Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-21
AMBITION THE SERPENT;
BOTH TEMPTED AND FELL
Terms Actions Spectacular Political
Vaudeville Stunts.
"PICKPoCKETS' ABUSE" USED
Says World Looks on Aghast at
Enactment of "Black Chapter
in American History"-Pays
Taft Tribute.

Under the title of ''The Modern Damon
and Pythias Tale" Senator Stone Of
Missouri. democrat discussed in the SEN
ate today the recent and present fight
between President Taft and ex-President
Roosevelt. He referred to it as 1.-The
black chapter in American history
Senator Stone began by recalling the
stories of Damon and Pythias and Of
David and Jonathan.
I'VE We're led to believe that the COM
bined and consolidated spirits of Damon
and Jonathan, one of these twain, had
come out of the haven of rest and taken
refuge in the corpus of Theodore Roose-
welt. and that the combined spirits of
David and Pythias had in like manner
come to rest on the ample bosom OF Will
liam Howard Taft. Thus in happy con-
junction, both of these old stories of
ancient lore and love were reproduced
here in this new world of ours for the
edification and uplifting Of the human
race.
But what has happened since and what
Is happening now, to demonstrate in a
way the fickleness of human affairs and
the difference between men of ancient
and modern times? For years the sus-
ceptible and too gullible American peo-
pie were happy in the thought that these
two supposedly great Americans were in
dissolubly united in patriotic devotion to
the public welfare.
Two souls with but single thought,
Two hearts hat beat as one.'
Ambition Divided Them.
sAnd so It continued until the Shiny
and poisonous serpent Of ambition crawl
ed across the path they were walking and
divided them This serpent was the same
serpent who invaded the Garden of Eden
He comes into the world OF and on and
too often in diverse forms and with many
varieties Of temptation. In this instance,
he appeared as the vaulting angel of am
bition. pointing each of these mighty
men and erstwhile devoted friends to the
had tasted the bitter-sweet of power and
liked II. much. Both were tempted and
both fell.
Each claimed too much the limelight
and the luscious plum Of place and power.
AS a result both threw sweet friendship
10 the winds and poised their spears for
a mortal combat for the thing each most
desired.
''As consequence of this ferocious
contest, the country and the world nave
been treated to series of spectacular
vaudeville stunts in politics without
parallel in the history of our country and
which l devoutly hope will not be again
repeated
This titanic struggle has been waged
between the most eminent leaders of one
OF our great political parties, the repub-
licdn party, which Tor the most part mas,
unfortunately and under many beguilng
hf. ali
MES of the nation for more tnan gen.
Grafton. 1t has been waged between can
oidates for the nomination OF this party
to the great Office of President. One of
these candidates is now President Of the
United States and the other has been
President.
And besides these two, there is another
conspicuous republican leader. Mr.. La
Toilette, now a senator in Congress, who
seeks this exalted station.
Abusing Like Pickpockets.
Passing over the personal and party
aspect of this miserable squabble is ii
not truly a sad spectacle We are witness
ing?
These world-famed republican leaders
have been for months circling the coun-
try. running from ocean to ocean, appeal
ing to their party friends, state by state,
for support for their respective can
didacies. and = in transit day after day,
many times repeated. abusing each other
like pickpockets in language akin to the
vernacular of a fish market or even some
thing worse.
The world outside looks on aghast
and the press and the reading public OF
Europe and Of all enlightened nations
everywhere criticize, cartoon, laugh and
taunt. If. indeed. the sainted dead are
permitted TO look down and view the
transitory scenes of this world in which
they were mighty actors. what do you
think Washington, jefferson, Lincoln and
other great Presidents OF the past would
think Of the things their astonished eyes
behold?
Can you imagine George Washington
Thomas Jefferson or Abraham Lincoln
gaddinE about the country running a
campaign for the presidency of the
United States as a candidate for constabl
might run his campaign in one of the
red light districts of a great city? We
nave heard many harsh and sometimes
thoughtless and unjust things said about
the Senate and the House OF Representa-
tives
But may not senators and representa-
tives now well ask their censorious con
stituencies to look upon the scenes bein
daily portrayed in the course of this curl
Gus personal and party conflict, consciou
always that the world is looking on, an
when they can almost hear the gibes an
jeers that come from every land and sa
for which department of the governmen
they most feel the hot red blush OF sham
on the cheek.
Gives Samples Of Talk
Let me give you some samples of tn
polite exchange of compliments betwee
these great leaders of the republica
party who are seeking the republica
nomination to the presidency. 1t wi
not only adorn a tale, but point a moral
After reading many utterances of Taf
Roosevelt and La Toilette which hav
been published in the last weeks. he con
tinued:
ssIf reparded this unaaamIy wran OIL