Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-09-16
A Serviceable Incident.

The Hamilton Club of Chicago sent a
committee of its members to Freep"t,
Illinois, to meet ex-president Roosevelt
with request that he distinguish the
club by his presence at a dinner, planned
by the club with that end in view; and
by an address to the members and their
guests at the time specified. The club
members, separately and collectively,
could be greatly honored through the
acceptance of an invitation to an affair
designed to bring those who would be
present into the intimacy aud good-fel-
lowship which prevails when given
number share meal. Having all the
possibilities of such an affair in view,
ex-president Roosevelt, one of the lead
ing gentlemen of our American society,
properly considered the list of the names
of those, who, IN the event of accep-
lance, would break bread with him, and
found that Senator William Lorimer OF
| Illinois, a member of the club Sin good
standing as such things go" would be
present. The terms, ain good standing
as such things 60" does not do justice to
the position of William Lormer of Hi
nois who is snder such degree of sus-
picion as may eliminate in a formal
charge by the proper authorities. A
high minded gentleman under such sus-
picion would not have involved the
members of his club in his personal
difficulties but instead would have In
sisted that his resignation from the club
be accepted until his innocence was fully
proven. This he certainly should have
done Immediately after the publication
in magazines of injurious criticism Of
his methods as a public man. Instead
he remained, sin good standing as such
things CO.. Under the circumstances
Senator Lorimer risked much, and got
what was coming to him, when he al
lowed his name to appear in the list OF
names of the hosts who wished to enter
tain guest distinguished by notions of
honor and discipline in public service,
and determination to elevate American
political and social life. The ex-presi-
dent, amazed at the lack of perception
of prophecies and indiscreton, amount
ing indeed to effrontery evinced by the
unfortunate public man, somewhat
roughly declined to sit at table with
him. &c. through no fault of their own
the committee was placed in most EN-.
barrassing position they had either to
stand by member under cloud and
insult an honest gentleman by with
drawing the invitation, or ask fellow
club man sin good standing as such
things go" to absent himself on the par
ticular occasion. They rightly enough
chose the less injurious alternative.
The interesting incident serves as a
lesson in propriety which those more
nearly concerned rashly invited. We
should as general thing be governed
by the principle that gives immunity to
all suspected persons until they are
proved guilty by the proper authority
In this particular case the rule was ad-
hered to since it was the breach of Ell
. quet, or shall we say propriety that was
dealt with by Mr.. Roosevelt, aud not
the matter already widely discussed
Mr.. Roosevelt sometimes shocks his
admirers by his harshness, but III this
particular case no other course was open
10 him, and harm might come to the
commonwealth by laxity in such mat.
tiers. We, in private life, satisfy our.
selves as to the honesty and uprightness
generally of people with whom we are
acquainted before entering into any.
thing like fraternal relationship such as
, is entered into when we share a meal
and worthy representative who is pub.
/ licly proclaiming the American stan
| dard of morality may do no less.
Why should not we plain Americans
, dignity our peculiar institution by king.
ly notions of propriety upon all occa.
, sions similar to the one cited above
, And in fact in all affairs.
what breastplaie stronger than heart I'M
tainted
Thrice is he armed that hath his ouarre, ;,st
ESSEX.