Arizona republican., 1910-09-09

Chicago, Sept S-Standing tonight before 1,2O0 men, nearly all of them citizens of Illinois, and the majority prominent in politics and business life, Theodore Roosevelt brought his hear CTS to wild enthusiasm by his scathing denunciatiOn of political conditions ill Illinois.
 The great banquet hall at the Con gross hotel never witnessed such d scene nor echoed to such tumultous applause following the close of Roose- velt's address.
 The members of the Hamilton club, under whose auspices the banquet was given, together with their guests, stood on chairs and tables waving handker- chiefs in the widest manner, while they cheered the speaker at the top of their voices.
 After his introduction, Roosevelt de- clared that he was about to talk on delicate matters, which. nevertheless. should be treated only with directness
 Following this, he took up the con ditions in Illinois politics, described by witnesses in the present trial of Lee O'Neill Browne for bribery in connec- tion with the election of William LOrimer to the United States senate.
 Read the confessions of those four mem Ders of the Illinois legislature who have appeared in the case" declared Colonel Roosevelt. Read the evidence obtained by the states attorneys of two counties and know that Illinois politics cannot be cured by ignoring what is going on.'
 During the speech Speaker Cannon received much attention from the au- dience. It had been rUmOred that in case any reference were made to him by Roosevelt to which the speaker took exception an answer had been pre- pared Roosevelt made no reference to Mir Cannon.
 When introduced by President Pat ten of the Hamilton club, Roosevelt was greeted with tumultuOus applause lasting several minutes. He spoke of two dangers to the American people the law of violence and corruption.
 He said he had been advised by friends not to speak on state matters, as it was a delicate subject, no one having been convicted. Now, l feel most strongly that we make the ques tion of public honesty a sham if we admit the use of the word honesty to mere law.
 There are big business men whom 1 have counted as among the most insidious enemies of the real welfare of this republic, although they have been so advised that it would be inn possible to convict them, and there have been in the United States, and there have been in New York, many public men whose careers have been scandalized throughout the country, although they keep clear of the courts.
 Read the confessions of the four men, read what was developed by the two states attorneys, one belonging to one party and one belonging to the other, about the four men against whom they secured indictments, and about the other men also. Read that, and I defy any honest man of intel ligence not to come to the conclu- sion that the legislator whose doings have been exposed was guilty of the foulest and basest corruption, and therefore of the most infamous treason to American institutions
 Referring to his own acts as presi- dent. he said: T have encountered a number of cases that were not for the department of justice, because there was not sufficient ground for prosecution, but the wrongdoer was evidently unfit and improper for a public servant, and l turned him out, and when the men back of him said, oh, there's no conviction against him. I said, No, I dare say he prac- ticed law honestly, but he is a crook, and out he goes 1 could do that with appointive offices, but the elec- tive offices are up to the people.
 Tt is a favorite assertion of that type of man that when some public servant has been found guilty of con- duct that should disgrace him to say We will go to the people for his vindication; we will see if we can't secure him an election
 Sometimes they succeed A great many thoroughly good citizens have no special means of information, are ignorant of what really has happened and may on occasions like that be misled: but if misled and if they do