The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-08-30
PAY ROOSEVELT TO
FIGHT FARM LEAGUE
PAPER HIRING THE EX-PRESI-
DENT AT A DOLLAR A WORD
GIVES THE ARTICLES AWAY
TO REACTIONARY NEWSPA-
PERS ALL OVER THE WEST.

ILRS ALL Wv En- LIE w EOi l..
Kansas. City, No., Aug. 22.-Why
is Theodore Roosevelt, former presl-
dent of the United States, writing
articles for the Kansas City Star?
Some people here explain his ent-
rance into daily journalism by say
ing that he wants to be president
again, and that one of the editors OF
the Star hopes to become a member
of his cabinet. But why did he choose
the Star, and not some of the big
Eastern newspapers? Was it that
he wanted to fight the NonpartisaT
league on its own ground, in the
West? There appears to be reason
for this belief.
A year ago, just after he mad
closed his contract to write for the
the Star. Roosevelt's disfavor there
City. The Star rented desiS for
the day, and the colonel sat there
and had his picture taken. That was
the last time he appeared in the Of
flee. But before he left for his home
In the East, Roosevelt delivered an
intimate talk to the members of the
staff. That he, had the matter OF:
the farmers League on his mind was
Indicated by several uncomplimenC-
airy references to it. Despite the fact
that he has been in politics since the
DAY he was Fl, he did not think that
the farmers ought to go into politics.
State ownership Of marketing facilt-
ties, he said, was worng in principle.
His advice to the farmers was to be
content with cooperation, such as
prevails in the old countries of Eur
ope, probably referring to German
and Scandinavia.
At a Dollar Word
Since that time, Roosevelt has
written number of articles attack
ing the League, with occasional side
swipes at its leaders. These vicious
filings have been printed also in a
selected list of about so reactional,y
Republican papers, including those Of
st. Paul, Minneapolis, Omaha, Seat
tie, Spokane, Portland, Des Moines
and Boise.
These papers make a great display
Of having Roosevelt as a contributors.
As a matter of fact, the articles are
furnished to them without cost, so
eager is some one to have them cir
culated broadcast over the West. Not
that Roosevelt is not paid for his
work. One might think that he would
be willing to boost himself and his
ideas for nothing. But the, two
years contract he signed with the
Star provides that he receive a dollar
a word for everything he writes.
Now Only Pullback
There is one place that Roose-
velt's articles are not appreciated.
That is among the rank and file of
the Star. Roosevelt's disfavor there
began when in his speech to the staff
he advised the proprietor of the
paper to fire any reporter who did
not think exactly as the head of the
paper did, This piece of intolerance
is typical of the man. He would like
to fire President Wilson because ne
does not think as Roosevelt does. In
tact, in his speech to the men of the
Star, he took several filings at the
president which would result in any
other man going to prison for II
years. One remark was that Wilson
and La Toilette were in accord, and
that La Follette's mistake was in
taking the presidents statements
seriously and trying to put them IN
effect.
Just as he is against Wilson be-
cause he can not run him, so Roose-
welt is against the organized farm
ers because he can not dictate to
them. Their stand against monopo-
lies and profiteering is no more dis
tasteful to big business than it is to
him. On the question of war taxs-
ton he has been silent. But on the
benefits of compulsory training when
peace comes he is most eloquent.
Truly, there is no more tragic fig
ure in history than Theodore Roose-
welt. At first leader of his coun-
trymen, he has in his late years fall
en- behind; the people have gone
ahead, and he is now vainly strivins
to hold them back.