New-York tribune., 1910-09-09
Declines to Sit at Same Banquet
with Junior Senator from
Illinois.
EX-PRESIDENT'S SPEECH
Warns Corrupt Corporations, in
Case He Returns to Public
Life, What Treatment
They May Expect.
rBv Telegraph TO The Tribune. J

the table with the Junior Senator from
Illinois William Lorimer. and the Ham
ilton Club. which had invited Mr.. Lor-
inner TO it's banquet this evening. vas
obliged to recall the invitation Mr.
ROOseveIt's unwillingness to meet Sen
atOr Lorimer was made known to the
committee Of the Hamilton Club when
it boarded the Roosevelt special at Free
port this noon. The members Of the
committee were much embarrassed by
the decision of the ex-President, and
protested that while they would not
have invited the Senator had they
known Mr.. ROoseveIt's views they did
not know what TO do in view Of the fact
that he was already invited. When
President Batten explained the situation
Mr.. Roosevelt replied:
Very well. gentlemen: you may do az
you wish but 1 shall not attend the ban
Quet is Senator Lorimer is 10 he there.
Why. gentlemen, 1t would be just like
sitting al the same table with Browne
and all Of the others.
When the former President was ad-
vised that the invitation to Senator Lor-
inner had been recalled he seemed en-
tirely satisfied. although he intimated
that the remarks he would have TO make
might be the more pointed because Of
the presence of Speaker Cannon
The Lorimer incident disposed Of. Mr.
Roosevelt proceeded TO spring another
sensation in his speech to the United
Railways employees. who were holding
their annual picnic at Freeport
81 don't suppose shall ever be in pub
lie life again." said the ex-p-esident.
Then he added: "But If ] am, there is
always a chance that some time IL may
come up when ! shall make my words
good. No corporation. no politician need
ever support mo for anything under the
idea that ! will pardon that corporation
that politician if it or he is corrupt.
II either corporation or politician helps
at any time to put me in a position of
influence. let them remember that II they
are corrupt or If they encourage corrup-
ton or benefit by il themselves they help
me at their peril. for will hurt them"
Guest OF the Hamilton Club
This evening Mr.. Roosevelt was the
guest of the Hamilton Club at its eIab-
orate banquet at the Congress Hotel.
where an imitation of the African jungle
had been prepared just to make the great
faunal naturalist feel at home and 10
encourage him TO take a few hot shots
at politicians and corruptionists
Standing in the presence of twelve
hundred men. nearly all of them citi-
zens of the State of Illinois and the
majority of them prominent in politics
and business life. Mr. Roosevelt brought
his hearers TO wild enthusiasm by his
scathing dehunciation of the political
conditions in Illinois.
The great banquet hall at the Con-
gress Hotel never witnessed such a
scene nor echoed to such a tumuIt as
followed the close of Mr. ROoseveIt's
address The mem bers of the Hamilton
Club, together with their guests. stood
OF chairs and tables. waving handker-
chiefs in the widest manner. while they
cheered the speaker at the top of their
voices. Mr. Roosevelt always has been a
favorite of the Hamilton club. and il has
token of appreciation and affection
Never before. however, had il paid him
such tribute as was rendered tonight.
After his introduction Colonel Roose-
welt said that he was about 10 talk on
delicate matters. which nevertheless
were matters to be treated only with di-
rectness. Following this he took up the
witnesses in the present trial Of Lee
O'NeH Browne for bribery in connection
with the election of William Lorimer 70
the United States Senate
Read the confession OF those four
members of that Illinois Legislature who
have appeared in the case" declared Mr..
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
Plea for Clean Public Life.
Ny friends" said the ex-President in
closing o. 1 ask you men OF Illinois that
you purify your politics. that you hold
accountable the scoundreI. great or
small. who has been guilty OF corrup-
ton: that you insist on cleanliness IN
your pubic life. And l ask il in your
name and for your sakes; I ask II for
the sake of the American people. and
ask il for the sake of all the nations of
the world. that their hope may not be
made dim and that they may continue
to cherish the ideal of the possibility Of
having a government of. by and for the
people that shall mean also the govern
,nent of justice and the government OF
honesty"
Aside from the occasional sensation
this day was like most of the others OF
Mr. Roosevelts Western tour. His train
eft Milwaukee at a. m and before the
IN President had awakened. greatly 10
The disappointment OF the considerable
crowd which had gathered TO bid him
farewell \ number of automobiles.
containing mostly women. were at the
station. but when II was announced that
he former President was still sleeping
very one was extremely cOnsiderate.
md there was no demonstration TO dis
urb his Slumbers. All along the road
rom Milwaukee To Freeport and from
Freeport TO Chicago crowds We're gath
sred To welcome Mr.. Roosevelt. the larg-
est being at Elgin, where an asSemblass
at more than six thousand
persons had gathered 10 do honor 70 the
and 20 see and hear him