Arizona republican., 1910-09-02
ALL THIEVES
 LOOK ALIKE Whatever May be Their
 Station in Life ID THEODORE ROOSEVELT Without Regard to Party, He Said at Kansas City, All Americans Should Combine in a Crusade Against Dishonesty.
10 THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Kansas City, Mo. Sept. Eight cen thousand people stood up, cheer ed. screamed and waved handller- chiefs as Theodore Roosevelt came upon the platform of Convention Hall tonight Thousands of persons had been turned away from the doors of the big hall after every seat and all the standing room was occupied.
 Colonel Roosevelt, coming to the front of the platform, stood rigidly erect as he was given an ovation, his countenancc fixed in sternness Governor Hadley, appearing shortly afterward, was given an equally en- thusiastic greeting.
 President William T. Bland of the Kansas City Commercial club. which had just entertained the colonel at dinner then introduced him. He de- clared the welcome being given to Colonel Roosevelt, the man, was warmer than that which several years ago had been given him as president of the United States.
 Restless in waiting for Roosevelts speech, the great audience began shouting. Teddy, Roosevelt" In sisthg upon further compliments to the guest of honor, MT Bland, said. The nation owes to him an infinite debt of gratitude" and when he re- ferred to the coloners career in the Spanish war, shouts again filled the big auditorium
 Colonel Roosevelt being presented the great audience again arose and cheered and thousands of hdndker- chiefs and hats were waved.
 The American people owe nothing to a man who has been president of the United States, compared to what he owes the American people" de- clared the colonel referring to the words of the speaker who had pre- ented him
 While president, he said. he had instructed his attorney general to
 proceed against any man who was corrupt whether he was a republican senator from oregon or Kansas. or q democratic governor of Oklahoma '
 Speaking of corruption in politics the colonel added amid applause Look at the corruption in my state of New York. Then paying a trib- ute to the American republic, he reminded the audience that conti- mental Europe was watching the American experiment of self govern ment with greatest inteerst. Colonel Roosevelt said:
 There are certain matters which should never be treated as party
 
 is the great and vital virtue of hon esty. Honesty should be treated as prime necessity to our success as a nation. The minute that d ques- ton of honesty as against dishonesty is involved, then we must all act to- gcther as Americans, without the slightest regard to party affiliations Honesty is not a party matter; and the first man to attack a scoundrel of any party should be the honest men of that party When in office l always proceeded upon the theory that there would be no cry of Turn the rascals out" because l would turn them out myself just as soon as, by vigilant and intelligent indus try, I could discover them. The pres ent Senator Bristow, for instance was in the postoffice department when information reached me which convinced me that there extensive rascality being practiced in the de partment This information came tO me through the then first assistant postmaster general, Mir. Wynne-an admirable man whose honesty l knew to be beyond proof. The active work of the investigation was done by an other postoffice official in whose honesty. courage, and energy l had absolute confidence.
 As we dealt with the crooked pub lie official. so we dealt with the crooked private citizen; with the rich swindler in New York or Chicago as with the horse thief or homicide ir Indian Territory. We never attack ed a man because he was a man oi one politiacal faith or another, be- cause he did not possess wealth: and we never shielded him because he was poor or rich. because he be longed to any particular church ol to any particular party. But l alsC wish you especially to remember thai we never hesitated to shield him anC stand up for him once we were con vincc6 that he was improperly at l tackled There is no greater foe O. | honesty than the man who, for an, reason, in any capacity, attacks, o a crime which he has not committed