The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-09-09
The Reformation of Roosevelt.

1--WE must drive the special interests
out of politics." says Mr.. Roosevelt in
his speech at Osawatomie, Kansas, few
days ago. 1T is necessary that laws be
passed to prohibit the use of corporate
funds directly or indirectly for political
purposes"
As evidence, however fragile, OF the
political reformotion of Theodore Roose-
welt. the Woyld greets his utterance with
praise and thanksgiving.
The Theodore Roosevelt who spoke
these inspiring words at Osawatomie is
the same Theodore Roosevelt who on
October I4th, 1904, wrote from the White
House to Edward H. Hartman:
Nv Dear Mr. Hartman:
"A suggestion has come to me in a
roundabout way that you do not think il
wise to come TO see me in these closing
weeks of the campaign, but that you are
reluctant to refuse, inasmuch as | have
asked you. Now, then, my dear sir,
you and | are practical men, and you are
on the spot and know conditions better
than do. If you think that there is any
danger OF your visits TO me causing
trouble, or if you think that there is
nothing special that | should beiniormed
about, or no matter in which could give
aid why, of course, give up the visit for
the time being and then few weeks
hence before | write my message | shall
get you to come down to discuss certain
government matters not connected with
the campaign. With great regard, sim
cerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
| whom Mr.. Hartman visitC d at the White
| House by invitation a week before the
| election, returning at once to raise an
additional campaign fund in Wall street
| of $4,000 by which he boosted that
at least 50. 600 votes were turned in the
/ city OF New York, making a difference of
! 100. 600 in the general result"
This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
who made George B. Cortelyou. then
| corporation inquisitor of his administra-
lion, the chief collector of corporation
campaign tribute. Mr.. Cortelyou's APP
pontment was followed by contributions
of SIoO, 600 from the Standard Oil Com
pany, by contributions of $4,000 from
the three great life insurance companies.
! by admitted contributions from the Beef
\ Trust, by confessed contributions from
/ the Tobacco Trust and by secret contri-
buttons from other special interests, the
sum total of which Mr. Roosevelt has
| never dared to publish.
This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
/ who i'll 1906 denounced Edward II. Har-
riman in letter TO "My Dear Sherman"
as an undesirable citizen after Mr.
! Hartman had refused to make further
| contributions to help to elect Republican
| Congressman.
| This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
who tolerated the political activities of
the Sugar Trust during seven OF the
many years that it was robbing the
United States Government, and who pro-
tected it from criminal prosecution for
VIC ating the Sherman law.
This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
who turned the United States Treasury
over to Wall street during the panic OF
1907 for which he was largely respon-
| sible.
This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
who personally licensed the purchase of
the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company
by the United States Steel Corporation.
| thereby giving the trust a monopoly Of
the high grade iron ore of this country.
This is the same Theodore Roosevelt
who received more corporation mana
gers and manipulators at the White
House than all of the other Presidents of
the United States combined.
AS a result of the shocking revela-
/ tons of the Roosevelt campaign fund
Congress enacted law forbidding cor.
/ poraiion contributions in both National
and Congressional campaigns Since Mr..
! Roosevelt's retirement from the White
House, Congress has provided for the
publicity of campaign contributions and
expenditures. Now that the laws are
upon the statute books, Mr. Roosevelt
comes forth bravely to tell us that the
thing which has been done in spite of
him, is one of the things that must be
| done.
Nevertheless, we must rejoice that his
own corporation practices now seem so
scandalous and abhorrent to Mr.. Roose-
welt that he is determined that they must
never again be repeated in American pol
itics. We hope that IN time he will view
with equal detestation his jingoism, his
demagogism, his menacing schemes of
Federal Capitalization and his shocking
attacks upon the United States COURTS
Ne1O York H0rld
i