The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-02
Colonel Delivers Scathing De-
nunciatiOn of Democrats.
Opens Western Campaign With
Battle Creek Speech.
STRIKES WHEN IRON IS Cold
Roosevelt Scores Mexican Pol.
icy and Adams0n Law.
Wilson's Action on Strike
"Wieked and Perilous."

IFrom Saturdays Postscript Edition.]
Battle Greek, Mich. Oct. 2. Colo
mel Theodore Roosevelt opened his
campaign in the west here Saturday
afternoon with ringing appeal to
the nation to elect Governor Hughes,
repudiate Mr.. Wilson and thereby
gain a substitution of actions for
meaningless phrasemonsery-'
His speech. an unusually long one,
was typically Rooseveltian-bitte in
its intensity. scathing in it's denuncia-
ton and biting in its sarcasm.
The colonel fatty charged that Pres
ident Wilson'S action in the labor con-
troversy was governed ty his desire
for votes.
There is grave reason to believe"
he said, that the course he followed
was opposed to his real convictions.
The president is now a candidate for
office and speaks well of labor. Until
he became candidate for office, he,
with entire safety, ignored or aSsaIled
the labor unions"
Mexico and the AdaInson bill form
edNthe chief lines of attack on the
Wilson administration, altho occa
sionally the colonel deviated into the
highways and by-ways of what he
lation." Once he departed entirely
from strong words and explored Alice
in Wonderland to find terms to fit thu
president.
Discussing the Adamson bill, Mr.
Roosevelt charged that President Will
son, in urging passage of the measure
by congress, took his orders from
that one of the parties which he most
feared
Colonel Roosevelt declared that an
increase of wages and not hours and
not the eight-hour day was the real
issue.
Let President Wilson apply that
sacred eight-hour day to the servants
in the White House and see how far
he'll get" said Roosevelt. 81 believe
in the eight-hour day as the general
rule toward which we must strive, but
I recognize that special needs must
be met in special industries and that
in all such instances there must be a
very careful consideration of all the
conditions before final action Is taken.
I'VE have seen in this country few
things more discredftabie to our repre-
sentatives and more ominous for the
future of the nation than the spectacle
of the president and congress of the
sUnited States being required to pass a
certain bill before a certain hour at
the dictation of certain men. who sat
in the gallery with their watches in
their hands, threatening ruin and dis
aster to the nation If there was the
smallest failure to satisfy their de-
mands," said Roosevelt.
president Wilson in his speech Of
acceptance" the colonel stated. says
that he is more interested in the for
tunes of oppressed men and pitiful
women and children than he is in any
property rights whatever On the
Lusitania there were drowned 1000
babies under two years of age; fifty
f0f n a ind law
in these women and children showed
itself just two days later about be
ing too proud to fight
The Lusitania Murder.
The colonel referred to the torpedo
ing of the Lusitania by a German sub
marine as the most colossal single
instance of the murder of non-com-
batants including men, women and
children, that had been perpetrated by
any power calling itself civilized for
over century,"
Il have been asked what I would
have done If 1 had been president
when the Lusitania was torpedoed,"
shouted the speaker. Il would Instant
ly have taken possession of every Ger
man ship informed in this country and
then L would have said: Now we will
discuss, not what we will give. but
what we will give 1t back
This utterance received wild ap-
plause.
Like Weeping WaIrus.
There is a parallel for the kind of
interest President Wilson showed in
| this case. We find il In Alice thru
the Looking Glass when the walrus
took the oysters out to walk on this
beach and then ate them up. While
eating them the walrus bewailed their
| fate and his words, actions and emo
| tions are thus described:
" i weep for you. the walrus said.
I deeply sympathize;
With sobs and tears he sorted out
| Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket handkerchief
| Before his streaming eyes,
Mr.. Wilson, the colonel said, had a
| positive genius for striking when the
iron was cold and fearing to strike
when it was hot
He held up before his hearers the
| action of the president in the railroad
strike situation as a wicked, perilous
thing.' And the voters, he asserted,
VINO are exclaiming piously thank
strike" are not the heirs of the Amer
! leans who brought the Revolution to
successful close or who wore the
| oIue and gray for four long years.
Colonel Roosevelt cited his own ac-
tlon In several labor disputes that
| arose when he was in the White House
as an example of fair and just treat
ment in such case.
Scores weasel Words
stood against the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners at one time Just as
l stood against the richest and most
! powerful corporations of Wall street
at another
particularly did the former presi-
cent score Mr.. Wilson for his weasel
words"
Il appeal to my fellow citizens" he
said, in concluding, that they elect
Mr.. Hughes and repudiate Mr. Wilson
because only by so doing can they save
american from the stain of gross self
lshness and cowardice which we owe
to MI Wilson's adroit elocution for
straightforward action.
president Wilson embodies in his