The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-10-10
WASHINGTON.
Washington, Oct. &, 1901
From our Regular Correspondent.

hotel lobbes and government corri-
dors, 1t may be easily surmised that
Republican leaders, that is the Repu.
bllcan party workers, are very much
Of the Impression that they have in
the White House an entirely unknown,
not TO say erratic, quantity. When
Roosevelt was Civil Service Com
missioner he was enthusiastic for
civil Service reform, insisting that
merit was the only qualification for
governmental employment and, at
times, seriously irritating those politi.
clans who considered that party fealty
should receive its reward in patronage.
When Mr.. Roosevelt became gov
ernor of the State of New York, he
found himself so seriously obligated
to the politicians that it was impossi-
BILE to disregard their advice and their
claims. Nevertheless in his attitude
towards the great corporations, IN his
efforts to effect State civil service re.
form and in his defeating the scheme
for making the New York police force
the tool of the Republican politicians,
he so antagonized "the machine
that Senator Platt exerted his utmost
effort to "lay him on the shelf" by
showing him into that political grave
yard, the vice-presldency.
AS a result OF all this Mr.. Roose-
welt has assumed command untram-
meled by any promise or debt to any
individual or faction and, while he has
proved urbanity itself to those polti-
clans who have had occasion 10 call
upon him, no one can in the least
foretell how he is going to handle the
practical side of Republican politics
and every faction is on the anxious
seat.
Another source of anxiety is the
probability of the Democratic candi-
date being dark horse. IfMr. Roose-
welt will subordinate his personal views
to the party good the party will, its
leaders believe, stand every chance of
reelection but if the administration is
cratic from the politicians stand
point, if the President does not do all
IN his power to conciliate the varying
factions and does not enable the party
bosses to properly reward the line
workers there IS no telling what havoc
a good Democrat, brought forward at
the last moment and properly managed
may play.
On the other hand the politicians
are trying to reassure themselves by
the report that Mr.. Roosevelt has
summoned Mr.. Platt to Washington
for conference on the situation in
New York and that he will bring to
Platts aid all the resources of his
experience both as candidate for
Mayor and as Governor of New York.
1t is certain that, if he will, the presi-
dent can put some valuable ammun-
tlon into the hands of the New York
Senator, In the way of patronage. But
will her that is the question.
1t certainly looks as if the Steel
Trust ought to add little more water
to its stock. The spectacle of this
gigantic "infant industry" showing a
profit of nearly $55,ooo,ooo on the
six months business just ended and
that Notwithstanding it was during
those six months the great strike oc-
cured, is not one that is likely to
prove Of benefit to the Republican
party After the all too realistic |
pictures we have seen of the suffering |
among laboring men caused by the /!
strike and the comfortess, cherries |
and crowded condition of the labor |
ers' homes even before the strike, we
cannot help asking where is the bene-
fit to the American laborlng man which |
this Government fed "infant is sup
posed to work? This is question |
the Republican party will probably |
have to answer in the next campaign.
XXX
There promises to be lively con-
test over the governorship of Hawaii
in the near future and the people may |
have an opportunity of judging bow
eminently American in spirit is Repu-
blican administration OF governmental |
affairs In ''the colonies" The presence
of Secretary Henry E. Cooper of the