The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-07
EYES ON ROOSEVELT
MESSAGE REVEALS NEW FORCE
 AT THE HELM.
Look Toward the Future-See old Traditions Set Aside and Are Determined to Avoid Any
 Conflict With Him.

Walter Wellman's Washington Special to
 Chicago Record-Herald.
 The most important news in the na- tional capital today is not to be Iouna a behind words which speak only halI thoughts and faces which have long practiced the art of Assembling
 President Roosevelt has astonished most of the oId-styIe public men. His message Is revelation to them. The more they study it the better are they convinced that they now have not only great in- tellectual force to deal with, but new sort of leader, whose future cannot be judged by the old rules of estimation.
 Here is a maa who ignores precedents, fiouts traditions. and rushe5 with one bound to the very forefront as leader of thought among the American people. It is not so much what he has done as what he may do that fills the old crowd with anxiety. Thoy have been accustom- ed to a certain way of playing the game. They know all the rules. and have not Hitherto imagined such a thing as mar who could be bold enough to ignore them.
 But Roosevelt is making rules or his own. He has his own methods. He IS distinctiveIy the man of the twentieth century. A great maj ority of our public men still breathe the spirit Of the nine
 teenth. And naturally the question arises in many minds What or the tuture What will it all come to?
 It has been favorite notion of the chief men of the Senate that they could put the new President in leading strings. They have done this with many Presi- dents in the past, and up to yesterday they had thought they could do it with Roosevelt. Already they had begun to play their part of the game, and to play the President. They were going to stand by him. He could lean on them. The President was glad enough of their ten- der of friendliness. He accepted It in the anirit in which If was offered, All was going well. and for that matter still is.
 But just here is whore the last twenty four hours have left their deep impress upon the assemblage of state and dis trict leaders who compose the great pa- tional political circle here. They had felt that in case of friction between the President and themselves, divergence as to polici ,s. differences as to patronage, they could discipline him by withholding or threatening to withhold congressional support They could hang up' his fa- vorite measures, nullify for time his pet policies till he was forced to yield to them and recognize their importance
 work It is method of play which has brought good results in the past, but to- day they are asking themselves if 1t Is sure to do so in the future. What the wisest of them are saying is that Pres ident who can write a message like the one hich was sent to Congress yester- day is rot likely to yield when legisla- tive opposition appears. They believe he will appeal from Congress to the coun- try. and carry the country with him. In other wordS these old-tima leaders fear the pen of Theodore Roosevelt. They recognize in it a new force. It is force which may make him the master in the hour of conflict.
 Fortunately no conflict has come. and none of importance Is as yet in sight. IT ere are minor differences between the President ard the congressional lead CTS.
 reduction. The Preside mt says we are bound to that by 'every consideration of honor.". The congressional leaders say the tarfff shall not be touched.
 Aside from this there is as yet no im- pcrtant difference of policy. But scores of men Segh In public life are asking the que stion: How long will it, take the lead CTS at the capitol to strike up row with the President and do him up?
 Such quarrel may CT may not come m mber of the strongest men in the | party are determined to avert 1t if they | can. And the significance of this great | message this remarkable piece of writ ino is that it has raised up a new in- tellectual force, new sort of leader against whom the older politicians are afraid to break a lance Test he appeal to the country, as nc has shown he knows so we'll how to appeal, and take the coun- try with him.
 In this way the Presidents pen is | mightier than any sword of military dic- tator or supported czar. It may enable him to have 1ls own way and keep the peace. President Mckinley did that by clever manipulation of men President Roosevelt bids fair to do il with his power of statement and leader ship of public opinion.