The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-01-07
SAYS ONLY CRIMINALS
NEED FEAR SLEUTHS
President Roosevelt Hits Congress
in a Special Message on Secret
Service Row.
DIDN'T CHARGE CORRUPTION.
Quotes Record Against Men Who
Had Law Changed-Frauds IN
earthed by Detectives.

There is no more foolish oatcry thaa
this against spies; only criminals need
fear our detectives" This sentence from
former utterance of himself on the
subject is hurled at the House of Rep.
resentatives by President Roosevelt
Monday in special message on the
secret service and the action of Con-
gress in cutting down the appropriation
for this part of the governments work.
The message, which was eagerly
awaited, was the Presidents answer to
request of Congress for evidence to
support his statement in his last an
nual message that 1.-The chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish
to be investigated"
No Charge of Corrupfion
President Roosevelt declares he made
no charge of corruption against mem
bers of the present Congress- If he had
proof of such corruption, he says il
would be the duty of the government
to start prosecutions, as it prosecuted
the late Senator Mitchell and others,
and in regard to the alleged delinquen-
cies CT members he says, it is not the
duty OF the President to report on that
subject
On the question of the secret service
being used to shadow" Congressmen
the President asserts that this was the
main argument used by the men who
were instrumental in cutting down the
appropriation. Chairman Tawney of the
committee and Walter |. Smith of Iowa
and Swager Shirley of Kentucky, two
of its members. are quoted as using
such arguments, while the bill was
being discussed. Mr.. Shirley's argu
ment. put in the form of a question, is
quoted from the Congressional Record
when Mr.. Sherley opposed investigation
by the secret service of "a member OF
Congress accused of conduct unbecom
ing a gentleman and Il member of Con
gress.'
The President says. while he makes
no sweeping charge against the mem.
bers of the House. the Committee on
Appropriations headed by Mr. Tawney
the law as passed.
Real Issue lie Sees 1t.
Getting down 20 discussion of the
issues involved, the President says:
s.rrhiS icSrra * cin,olv IDEAS Coporoce
desire that the government shall have
at its disposal the most efficient instru
ment for the detection OF criminals and
the prevention and punishment OF
crime, or does it not? This action OF
the House last May was enphatically
an action against the interest of justice
and in effect of benefit only TO law
breakers. Is the House now willing tC
remedy the wrong?"
The President then gives 4 list oil
cases where frauds against the govern
ment were unearthed and punished by
the aid Of the secret service. These in
Guided the Nebraska and Oregon land
frauds, the Gaynor & Greene contract
swindle, the Honduras lottery, the ink
scandal in the bureau of printing, and
other similar deliquencies. A letter b,
Secretary Cortelyou to Chairman Taw
ney last May which accompanies the
document gives further data on these
cases.
Welcomes Probe of Departments.
AS indicating the PRESIDENTS attitude
to Congress on the subject, the message
says:
ANY instance Of abuse by the secroi
service or other investigating force IN
the departments should he unsparingly
punished and Congress should hold it
self ready at any and all times to in
vestigate the executive departments
whenever there is reason TO believe that
anysuch instance Of abuse has occurred
| wish to emphasize my more than cor
dial acquiescence in the view that this
is not only the right OF Congress, hui
emphatically its duty. TO use the Sc
cret service in the investigation Of pure
~ private or political matters would bt
a gross abuse. There has been so single
instance of such abuse during my tern
of President"