Middletown transcript., 1909-01-16
WASHINGTON LErTER

isfdi
WAaHINeToS, D. O., January sth 1909
! The House Of Representatives has gotten
back at the President and il mid
language heaped Goals Of Hre on l,is head
for the structures innueDdos and insnltine
language Of bis annual message to Con-
gFess and for what the House calls "tbe
eyasiveness and Responsiveness Of what
they hoped would be an apology 81 4
least an explanation. The fact is that the
President in ''purging himself Of con.
tempt as the saying is, was ii anythine
more contemptuons than in The original
dose. There is talk apparently serious Of
impeachment proceedings and freouent
reference to the impeachment of Andrew
johnson the only precedent in American
history. But the two cases are utterly
without parallelism. Roosevelt is still tile
most popular man in the United States
and probably more popular to-dayon ac-
count OF this very incident than be was
eight months ago when It took an iterated
and reiterated announcement every morn
ing before breakfast to prevent the
country from nominating him before Ior
third term The President has not. t.used
the Secret Services malprepense for the
ingoings and outcomines Of Senators and
Members OF Congress; but, as is we'll
known. he has been after undesirable citi-
zens whether they were railroad presi-
dents, trust magnates or labor union boy
cotters and assassins 1t was through che
activity OF one Of departments under him
that the land frauds of Senator Mitchell.
Of Oregon, were discovered and that Nit
chell was tried and condemned. The de-
tective bureau received no instructions to
shadow Tillman, of South Carolina, and
he was not shadowed by Government de-
tectiyes OF the detective bureau but GER
tain information regarding bis alleged
speculation in Oregon land grants we're
brought to the attention of the President
through Government postoffice inspectors
and at the requests Of Senator Hale, 81
Maine. The information regarding SEN
ator TiIlman was sent direct to him. The
President and Senator TilIman have not
for a long time been on speaking terms
and the senator has improved every op-
portunity both in and ont Of the Senate
to denounce and characterize Mr. Roose-
welt in language that was nearer Billings
gate than parliamentary.
The antipathy, or 1 might say, enemity
between the men has become historic. Il
began two or three years ago when after
a fist fight on the Senate floor with sena-
tor McLaurin, the President failed to In
vite Senator Tillman 70 3 White House
reception to which all OF the othsr gera-
tors and members were invited. Senator
Tillman is a man Of uncultiyated ability,
and he is we'll posted in national affairs,
and especially in the affairs of the Senate
committees to which he is assigned. He
is, however, rough, uncouth, and not pre-
cisely representative Of that legendary
flower of chivalry, Southern gentleman.
The present administration, as it is we'll
known, has been after rascals, undesirable
citizens, and whether they wers railroad
presidents, senators or Jail birds, Il has
been the effort to hunt them down. The
fate Of Senator Mitchell .of Oregon; ia The
land fraud cases is fresh 10 the memory
of every reader There was no reason
why the Administration should make an
effort to investigate the alleged relations
OF Tillman or any other Senator OF
course, he has denied any connection
with the Oregon land frauds. Senator
Mitchell, also, denied on the floor Of the
Senate with tears and with vociferous as
sertions of innocence. Senator Mitchell
was condemned.
Barely fifty more days OF President
Roosevslt's term remains, and there is
every appearance that the remaining days
viii be as strenuous as the President could
desire, and it may be doubted If he will
find among the wild beasts Of Africa gamer
entertainment than the House and Senate
are disposed to give him before the fourth
of March. To the student OF cuFrsnt his
tory are spread before the world ia the
daily press the situation is entertaining
and edifying. Only few months ago it
was necessary for the President to iterate
and re.iterate bis declaration made on the
evening of bis election that he would not
under any consideration, have a third
term. The people were determined to
nominate him and it was with consider
able reluctance that they named TIE lnan
Of hig choice, but having named him,
elected him With agreat majority mainly,
or in great part at least, because be repre-.
sented Roosevelt and the Rocseyelt poll
eies. Now, the newspaper head lines
have the startling word 'simpeachnent.
and this procedure is actually discussed
in Congress. Is Theodore Roosevelt less
popular now than be was before the pres
idential nominating convention assembled
at Chicago? Certainly not. Il is prob.
able that he is more firmly entrenched ia
the condolences and admiration Of the
people than he was then, and among
other reasons because be has expressed
his mind to Congress- and told this naked
truth.
WHO WILL BE AssTsNEDl