Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-02
ROOSEVELT FAILS
To HELP MACHINE
His Philadelphia Speech Lacked
the Punch of the Olden Days,
Declared His Auditors
BACKHANDED MCCORMICK
Was Not Tipped Off to the Harris
burgers Political Methods
and Spoke on Bossism

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's speech
in Philadelphia last night was sore
disappointment to Democrats and Bull
Moosers alike. The Democrats had
counted upon it to overcome the great
dissatisfaction existing in the party in
Pennsylvania over Vance Mccormick
ism and the Progressives to halt the
rush of Washington party men to get
back to the Republican party. 1t has
rather worked the other way.
To begin with the Colonel did not
have the punch. Instead of hitting
smashing blows he contented himself
with passing out the same line of
argument that he has used in speeches
and articles, entirely overlooking the
fact that in whacking bosses he was
hitting over the head the most obnoX-
ious political boss in Pennsylvania
Vance c. Mccormick.
The Colonel also gave an excellent
on both shoulders while walking on a
high wire. He devoted himself in
western States to. humping the Will
son Democratic administration as un-
Trustworthy and blamable for the
present conditions. In Philadelphia
where the blight of the Democratic
tariff has been severely felt he said
nothing about the Democracy's faults.
Then, too. he was barely through
speaking before Senator Penrose came
back with a reply in which he linked
Roosevelt with Bill Finn and declar-
ed that Lewis withdrew with a report
ed promise of some reward while
Finn seeks contracts from the High
way Department.
The Philadelphia Record, Demo-
cratic organ, voices the general view
this way: But, the Colonel somewhat
disappointed his i'm
mense audience by
the tamenesS of his Record Shows
speech. At the start the Way Folks
his admirers shouted Feel Over 1t
Walk right into
them, Teddy but he
barely crawled. True, he denounced
Penrose in general terms as the rep
lresentative of boss rule, the betrayer
of his party in 1912 and the exponent
of all that is corrupt in national and
local politics. True, he recommended
the election of his old friend, Clifford
Pinchot, as Senator to succeed Pen
rose. Once also, he mentioned the
name of Vance G. Mccormick, the
Democratic candidate for Governor,
whom the Bull Moosers have indorsed.
cans and all Progressives, as we'll as
Democrats should vote for him,
though he did not say this very brave
ily."
Senator Penrose was just as quick
in his retort to the Colonel as he was
in Pittsburgh, saying: Perhaps, how
ever I ought to take
exception to his allus-
Penrose ion to me personally in
Hits Hard connection with his
In Return condemnation of poll
tical bosses. l cannot
think that Mr.. Roose-
| welt really means what he says when
he uses the timeworn and now some
what thread-bare phrases regarding
bosssm. He really cannot believe
THAT the people of Pennsylvania are
so stupid as to be caught by these
phrases under the present circum-
stances in view of the fact that Mr..
Roosevelt has been delivered bodily
into the control of one of the most dis
/ credited and notorious municipal boss
( es who has ever appeared in Amer
lican politics. He seems to have sur
rendered entirely to William Finn,
whose affiliations with crooked politi-
cal methods and scandalous municipal
contracts constitute one of the most
Irepugnant chapters in the annals of
years was a political boss of the most
! obnoxious character"
| mo patriotic American can fail to
regret that Mr.. Roosevelt has per-
mitted himself to fall so far from
his high estate. He had filled the
greatest Office in the world. He could
have continued to receive the applause,
the confidence and the commendation
of all Americans regardless of faction
| or of party. Almost any kind of rec
ognition could have been his in the
years to come. He has seen fit to
throw all this glorious and splendid
opportunity away and to belittle his
fame by tainted association with a
crooked municipal contractor in Pitts
burgh. His great political career was
based upon the splendid national Re-
publican party. He is now in Penn
sylvania promoting Democratic candi-
dacies."