The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-01
HIT THE LINE HARD.
And He Did It Without Delay; an Esh-
mate Of Theodore Roosevelt


"The Influence Of Our Retiring Presi-
dent on American IdeaIsg was the sub.
jeet OF an intercsting address by the Rev.
Edward G. Downey at the universallHt
church last evening A large congreea-
ton was In attendance at the service.
Mr.. Downey said In parts Il realize that
IL Is yet too early to write a biography
Of Theodore Roosevelt, or to give q cor
root statement Of his worth to the eoun-
try, for 10 do this we can My get the
right perspective BY viewing him from
a distance. But he has done things and
has had a right influence on this country.
and II is Of this influence that wish
70 speak.
I'm the early SOS, great New York
railroad was enacting a scheme that I'M
volved the attorney general Of the state
and Judge Westbroolge Of the supreme
court OF the state. The railroad company
acknowledged its part in the plot, but It's
owners smilingly replied 10 all question
ers against them, What are you going
TO do about iti' The attorney general
and the Judge practically acknowledged
their guilt as q party to the scheme which
was a blot on the pages OF the history
OF the state, and they cried, What can
YOU do about itl We are in the hands
Of the machine, and the machine is in
the hands Of the railroad Petitions be-
gan 10 be sent from the people all over
the state to the representatives. from
their districts in the legislature, demand
ing tina something be done with this com
pany and the corrupt schemes, but the
legislators were tied. They could do
nothing but what the leaders OF the ma
chine said they could do, and consequent
iy the petitions were submitted to a
committee and the committee submitted
them to the vase basket
'sIn 1882 there arose in the legislature
a Young man, 23 years OF age, who made
motion for special resolution inn
peaching Judge Westbrooke. The young
man was Immediately sat upon by the
followers of the machine, who told him
they were sorry for him, but that he
had ruined himself politically and the
best thing he could do was to apologize
TO the bosses at once and never again
attempt to speak without the consent OF
the bosses. The resolution was promptly
voted onto the table and the legislators
informed the young man that the legis-
lature enacted what laws the party
wanted and not what the people wanted.
"The next day this young man pre-
scented another resolution and this was
Immediately laid on the table, but the
young man, replying to the leaders that
he did not care what the party thought
about it and that which he thougt was
right he was going to do, regardless Of
anv party, he presented his resolution a
third time. Meanwhile the papers of
the state had been printing his speeches
on the question and the people who had
read them began sending in their peti-
tions to their representatives, and IN
eight days after be first presented his
resolution, it was passed by vote OF
lO4 to 9.
ain the face Of those petitions from
the people the Legislators did not dare
to vote against the resolution and this
was the beginning Of the career of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, q man who has ever since
been trying to teach the people how to
get the things that they wanted, and no
man in America has done more for the
people in this regard than has the presi.
dent. When police commissioner Of New
York City. he closed the saloons Of that
city in the face of the bosses who said
he could not, and even defied him tc
do it."
In concluding his address, he said that
this country has been cleaner because o.
the achievements Of President Roosevelt
Better men have been elected to the high
er Offices in the state through his intiu.
cnee in fighting corruption and grafti
such men as Folk. the two Johnsons, Ia
Toilette. Roov, wnn ubifcfs kAvr beer
elected, and they have made this country
cleaner and better. No man mas stood
so long in the public mind and spoken
50 loud as Roosevelt. Regardless OF par
ty platforms and policies, he has stood
for what he considered the right. He
declared that the Golden Rule and the
Ten Commandments did play part in
his politics and should play part in ev-
cry mans politics
BY this statement and similar ones
which he made in public speech, people
said he had turned country preacher, but
that day old things passed away and
new things came in. He was large
enough to say simple things and make
them appear in all their mightiness.
President Roosevelt Is sincere in his pur-
pose to do right. The heart Of the people
has been right, but they did not know
how to do right, and Roosevelt has shown
them how. To strike the line hard and
never finch, and do it now, has been his
motto For him to start such righteous
reformation as has sewpt over the coun-
dare One more to mould tie nesfa,t l.'a'.
Anne American people in the right direction'
11a i unainching in his courage and be-
iisves what is right