The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-14
AvAsH1NGroN. December 1a.-Pres-

A HASHlNGIONss sOecemDer lo'-fies7
 AI ident Roosevelts recommenda-
 RW tions have ceased to be a topic of conversation among congressman, with the exception of those on committees and sub committees to which the different recommendations and suggestions con contained in the message have been re- ferred for their deliberation. General Grant said after he left the presidency, he did not see much use in sending to the legislative branch the document at all, except for the fact that not to do go would be vlolative of the spirit and letter of the constitution. In the early years of the government, the message was digni1ed with the title of ''the presi- dents speech" and was read by him to the senate and house in person. It was regarded in the same light as the kings speech on the opening of parliament, and was almost equally brief. Washington used to wear his sword when he deliver ed 1t, and so did his successor, John Adams. Then if the rule or custom for congress to get up a reply" to the speech, which led to a protracted and often crimonious debate, lasting week or two. Jefferson the whole performance savored too much of monarchal forms, ! and so sent in what he had to say in writing, informing congress that a reply would not be expected. His opponents declared his real reason was that his ut- terance was so bad that he could not make himself sufficiently distinct to be understood. They also asserted that he was afraid to buckle on a sword, lest 1t should trip him up, and thereby. provoke the mirth of his audience. But however, all this may be, communication by mes sage has been the practice ever since.
 
 There is no doubt in regard to the ad- mission of Arizona I have reason to know that the majority of the committee in both houses will favor it's admission to statehood Among those who have been putting forward the greatest amount of energy in behalf of this territory is William c. Greene, who has large in- terests in Arizona It Is commonly be- leved that when Arizona Is admitted MT. William c. Greene will be sent to the United States senate as a democrat.
 
 The dogmatizing tone of the document is not relished by the old leaders in both houses, not a few of whom are the sem iors by fourth of century of the pres ident. They practically control legisla- tion. They look upon MT. Roosevelt as a novice In national politics. and think he has volumes to learn which he assumes with the utmost self-complacency ito know 1t all." The fact is, Roosevelt has ruffled the feathers of the veteran repub- lican eagles, and they eye him In a way which shows they do not like the un- wonted liberty taken with them. Harri- son and Mckinley were the ideal presi- dents or these wise, sedate gentlemen, who, in the course of their long careers, have been so many able chief magistrates come and go. Many of them know Lin coin and Grant. In house or senate they were the colleagues of Garfield, Harri- son, and Mckinley, of Blaine and Sher- man and Reed. Before MT. Roosevelt passed his college entrance examination, they were writing into the national stat utes the great enactments, financial and economic, which form the legislative foundation of the industrial progress and prosperity of the republic. To send to men of this intellectual rank a state pa- per on conditions of the Union, pep pered with such sophmoric phrases as, tours is not the creed of the weal1ling and the coward" this great nation is seated on a continent fianked by two great oceans" and inhabited by 'the sons of men who had iron in their blood" is now regarded by friend and foe alike as the most grotesque presidential per- formance in our history. A sensational admirer of the president in referring to 1t recently. said: MT. Hay and MT. Lodge heard the message read in advance. Both of them are strong and graceful writears. When these stump speech phrases fell upon their ears, why dn they not politely offer their blue lead pencils to the president? A judicious edi- tor would be a valuable addition to the White House staff.
 MT. Cannon's course for the next speak ership Is now clear. unless he should make some bad legislative, or political break between now and the fourth of March. This he is not likely to do. He is far too level-headed to fall into the pitfalls that often mar the lives of younger men, and in addition he is co transparently candid and sincere fin all his words and acts, that a quarrel with him is out of the question. When Cam non becomes speaker" says a congress- man. who, for some reason or other, will not let me use his name. there will be at least two famous "Joes," whose sirnames also begin with "C' in the world The other is British "Joe' Chamberlain. These two potent "J. Cs." of the Eng fish speaking race, or races. are not, however, like the two Dromios in the play The one can never be mistaken for the other Intellectually, "Our Joe" is the peer of the English "Joe." That Is the only resemblance between them From sartorial point of view they are wide apart as the poles. Zoe" of Eng land is never without an orchid in his buttonhole, and it Is said wears a mon acle even in bed. The vest "Joe" of Illi- nois is rarely buttoned and I believe he would rather give up the certainty of