Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-04

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integrity Of the congress. These state
ments are not, think, In accordance
with the facts The portion of my
message referred to runs as follows:
Last year an amendment was incor-
porated In the measure providing for the
secret service which provided that there
should be no detail from the secret serv-
Ice and no transfer therefrom. 1t Is not
too much to say that this amendment has
been of benefit only and could be of bene-
fit only to the criminal classes. II DELHI
erately introduced for the purpose of d.
minishing the effectiveness of war against
crime II could not have been better de-
vised to this end. 1t forbade the prac-
tees that had been followed to a greater
or less extent by the executive heads of
various departments for twenty years To
these practices we owe the securing OF
the evidence which enabled us to drive
great lotteries out of business and secure
a quarter OF million Of dollars In fines
from their promoters. These practices
have enabled US to discover some of the
most outrageous frauds in connection
with the theft of government land and
government timber by great corporations
and by individuals. These practices have
enabled US to get some o. the evidence in
dispensable In order to secure the convic-
ton OF the wealthiest and most formida-
BILE criminals with whom the government
has to deal. both those operating in VIOLA
ton Of the anti trust law end others. The
amendment in question was Of benefit to
no one excepting to these criminals, and
Il seriously hampers the government in
the detection of crime and the securing OF
Justice. Moreover, it not only affects de-
partments outside Of the treasury, but 1t
tends to hamper the secretary of the
treasury himself in the effort to utilize
the employees of his department so as to
best meet the requirements of the public
service 1t forbids him from preventing
frauds upon the custo,ns service. from in
vestigating Irregularities in branch mints
and assay offices and has seriously Grip
pied him. 1t prevents the promotion Of
employees in the secret service, and this
further discourages good effort. In its
present form the restriction operates only
to the advantage OF the criminal, of the
wrongdoer.
The chief argument In favor of he pro-
vision was that the congressman did not
themselves wish to be Investigated by
secret service men. Very little of such
investigation has been done In the past.
But IT is true that the work of the secret
service agents was partly responsible for
the Indictment ana conviction of a SEN
ator and cong essman for land frauds
In Oregon. l do not believe that II is
in the public crest to protect GRIM
- c.
and. exactly as We have again and again
during the past seven years prosecuted
and convicted such criminals who were
In the executive branch of the govern
ment. so in my belief we should be given
ample means to prosecute them IL found
in the legislative branch. But If this Is
not considered desirable special excep-
ton could be made in the law prohibit
ing the use of the secret service force in
investigating members of the congress.
1t would be far better to do this than to
do what actually was done and strive to
prevent or at least to hamper effective
action against criminals by the executive
branch of the government.
Asks Careful Reading of Message.
A careful reading of this message
Will show that said nothing to war
rant the statement that 1.-The majority
Of the congressman We're In fear of
| being investigated by the secret serv-
ice men, or that congress as a whole
was actuated by that motive" l did
not make any such statement in this
| message. Moreover, have never made
| any such statement about congress as
| a whole nor, with few inevitable ex-
! ceptions, about the members Of con.
| gress in any message or article OF
| speech. On the contrary. I have al
| ways not only deprecated, but vigor
ously resented, the practice Of indis
criminate attack upon congress and
| indiscriminate condemnation Of al
| congressman, wise and unwise, fit anC
unfit, good and bad alike. No one real
ICES more than 1 the Importance OF
cooperation between the executive
and congress. and no one holds the au
thority and dignity Of the congress Of
the United States in higher respec
than 1 do. have not the slightes
sympathy with the practice of judging
men for good or for i'll not on theil
several merits, but in mass. as mem
bers of one particular body or on,
caste. To put together all men holdin.
or who have held particular office
4 whether It be the Office Of presiden
or Judge or senator or member of tn,
house Of Representatives. and to elias.
them all, without regard to their in
dividual differences, as good or bat
seems to me utterly indefensible. ant
1t Is equally indefensible whether TIT
good are COMPOUNDED with the bad II
heated and unwarranted champion
ship Of all or in heated and unwar
ranted assault upon all. / would mel
Their attack nor defend all, executive
officers In a mass. whether presidents
governors, cabinet officers or official
of lower rank. nor would attack o
defend all legislative officers In a mass
The safety of free government rest
very largely in the ability Of the plain
everyday citizen to discriminate be
tween those public servants who serv'
him well and those public servants
who serve him Ill. He cannot thu
discriminate If he Is persuaded to pas
Judgment upon man not with refer
ence to whether he is fit or unfi
public servant, but with reference t
whether he is an executive or legisla
i've officer, whether he belongs to on,
branch or the other Of the government
Says Message Is Misunderstood.
This allegation in the resolution
therefore, must certainly be due, to a
entire failure to understand my mes
sage.