Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-07-01
BIG STICK SMASEES;
> ROOSEVELT DEFENDS
THE SECRET SERVICE
In Message to House President De-
clares His Statements in Previous
Words to Congress Were Gross
l ly Misunderstood.

Minnesota, Smith Of Iowa. Sherley of
Kentucky, and Fitzgerald of New York,
when the executive sent a special message
to the house of representatives. berating
those solons 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
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:
have received the resolution Of the house
of representatives of December II. 1908.
running as follows:
"'whereas. there was contained In the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at its last session and be-
came a 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 1t 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
eht only. to the criminal classes" and II
was further stated: THE chief argument
in favor Of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be Investigated by secret service men,.
nd yxuR 10
not considered desirable n special excep-
tion could be made In the law. prohib-
iting the use of the secret service force
in investigating members of congress. II
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 majority Of the con-
gressmen were in fear of being investi-
gated by secret service men and that con-
grcss whole was actuated by that
motive In enncting the provision In aues-
tlon. Now. therefore.
...He IL Resolved, That the president be
requested to transmit to the house any
evidence upon which he based his state
Hents that the chief argument In favor
the provision was that the congress-
men did not themselves wish to be In
vcstigaied by secret service men. and
also to transmi, to the house any evil
dence connecting any member OF the
. house Of representatives OF the siSuetn
congress with corrupt action In his oriciai
capacity, and to inform the house wheth-
er he has Instituted proceedings for the
punishment OF any such Individual by the
courts or has reported any such alleged
deiinauencies to the house OF represent
atives.'
Cannot Understand Trend Of
the House Resolution.
,,nI.r nnI
the concluding portion of the resolution
I have made no charges Of corruption
against congress nor against any member
of the present house. II ] had PROOF OF
SUCH corruption affecting any member OF
the house In any matter as to which the
federal government has Jurisdiction. ac-
tion would Mt once be brought. as was
done In the cases of Senators Mltcheh
and Burton. and Representatives WiIiihm-
son, Hermann and Drirgs. nt dH.rsnt
times sine. I have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty In the
execution and enforcement Of the laws
without respect to persons. BUT DO NOT
regard IL as within the province or the
duties of the president to report 10 the
house alleged dclinqucncics' Of members.
or the supposed corrupt action OF
member In his official capacity the
membership Of the house Is by the con-
stItution placed within the power OF the
house alone In the prosecution or Grim
inaIz and the enforcement of the laws
the prrsident must resort to the courts
of the United States.
..In tho third and fourth clauses Of the
preamble II Is stated that the meaning OF
INV words is that the majority OF the
copcresEnen arr--ts fear Of being invcs-
tIrated by secret service men and that
.c.Arc.s as whole was actuated by
IN motive in enacting the provision In
ouesx-on and that this Is an impeach-
merl Dof the honor and integrity of the
congress These statements are not
think in accordance with the facts.
Declares He Said Nothing
to Warrant the Statement.
"a careful reading OF this message will
show that said nothing TO warrant the
/ statement that the majority OF tne CON
srcs,mcn were in fear Of being investi-
L gated by the secret service men, or that
congress as a whole was actuated by that
motive I did not make any such SUITE
ment in this message. Moreover nave
never made any such statement apou'
IconRress as n whole nor. with rev IN
Ieyitsbic exceptions. about the members
Iof congress- in any message or artcle or
Vspeech. On the contrary nave anyways
mot only deprecated but vigorously re-
V,ented the practice OF indiscriminate At
t..L unon congress and indiscriminate
kondemnation OF all congressman. wise
knd unvise, 1T and unfit. good and bad
Nike No one realizes more thah tne
Importance of cooperation petween ,ne
kxacu,Ive and congress. and no one holds
yso authority and dignity of the congress-
II ,ha IrnIted States in higher respect
lhan do I have not the slightest sym
,,bv with the practice of judging men.
Gr good or for Ill. not on their several
erits, but In a mass. as memprrs OF
L. narticSlar body or one caste. To put
6vetber all men holding or who have
ysid a particular office. whether II be
ONCE OF president. or judge or sena-
r. or member OF the house OF represent
- 20 ctoss them all, without re-
20 their Individual differences, as
Eod or bad, seems to me utterly indie
,si,in. and IL IL equally indefensible
netb.r the good are fonfounded with the
la in n heated and unwarrahied chah-
,nship OF all. or In hen'eo anu VII
Erranted assault upon ALL
harce In Resolution Due