Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-02-03

party in congress. The common
people would not have cared if he
had hit Cannon, Dalzell and Sher-
man, the men who opposed the
things he wanted done. But when
the election came around he had
no word to say; in fact, the nation
al convention, packed with Roose-
welt men, nominated Sherman for
vice president. Is it any wonder
if some of the people are beginning
to wonder how much Roosevelt
really meant by his talk?
In regard to the secret service
squabble, is Mr.. Gandrud ready to
acknowledge that all but one-sixth
Of the republicans in congress are
such rascals that they are afraid of
secret service investigation? If
that is so, is it not about time for
Mr.. Gandrud to get out of a party
that will send such representatives
to the national Legislature? The
Tribune has never been accused of
being unduly friendly to the repub-
lican party, but it has never made
such broad assertion, for it knows
that such a statement could not
possibly be true. Yet that is in
effect what Roosevelt charged. Is
it any wonder that congress got
mad and struck out the part of the
message referring to this. 1t was
the same old story. The secret SER
vice is necessity in the govern
mental affairs. But Roosevelt
wanted it practically forced into
one body under his pet, Chief Will
kie of the treasury department.
Congress wanted it to continue as
in the past, each department hav-
ing trained men for it's special lines
Of work. The secret service was
not crippled; the appropriations for
it were rather increased. But be-
cause he did not get it the way he
wanted, Roosevelt became angry
and flung his broad assertions at
congress. The incident itself is not
worth much discussion; but as an
example Of how Roosevelt's imperi-
Gus temper binders him in carry
ing out his good inte 1tions, it is
worthy of this extended notice.
Mr. Gandrud knows very we'll that
if, when he was in the Legislature,
the governor had branded him and
his associates as rasca!s for differ
ing with him on the method Of do
ing some departmental work, Mr..
Gandrud would have had his Vik-
ing blood reused and would un-
doubtedly have ''sassed back,' as
congress has done now.
! Mr.. Roosevelt may retain some
of his old popularity with those
who cannot distinguish bewteen
Roosevelt's aims and his unfortu-
nate methods. He has not lost any
standing with the rich potentates
of industry and commerce, for they
undoubtedly realize that his bark
is worse than his bite. But the in.
dependent and thinking classes rea-
lie with sorrow that he has made
a failure. on account of his egotisn
and harshness.
True, all presidents have been
more or less criticized. But we
can never recall of any president
before this having been so rebuked
by practically his entire party ir
congress. Washington was criti.
cised; but it was for the tendency
Of his party towards Capitalization
and four years later the American
people wiped that party out of ex.
istence. This would probably have
been done earlier but for shing.
toms personal popularity. In this
case, however, it is the president!
personal characteristics that arc
mainly instrumental in destroying
; the popularity he attained by his
advocacy of reforms that the people
wanted. An autocrat is not sue
cess in republic and never will
be.
Had Roosevelt with his good in
tentions coupled the geniality, self
forgetfulness and common sense
, that characterized Lincoln, he
would have been one Of our great
est presidents. He failed for lacl
Of these qualities. Can anyone