson anu
Lincoln. That took in Harrison, Taylor
Fillmore and Buchanan His frank aOuse
Of other presidents has shut the lips OF
RooseveIt's defenders. says Mr.. Willett-
Wfuett saws the court at Washington
IN the white house is greater than even
Napoleon's the king and the court are
there and had been described by the
blunt words OF a western senator's Wlte-
who said How the folks would rear
around at home II they knew what KIND
OF a place washington is. Why, 1 near
that up at the white house IL the presi-
dent leaves the table for a little while
during meals. all the women. his wife
included. must stand up until he gets
hack and he. Roosevelt started that
ceremony. Do you like L.? / don't say
I do I've always noticed that when
ever ANYBODY that is somebody bankers
after a thing Of that sort, its because
he has got a streak OF nobody In him. L
know they laugh all day at the presi-
dents queer nzHnefs. but then 20 do We
/ suppose there Is nothing deader on TINS
earth than an ex-president with no ofhces
TO distribute and no further hopes OF a
political career.
said Mr.. Wirett. you know, as well as
anybody can tell you. how your constit-
uents and mine look al the development OF
such a bogus court Surely l have never
seen any man out OF inebriate asylum so
coeksure as our president that all the
world Is drunk and he only sober have
never met anybody out OF a mad house.
not another person who thinks the uni
verse is telling lies on him and he the
only truth teller. He DETAINED Admiral
schIey and heaped insult on General
Miles and Il is a historical fact that he
took the side Of Sampson against Schley
as 10 the time the battle Of Santiago bay
was fought"
This Is not a fun quotation Of all that
Mr.. WfIIett said IN his speech, but it is
a screamer from start TO finish and will
give US a synopsis. This speech has been
published IN fun in the Congressional
Record and Is sent through the mails from
the Atlantic to the Pacific from the lakes
20 the gulf. II will find readers in
plenty.
The president has less than six weeks
10 hold his ONCE and his time being so
fully occupied he may not get in an an
swer before the 9Th OF March. but IL must
be more than unpleasant for him to recol-
lect that after 9Th OF March he will have
no patronage to give his friends and no
weapon to fight his foes.