Woodruff County news. [volume] (McCrory, Ark.) 1901-1910, 1909-01-07
BIG STICK .SlAASHES;
ROOSEVELT DEFENDS
THE SECRET SER VICE
In Message to House President De-
clares His Statements i'm Previous
Words to Congress Were Gross
ly Misunderstood.

big stick crashed down upon the
heads of Representatives Tawney of
Minnesota, Smith of Iowa, Sherley of
Kentucky and Fitzgerald of New York,
when the executive sent special message
to the house of representatives, berating
those soons for being champions of the
successful move to place limitations upon
the scope of the secret service.
The president also declared that the
Interpretation of the house of the secret
service clause in his last message was
misunderstood and had there been any
evidence which would point to the neces-
sity of an investigation of members, such
evidence would long ago have been turned
over to the proper authorities
The message was in answer to the res
olution transmitted from the house in
which the representatives asked for evil
dence upon which Mr.. Roosevelt based
his statements that the "chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service men,
Message of the President
and Reasons Therefor.
The message in part:
ITO the House of Representatives.: 1
have received the resolution of the house
= of representatives of December H. 1908,
running as follows:
Whereas, there was contained in the
Eundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at its last session and be-
came law, a provision in reference to
the employment of the secret service in
the treasury department; and
Whereas, in the last annual message
Of the president of the United States to
the two houses of congress it was stated
in reference to that provision: 1T is not
too much to say that this amendment has
been of benefit only, and could be of ben
eft only. to the criminal classes" and it
was further stated: 1.-The chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service men,
and it was further stated But if this is
not considered desirable a special eXcep-
ton could be made in the law. prohib-
iting the use of the secret service force
in Investigating members of 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" and
Whereas, the plain meaning OF his
words is that the ajority of the con-
gressmen were in fear of being investi-
gated by secret service men and that con-
gress as whole was actuated by that
motive in enacting the provision in ques-
lon Now, therefore,
Be it Resolved, That the president be
requested to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
ments that the chief argument in favor
OF the provision was that the congress-
men did not themselves wish to be in
Vesugated ty secret service men, and
a'so TO transmit to the house any evil
ufhce connecting any member of the
house of representatives of the Sixtieth
congress with corrupt action in his official
capacity, and to inform the house wheth-
er ne has instituted proceedings for the
punishment of any such individual by the
courts or has reported any such alleged
uehnquencies to the house of represent
atives'
Vannot Understand Trend of
the House Resolution.
am wholly at a loss to understand
tne concluding portion of the resolution
nave made no charges of corruption
against congress nor against any member
Vi the present house. If l had proof of
such corruption affecting any member of
the mouse in any matter as to which the
!eoeral government has jurisdiction, ac-
tloh would at once be brought, as was
uone In the cases of Senators Mitchell
ana burton, and Representatives William
son son hermann and briggs, at different
uHes since / have been president This
Mould simply be doing my duty in the
execution and enforcement of the laws
"ilnout respect to persons. But l do not
slss IT as within the province or the
uuues or the president to report to the
mouse alleged delinquencies' of members
u the supposed corrupt action of
,nenlper in his official capacity The
membership of the house is by the con-
hauuon placed within the power of the
;n alone. In the prosecution of Grim
th ais and the enforcement of the laws
os president must resort to the courts
Vi the United States
IN the third and fourth clauses of the
piedmble it is stated that the meaning of
oa s words is that the majority of the
Us ressmen are in fear of being inves-
seoeeo oy secret service men and that
,Lsress as whole was actuated by
CO @e motive in enacting the provision in
raesuon, and that this is an impeach-
ca,, OF the honor and integrity of the
tb; nii These. statements are not
s"ihk In accordance with the facts.
declares He Said Nothing
to Warrant the Statement.
sh "a careful reading of this message will
ST.. mat said nothing to warrant the
s sasenent that the majority of the con-
tssiien were in fear of being nvesti-
Gu Gu oy the secret service men, or that
n,otIs as whole was actuated by that
rs. did not make any such state
norn III this message. Moreover 1 have
60, CO made any such statement about
a,,t s,ess as a whole, nor, with few in
of oo exceptions, about the members
oo,'sress, in any message or article or
NOV On the contrary l have always
ser.s ohiy deprecated but vigorously re-
tao,. the practice of indiscriminate at
cons. upon congress. AMI indiscriminate
and eV ,tlon of all congressman. wise
ALL unwise fit and unfit, good and bad
imno, no one realizes more than l the
execns tance OF cooperation between the
tho a,,. and congress, and no one holds
a, .authority and dignity of the congress
Wv omitted States in higher resnect