,?j8FCR?"'-r- "

OCTOBER 25, 1912 The Commoner. 7 representative's was elected. In May, 1911, the house authorized the creation of a special com- mittee, of which Representative A. O. Stanloy, of of Kentucky, was made chairman, to investigate The Case Mr. Roosevelt alleged violations of the Sherman anti-tru-st rict by the Steel corporation. Senator La Folletto handles "tho cnso of neither Taft nor Roosovolt had a majority of Three months later; as a first result of this Mr. Roosevelt in this way: Bryan at Bnltimoro, honestly or regularly elected delegates. This investigation, President Taft was forced to order foregoing all chances of his own nomination, tho managers upon both sides well understood. Herbert Knox Smith, United States commis- mnrphalling all his forces, braving Tammany Each candidate was trying to scat a sufficient sioner of corporations, to publish evidonco of and the tniats to rescue his party from thoir number of fraudulently crodontinlod delegates, tho guilt of the steel corporation and Smith's domination, carrying tho convention for tho added to those regularly chosen to support him, own positive conclusions that it was a monopoly adoption of tho most progressive democratic to secure control of tho convention, and "steam-roll- " in restraint of trade. platform yet offered, and tho nomination of tho tho nomination. It was a proceeding with In October, 1911, President Taft ordered tho most progressive democratic candidate available, which oach was acquainted and which each had attorney-genera- l, as a result of this investiga- was a towering figure of moral power and pa- sanctioned In prior conventions. tion by a committee of a democratic house, to triotic devotion to civic righteousness. This explains tho extraordinary conduct of prosecute the United States Steel corporation for Roosevelt at Chicago, backed by money do-riv- ed Roosevelt. Ho could not enter upon such an violations of the Sherman anti-tru- st act. In the from the stock watering operations of tho analysis of tho ovldenco as would prove Tnft's government's petition, filed October 26, it was steel trust and the harvester trust, organizing regularly elected delogatos In tho minority, charged that President Roosevelt had been de- what are now confessed to have boon "fako" without inevitably subjecting his own spuriously ceived by Messrs. Frick and Gary. contests as to nearly two hundred delegates In credontlaled delegates to an examination so criti- Colonel Roosevelt is reported to have become order to control tho republican convention and cal as to expose tho falsity of his own conten- very angry. Tho newspapers quoted him as say- secure his own nomination, refusing to aid In tion that ho had an honestly elected majority ing that ho could never forgive that act in Mr. making a progressive platform, bound to havo of tho delegates. Ho thoroforo dollboratoly Taft. Herbert Knox Smith resigned as com- the nomination or destroy the republican party, chose to claim every thing, to cry fraud, to bully missioner of corporations and is now a moving was a most striking example of misdirected tho national committeo and tho convention, and spirit in tho third term party. power and unworthy ambition. sought to crea'to a condition which would make in March, 1912, Colonel Roosevelt threw his Roosevelt had as great an opportunity to impossible a calm investigation of ensos upon hat into tho ring. George W. Perkins enlisted serve the progressive cause at Chicago, as Bryan merit, and to carry the convention by storm. to see that it remained there. had at Baltimore. But Roosevelt was serving That this is tho true psychology of tho Roose- On June 18, 1912, tho anniversary of the tho man, not tho cause. Ho wanted one thing velt proceedings becomes perfectly plain. Ho battle of Waterl6o, the republican national con- t ho wanted the nomination. And yet ho did was there to forco his own nomination or to not havo enough votes to nominate himself upon smash the convention. Ho was not thoro to pre- vention opened at Chicago with President Taft any arid battling for negro dele- honest basis. Ho did Have enough dele- serve the integrity of tho republican party, and gates from the south and the presidential gates in that convention ultimately to havo make It an instrument for tho promotion of pro- nomination. Perkins was there with luxurious nominated a4 real progressive and adopted a gressive principles and tho restoration of gov- headquarters and his check book. Taft won. strong progressive platform. Ho could even ernment to tho peoplo. Otherwise ho would On August 7, Theodore Roosevelt and George havo nominated Hadley on such a platform, and have directed his floor managers to contest ovory W. Perkins went again to Chicago and organized proerresslvo republicans could havo supported Inch of tho ground for a progressive platform Hadley in much the same spirit as hundreds of before tho committeo on resolutions and In tho the third term party, with Roosevelt and Perkins open candidate for president and chairman of the thousands of them will now support Wilson. convention. executive committee respectively. Neither Hadley nor Wilson aro veterans in tho But Mr. Roosevelt was not governed by a sug- progressive ranks. Neither of them has boon gestion of that spirit of high patriotic and un- tried by the severest tests. Both appear to bo selfish purpose of which Bryan furnished such a BEHIND THE SCENES men of high ideals whose records, though short, magnificent example one week later in tho demo- Casting the fierce light of relentless investiga- give promise. cratic convention at Baltimore. Instead, he public tion bohirid the scenes of Colonel Roosevelt's But Roosevelt would not consider Hadley. Ho filled tho ear with sound and fury. Ho would have no one .but himself. At tho first ruthlessly sacrificed everything to tho ono idea theatrical struggle for the republican, nomina- suggestiop of Hadley. he ordered the third party-maneuvers- , of his being tho ono candidato. Ho gagged his tion,; .then to become the nominee. of a. third lest he lose, his followers. followers In the convention without putting upon party,' has left him in a sorry plight in the minds If he had ;tho evidence to prove that Taft record a'ny fdety upon which the public could honestly fairly why baso a Intelligent judgment regarding of" impartial lookers-on- . oould not be and nominated, definite. did he not direct his lieutennnts to presont that tho validity of Taft's nomination. Ho sub- , .If the colonel had not been so eager to evidence to the national