The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-08-08
COMMITTEE IS
FIRMLY UPHELD
Congressman BarthoIdt of Missouri
Defends Actions.
CALLS ROOSEVELT A TRAITOR
Says the Colonel Would Have Made
the Race for President on "Any
Old Platform" If he Was
Nominated.

Iimbroglio over the integrity of the
republican national convention will
not down in the House. Congressman
IBartholdt, of Missouri, who held q
proxy in the meetings of the national
committe when the contests were
heard, contributed to the symposium
with the speech that embraced a sen
satonal attack on Colonel Roosevelt
/ His defense of the committee against
the charges of burglary" that have
been made was in reality incidental to
, the imputations cast in the course
pursued by the Presidents rival for
the nomination
The Missouri representative pointed
out that there was no secrecy about
the national committee meetings, that
everything was done openly and above
board. He declared that perusal of
the stenographic evidence would prove
to anyone that the Taft delegates
were fairly seated. Not only this, he
asserted, but the same study would
reveal unparalleled political trickery
VII tIe TOOSeN6IC size.
He came with treachery in his
heart fully determined to bolt if things
were against him, declared Mr.. Bar
.tholdt, referring to Colonel Roose-
welt. The cry of fraud was premedi-
tated and the shameless ejaculation
Thieves was the battle cry of the
new party. If he himself had been
nominated he would have made the
race on any old platform, with his
frantic followers shouting 'HOsannah
Il shall not refer to the slurs of
men who have grown tired of their
party affiliation." said Mr.. Bartholdt,
and who, if convinced against their
will, would be of the same opinion
still do deem it proper and time
ly, however. to throw some light on
the political situation by examining
the fingers which are trying to throt.
tie the republican party. When we
are unjustly assailed We have a right
not only to defend ourselves, but to
inquire into the motives of the assail.
ants. Let me open up the inquiry
with this question: Do you believe
the national committee would have de-
voted ten days to their most pains
taking and exhausaing work if they
could have realized that there was to
be but one real republican candidate
before the convention? Many dele
gates had their misgivings at the
time. They remembered that, in the
widely advertised Columbus speech
the name republican was not even
but they still felt conf
dent that no man would have the au-
1acity to ask for a presidential nomi-
nation at the hands of republican
national convention when at heart he
was no longer a republican.
In the. light of later events we
know, of course, that this was a case
Of misplaced confidence; in other
words, that Mr.. Roosevelt never in
.ended to abide by the decision of the
except he himself would
De the nominee. We know now that
t was an ordinary hold-up, not even
without the customary threat: Your
purse or your life Give me the nom-
nation or I'll kill you Yes, and we
ian go farther and say, when the Oys-
.er Bay candidate made up his mind
20 violate all American traditions of
political decency and go to Chicago,
At that very moment he knew he
was beaten, but expected to save the
lay by personal appeals to the dele
gates through persuasion, promises,
,oersion or threats.
There was no more effective
means to undermine the old party
han to defame it's character" con-
.inued Mr.. Bartholdt. "In order to
put new party on it's feet, it became
necessary to run down the old one.
Certainly no sane citizen will desert
MS party and all its happy associa-
lions as long as he has confidence in
L, hence that confidence had to be
destroyed.
What was there more convenient
than to seize upon the contests as the
landiest big stick for the work of
destruction? If the national commit
lee had needed the injunction, Thou
shalt not steal except for mel all
would have been well. But its deter.
mination to do its work conscientious.
y brought all the prearranged plans
Of party treachery to full fruition.
Since the convention has spoken
and assumed responsibility" said Mr..
referring specifically to the
the scurrilous charges hurl.
ed against the national committee
really signify a wholesale indictment
against the republican party itself;
hence the republican who, with the re.
cord before him and in spite of 1t,
continues TO talk OF tainted delegates
and an Illegal nomination is no long
err attacking individuals, but is befoul.
ing his own nest
AS result of his investigation, II
will soon down upon the student OF
the evidence that q crime unprece-
dented In its brutality has been COM
mitted against the republican party
by those who have rashly denounced
the action OF the committee and will
fed its members without knowing the
facts and whose criticism, strange 70