The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-01
|ND|CT WIRE MEN EARLE HITS 7. R..
CritiCizeS Him For Failure
to Attack Sugar Trust.
MADISON Defends ROOSEVELT
Kansas Congressman Declares For
mer President Depended on At.
lorney General Bonaparte
For Advice.

Washington, June 3O.-An attack on
former President Roosevelt upon the
ground that he had not prosecuted
the so-called sugar trust. made before
the house sugar investigating com
mittee by George II. Earle. OF Phila-
delphla. who was the most active pur-
suer OF the sugar trust after the
wrecklng OF the Real Estate Trust
company and the closing OF the Penn
syl,ania Sugar Refining company,
aroused a vigorous defense OF Mr..
Roosevelt by Representative Madison,
of Kansas.
Representative Madison said the
former president relied on Attorney
General Bonaparte for advice, and
there was no evidence before the COM
mittce to show he had acted from I'M
proper motives. Mr. Madison insisted
on reading Mr. Bonaparte's decision
in the sugar trust case. upon which he
declared Mr.. Roosevelt had 10 lean.
You gentlemen will never prose
cute anybody il you try to find ex-
cuses for officers who neglect their
duty" said Mr. Earle.
Il am not attempting to excuse Mr..
nonaparte," said Mr. Madison. THE
president OF the United States relied
on his law officer for advice, and there
is no evidence before this committee
that the president acted from I'M
proper motives. | don't agree with the
opinion of the attorney general. am
one OF those people OF Kansas who
still believe In the integrity OF Mt
Roosevelt
1T is just that you should" said
Mr.. Earle "Ill trust the people Of
Kansas to Judge whether 1t was right
for the president not to act when he
knew that his al interim attorney gen.
eral. Mr.. Purdy. was anxious to pro-
coed. and that there was valuable evil
dence that might be lost.
offered to Debate With Roosevelt
Il offered to debate this matter with
Mr. Roosevelt in New York. lie did
not accept my challenge. and neglect
ed an opportunity to oyerwhelm me.
DO you think the people OF Kansas
will say that the president did his full
duty in neglecting that case? How are
YOU ever going to punish crime II you
are constantly changing law officers
and do nothing in the Interim"
Mr.. Earle read again the letters that
Mr. Roosevelt did not send to the SEN
ate with the correspondence in the
case.
Il criticised the president for that,
continued Mr.. Earle. MI Roosevelt
told the senate IT was. right to send
the correspondence TO the senate, and
then he did not send the communica-
lions from me that might have reflect
ed upon him. II that was right, then |
was wrong
DO YOU have any doubt that Mr..
Roosevelt was a sincere opponent OF
the immoral practices Of great organi-
cations OF capital?" asked Represents
tive Kinds.
Il would rather not answer that
question" said Mr.. Earle.
Nlr Earle told the committee that
former President Roosevelt had lost
preference for big game" In not prose
cutting the sugar trust officials In that
case.
Have you ever had any trouble
with Mr.. ROOSEVELT" asked Chairman
Hardwick.
None at all. voted for him twice
and stumped for him. and when
wrote to him about this case ! was
sure something would be done
Never had any communication with
him since?'
7. r. Quizzed Him In Latin.
No. I have met Mr.. Roosevelt but |
once since left Harvard, and that
was at the White House. He asked me
il my career at Harvard had done me
any good told him that | didn't |
know. Then In that peculiar enuncla'
ton of his, he quoted something to
me in Latin, which couldn't by any |
chance understand. Being examined In |
Latin By the president OF the United |
States made me feel silly. so smiled;
and the president slapped me on the
back and said: I see you understand.
which. OF course. did not-but by |
smiling IT made him think So"
Has your activity in the sugar case
caused you any persecution by the
sugar trust people?"
None at all. Some OF the sugar
trust people are my personal friends. !
Mr Thomas was my classmate at |
Harvard, and George Frazier is my |
personal friend. In all this transaction |
| never found anything that reflected
on them"
Then the testimony shifted to an ar
gument on the Sherman antitrust law
and reviews OF supreme court decis'
ions.
Il have my suspicion OF any one
who would change the Sherman act
said Mr.. Earle. 1T Is the best tested |
law In the world, and dates back to
the time Of Zeno in Greek and Roman
times
A..ffk.. - Q60 mn