committee, and then to mitted no suggestion as to a platform of progres- who contradicted him as liars, tho convention and tho country, so clearly that sive principles. Ho clamored loudly for purging and to stand before tho country as the one; the convention would not have dared to nomi- tho convention roll of "tainted" delegates, with- brave, unpurchasable and unconquerable enemy nate Taft and that Taft could not, in honor, havo out purging his own candidacy of his tainted of predatory wealth, and defender of the in- acceptod the nomination, if made? contests and his tainted trust support. Ho terests of the plain people, tho expose might not The reason is obvious. An analysis of tho offered no reason for a third party excepting his have been so fatal to his claims. testimony will, I am convinced, show that own overmastering craving for a third term. Faith in Colonel Roosevelt was badly weak- years ago was developed ened When several it nel Roosevelt reluctantly accepted the excuses to convince many of tho hitherto ardent sup- that at-hi- s personal solicitation shortly before of Harriman. ' porters of Colonel Roosevelt that he Isn't made, the election of 1904, then being a candidate for so far as his political aspirations go, of very com- presidency, E. H. Harriman, dictator of the But leaving tho Harriman episode out of tho the question tho sourceB frera which the money mon clay. Posing au a monument of political great Union Pacific monopoly, collected from a chastity, denouncing from overy platform tho great railroad magnates the enormous cam for Roosevelt's campaign for tho republi- few other can nomination at Chicago this year and his or- boss and tho trust magnate, ho In secret solicits with which to carry the state of ira-men- so sum of $250,000 ganization of third party upon his defeat in from this very class of nefarious interests New York f6r him and tho republican state the sums which were expended to procure to Chicago, leads, to the conclusion that his sources ticket. It was on 'a visit the White House, arid for him a nomination that ho lost, and then to by then President Roosevelt, that for financial bdlp aro polluted, that the vast solicited' the sums used 'in his behalf havo not been con- help him in bis efforts to destroy the republican Harriman agreed to get this money. Of the sum, party becauso ho failed to control it that an- Colonel Roose- tributed from either disinterested or patriotic he contributed $50,000 himself. reasons. other might bo organized, of which he was to velt's explanation was that he made the request bo made tho idol. at the solicitation of Mr. Bliss, treasurer of tho Twenty-ori-p Individuals contributed $278,-45-8 ?.'! to alone secure his nomination, and of that Tho News refers to these developments of republican national committee, not to help his Colonel Roosevelt's insincerity with genuine own candidacy for his election was then ag-aur- ed amount William Flinn, tho boaB of un- savory reputation, gave $144,308, Georgo W. sorrow. It has learned to esteem and admire Dut for use in New York for the state him. Even now it gives to him tho credit of ticket, the success of which was at that time Perkins contributed $22,500, and Dan R. Hanna request, $25,000. Hanna is an Indicted rebater, his trial having done more than any other agency to doubtful. Ho does not deny tho nor forco into tho public mind a conviction of evils is yet to be held. . George W. Perkins Js the does he deny the contribution from the Harri- that had to bo remedied before the country and man crowd. He simply eliminates his own can- organizer arid, controller of the Harvester trust, whose exactions the agriculturists of tho tho people could be independent and prosperous. didacy as a necessary beneficiary and has it, all under But whatever may bo said In that regard it donated for the benefit of the New York local, entire land are groaning. Why 'should a man like William Flinn of Pittsburgh pay out of his can no longer be claimed that he Is a sincere ticket. Mr. Harriman in his lifetime took issue man, and that many of his pretentions of vir- Colonel Roosevelt as to the uses for which own pocket $145,000 to secure any man's nomi- with for the presidency? tue and disinterestedness are not more hypoc- the vast sum was solicited. According to him nation risies. Denver News. It was to make certain that New York was car- This man Flinn was put under oath by thejn-vestigai-ng ried for not only the state but for the national committee. He was forced to tell ticket. how but a few years ago fn Senator Quay's life- WIIERE DID HE GET IT? investigation that was resumed at Wash- time he entored into a contract signed, sealed Staples, The delivered for their mutual business and poli- At Minn., Mr. Bryan attacked Mr. ington the other day gives to the country other and Roosevelt's claim to be a friend of labor. "Four Information. In the spring of 1904 tical advantage. In this contract Flinn agreed years ago startling cold bipod to d olivor delegates to both state ho fastened on the American people "when Roosevelt was hard at work to insure his in. the greatest enemy of labor that over sat on tho 'Harriman was repeatedly and and national conventions in exchango for certain own renomination legislation at Harrisbnrg, 's capital, United States bench," said Mr. Bryan. '"His urgently invited to lunch and dino wit;h Roose- convention rejected the demands of labor in tho White House and, Harriman was as which related,, to Flinn's. contracts in Pittsburgh platform years ago. velt at tho and out of which he expected to make heavy four Now ho is demanding earnestly attempting to avoid going there. Both a labor representation Jn tho cabinet. Whore CploneJ Roosevelt sums of money. Then Flinn waa 'forced to tell of letters and telegrams from own.ambitipn to, dfd he get that plank? From my platform four and his private secretary to. Harriman were put his succeed Senator Quay in the years ago. in evidence and their authenticity --not denied. United Statea;sqpate and how through friends nomi- hg.sfliicfted ttte support, of the notorious 'ArebV Following the .Chicago "convention which company nated Roosevelt, Harriman declined to return boh? of tho Standartl Oil to 'support Collier's offers pretty strong evidence that way Washington, lest might him. In the Jigbt b! these .developments, . not Senator Warren considers public office a private to New York by pi it denied, qnlCe do' Roosevelt's candidacy some harm, and Colo-- orid of which is it will' he difHcult snap.

- , i -. .- - viii "V" '.. '" '' ' '"a ,.'.jr