The Washington herald., 1910-09-08
RoosEvE1TS METHODS.
A Great Man, hut Recent Speeches
Are Doing No Good.

Are Doing No Good.
From the Wilmington Morains News.
Abraham Lincoln once made a remark
about ''foJiing the people" which Theo-
dore Roosevelt would do we'll TO remem-
Der. That he is fearless and honest
even his most bitter enemies will admit,
and that as President Of the United
States he put forth his best efforts 70
give the people an honest administration
so far as It lay in his power to do so.
He broke up the practice OF rebating
by the railroads. He cleared up the
meat scandal in Chicago and unearthed
frauds in the postal department and sent
men 10 prison who deserved all they got
He proved a terror 10 evil doors and
thieves in high places Men Of promi-
nence, heretofore immune from punish
ment. were his especial work. No argu-
ment. no influence. no matter how power
full, could swerve him from his course,
from doing what he considered his sworn
duty. All honor to him for this so far
as results are concerned. But his vigor-
Gus cowboy methods left scars on the
Industrial body which have refused 70
heal, even under the safe and sane ad-
ministratio Of President Taft. The coun-
try, the commercial life, is disorganized
to-day. Capital is timid and frightened.
The heads of our great industrial estab-
lishments are moving slowly. Financiers
are sailing close TO the wind. fearing
storm. Millions have been lost by In
vestors. and good. safe and sound Sc
curities are selling at prices below their
intrinsic value No President since the
birth Of this republic has caused such
widespread disorder in all lines OF trade
as our ex-President, yet through II all
with an honesty of purpose which the
American people commended and praised.
Yet careful men,. safe men. deplOre the
necessity Of such widespread disorder
that certain evils In well-dehned spots
might be corrected. There is no use Of
mincing words or trying to conceal ex-
listing conditions. 1T was the Roosevelt
method" and nothing else caused it all
a gentleman familiar with this fact
stated TO the writer that when Roosevelt
sent out his famous edict against the
railroads. the President OF the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad went 10 Washington by
first train and In so many words, said 10
the President. Yes. we have been rebat-
ing to certain large shippers. We had 10
do so 10 save our business. We have been
issusaS passes 10 politicians and others.
but all the large railroads are doing the
same. II you say you are going 20 put
stop TO ali this you will not have 70
attack our company. VIII stop it to-
morrow. but IN justice 20 my stockholders
cannot do so II other roads do not" and
he did. Within forty-eight hours the or
der went out This was the business
mans method-the man OF great affairs.
Had Roosevelt simply sent for the presi-
dents OF the various railroads IN the
country and said: Gentlemen. rebating
must stop. No more free passes; no more
favored few. Stop it now or 1 will order
prosecution within week You know
that il IS wrong and In the end you viii
all be better on" the chances are that
the whole trouble could have been avoid
ed and the evil corrected without noise
or confusion.
But the trouble was. and Is to-day.
Roosevelt is not a business man. Neither
is he = great fnancier He has never
been at the head Of great industrial
institution. and knows nothing Of the IN
side workings OF our railroads. He knew
that something was wrong and that evils
existed. but he lacked experience He
lacked diplomacy His methods were
faulty. He went at correcting the evil
with full publiclty-with a brass band
so TO speak. and the whole country. the
world in fact. knew that a night was
n The CRY went out: who IS safe2
Where will he strike next?' and al
most a panic followed. Roosevelt meant
well He was honest, but he went about
IL In the wrong way
IGNORED by every civilized nation on
the globe that he visited. as no Ameri-
can has ever been honored before. he
returned to his native land a conquering
hero. the idol of the common people.
But it now appears thai he was not con-
tent: he sighed for other worlds TO con-
quer His Western trip is simply the
beginning OF the end His speeches may
please the improvident and the irrespon-
sible but the sensible. safe. and pro-
gressive portion OF our population. even
some Of his most ardent admirers, feel a
deep sense OF sorrow, OF pity. that he
did not rest on his lamelS and remain
quietly at home He IS a great public
man, no doubt OF that, but he should re-
member that. He whom the gods would
destroy they frst make mad" In this
case. great is the pity.