The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-06
THE WISE MEN 4xD THE FOOL.

THE WISE MEN 4SD THE FOOL.
Colonel RooseveGt's testimony before the
senate investigating committee has been made
and nothing new of importance has been
learned He. appeared rather IN the role of
advocate than witness. explaining his attitude
toward Law breaking corporations and pro-
testing that no contributions received in the
1898 campaign or in any other campaign past.
present or 10 come. could swerve him hairs
breadth from the virtuous path. He explain
ed the Hartman incident the Standard Oil
contributions the Morgan. Gould and other
contributions, kept silent on Films expendi-
ture of more than one hundred thousand dot
lars for his Pennsylvania primary campaign
OF last summer, and protested his virtue
throughout it all.
Colonel Roosevelt made good plea What
could have been said for him he said and said
we'll His case is stronger to-day than it was
before he appeared before the committee. He
has shown that there is no proof that he
baekmailed the corporations for contribu-
tions in 1905 and that there is no tangible
proof that he gave Standard Oil and others
the right to expect anything from him in re-
turn for money with which TO conduct his cam
paign. He has left in doubt his knowledge of
Standard on contributions and has denied
knowledge OF Morgans aid, though failing to
explain the expression The great Morgan
interests which have been so favorable to- us"
But while he has placed the burden of proof
upon others in some instances, denied some
things: and left others in doubt, he has proven
nothing unless it be that he helped raise
faonev for Hartman and not Hartman for
him
After All the examinations and recrlmina-
tions. charges and denials. reading of letters
and kilograms. testimony as 10 what he said TO
Others and Others said 10 him, this is true,
namely the great corporations and financial
interests OF the country were for Roosevelt in
1901 and contributed heavily for his election.
There is no direct proof that Roosevelt by
word OF mouth, by letter, explicitly or by i'm
plicatlon. promised them anything. but the fact
stands out that every man OF them expected
ssrretift4s atrti EVERY them worked and
contributed giving OF time, effort and money
10 secure his election There is no proof that
be asked for money. but there is proof that
they gave it. Moreover, the evidence shows,
ard MIR Roosevelt does not deny. that Nor
gan. Hartman Prick aud others his
friends consulted with him. NOT once par
t.eular point. but often on matters of great
and little interest TO them. They were invited
to the White House and to Oyster Bay to dis
euss governmental matters not once but fire.
quently On top of it they contributed hesv-
i!y to his campaign.
When a President Of the United States
seeks interview after interview. writes letter
after letter. extends invitation after invitation
TO an official OF great corporation existing
ard operating in defiance of the law, address
ing him Familiarity and requesting social as
we'll as business calls, and all this is followed
b. large contributions. the conclusion is ire
ristible thar that expected something. If
after all this and after frequent opportunities
rs learn what the president wanted that man
expected something when he had right to
eArect IL, he was fool Mr.. Roosevelt is
right there.
But Ha<riman is no fool
When this happened not with one man not
with two, but with practically ali the heads Of
the great corporations and Wall street inter
ests. shA conclusion Is made the more certain
Morgan had these experiences and contrib
us~d. and Morgan is no fool
Prick had these experiences and contributed