The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-26
A QUESTION OF pRopnIETY.

ilCe SlOulu apply 4
A QUESTION OF PROPRIETY.
After thinking it over, the New
York Times has reached the conclusion !
that Mr. Taft's letter to Griscom about
Sherman, Roosevelt and the temporary
craftsmanship of the Republican con-
vention to be held at Saratoga. was
not quite in consonance with the dig
nifty of the Office of the President"
The Times admits that Mr. Tafts
feelings and conduct toward Mr..
Roosevelt should be explained to those
interested in them was, in way. In
evitable;" but 1t holds that they should
be made the subject Of a public letter
gether pleasant The Times adds:
1.-THE gentlemen who seem dependent
on Mr.. Roosevelt's cooperation may
see no violation of propriety in it"
but Others who regard the Presiden-
tial office as a National possession and
the dignity of it's incumbent as i'm
portantto all citizens are justified in a
different view" On its face that seems
to be very sincere and Just criticism
o. the President: indeed, it conforms
largely to Mr.. Tc.ft's own view as ex-
pressed in the very letter which the
Times makes the subject of its amin
adversion. Writing to Griscom Mr.
Taft said: II have steadily refused to
admit the proprlety or necessity Of
the Presidents replying to newspaper
statements which are not based on any
act or authorized word of his and
have no sponsor. / am entirely will
ing. however, to reply categoricallv 20
your telegram" etc, etc.
We are sorry that Mr.. Taft made any
explanation to Griscom about this mat
ter and we regret that he should think
1T necessary to reply at any time to
newspaper statements which are not
based on any act or authorized word of
! his but we regret Aar more that the
| Times, and other newspapers which
plead against impropriety on the part
| of the President. should care so little
FOR propriety on their own part. Hold
ing as they do the Presidential Office
as a National possession. and the dig
! nifty of it's incumbent as important to
all citizens it would seem that they
| should refrain from all attempts to
place tho President before the public
In false light in the hope, apparently,
that their misrepresentation Of him
would be unchallenged because OF the
| dignity becoming its incumbent Hav-
ing baited him, it does not lie in the
mouth of the newspapers engaged in
/ such unworthy work to preach nom
lilies to him because of his disregard
of the proprietics.
What is he to do? 1t is clear that
he was outrageously misrepresented by
the newspapers in the Sherman-Roose-
welt matter, that his position was mis-
stated, that his alleged desertion OF
Roosevelt was being used to discredit
his Administration, TO cripple his
lproper work "as a National posses
sion" to strengthen his enemies, and
this was done by the newspapers, the
Times itself being one of the chief Of
tenders, and now we are told that
these journalistic SANDERS, published
ION the housetops, should have been
| put to sleep in the cellar. that what
lad been done openly and deiiantly by
tho press should have been undone
quietly BY theSPresident, so that ~
.would have left more agreeable I'M
preston
!. The Times Will recollect that only
a day or 50 before Mr.. Taft violated
his own sense OF propriety by writing
1.-the letter to Griscom, it printed very
i readable and apparently well-authen-
/. ticated story about how Mr.. Roosevelt
I had sent an "ultimatum' to Mr.. Taft
touching this very Sherman matter
which Mr. Roosevelt described as 80
Tissue OF fa,sehoods from beginning to
end" OF course, Mr.. Roosevelt say
ing it was SO did not make it so; but
discovered evidence has made Il
very plain that there was no truth II
lit.
Mr. Taft agrees with the Times thai
it is neither proper nor necessary fol
4 the President to reply to newspaper
statements, and SO do we but is
not true that if the newspapers woul;
keep more careful watch on theil
own conduct they would not have Sc
mnch cause for upbraiding the conduc
of others; if they would observe 'h'
prophecies themselves they could wit'
better face protest against impropr'etA
in others? The Times will recollec
the legal maxim shat che who comes
into equity must come with eleai
hands
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SMITH AND BROWN.
what Will Hoke Smith do witt