South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-31

THAT KANSAS CITY KNIFE THRUST

/.
Happily, night, what promised TO become a
sensation because of knife having been
thrown Mr. T. during the parade at Kansas
City yesterday boding attempted assassination has
dvindled insgni6oanee. What was a dagger for
the papers dwinded into jack-knife for the
morning editions one Chicago paper minimizes it into
penknife thrown for sport Either this is the case
or it must have been decided by Roosevelt leaders
that it would not be wise much significance
TO the affair at this time
Happily we say again whatever NAV have been
the facts. colonel was missed such attacks
upon the public the nation are damnabIe
regardless OF the real imaginary offense the
victim may have committed against his woud-be as
sailant There should be no tempering with such
people. We settle political differences in this
country. yea, all differences. by the combat of
ideas. not by one militarism direct action
anarchy that is those of who brains usually
TO depend upon brains rather than our fists or
guns, pen-knives. on such occasions
That the incident should have short OF success
or have amounted to nothing is lucky another
SON. Since much that said was published this
morning, least one bull mooser has undertaken to
muzzle by the very buIIyragging. brow beating
that it anticipates confirmation of the possi-
btes exposed We anticipated this morning that if
the Roosevelt supporting newspapers would be out
again with their cry that it is the opposition papers
that are to blame. and the old four years
ago would be revived capitalize the incident With
the opposition press muzzled by such a maneu-
YER the Roosevelt leaders might have the dastardy
political attempt to storm the con-
ton at Chicago next week. under the old pretense
that their ward" is being abused almost to the point
Of his death. and thus try capture the republican
nor, fv,off,r
il it would work, though might Recollection of how
the bull moosers sought opposition to their
chief in 1912 by bowling forthwith every lifted
voice AGAINST him approved of the attempted
ton Milwaukee might. repeated in 1915 prove to
be boomerang
Our position is we repeat it frankly that
the day is when the press the free voice
Of the American people feel under any obliga-
ton to remain silent Indifferent to Mr. Roosevelts
political antics. order to protect him from the
cranks. If he the criticism he must take it,
II he deserves criticism, and we believe the major
portion of the American people think that he does he
will probably get it, Mr.. Roosevelt need not expect
TO indulge his mouth in political interna-
tional other brawls he does and in the fire.
quently prevaricating egotiscal and abusive manner
that he does. without somebody talking back and the
consequences are his. The day OF babyng Mr. Roose-
welt just because he is TEDDY" is gone He bellows
noise goes. and il his Myself and Godisms" arouse
rehuke. criticism, through them ALL indignation to
the point of assauthe height has never
arisen above Those opposing him have as
much right their opinion OF Mr.. Roosevelt as Mr.
Roosevelt has to his opinion Of them his opinions
seldom withheld for anybody.
They "lackadaisical pacihsts' "molycoddles
"undesirables." and a host of other names even to
'Jack-asses' and "nincompoops" 1t is time for him
to put bride upon his tongue II ex-
poets 10 muzze everybody else's tongues. No sane
person viii approve the knife-slinging at Kansas
City but neither viii any person admit that Mr.
Roosevelt should be allowed trample the whole
country under his feet that because perfectly
civilized they resented they must take the
blame If he runs amuck at the hands OF some crank
followers. therefore. 10 capitalize the Kansas City
incident tried. and to a decree succeeded
capitalizing the Milwaukee affair OF four years ago
using it TO suppress opposition to Mr.. Roosevelt
through that criticisng his would appear
like approving the actions Of his assailant contend
should not be permitted TO work
are opposed Mr. Roosevelt for everything else
but chasing lions in Africa. discovering Rivers II
Douot South America and writing Of music for
Devil Birds-rlus the mastership Of Sycamore hill
full lease life-and that opposition stands
We would be against the man who threw the knife at
him Kansas city, Jokingly otherwise. tor