The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-28
rRr c. Arthur wnliams.l

u.shipgtOn, December 2A.--(Stnn Epe-
49, Another illustration OF the marvellous
WITH which President Roosevelt
,..,os his mind has just been placed In
,,,,.e The last mental somersault
1 IA nv the distinguished gentleman has
1. with the Cuban reciprocity treaty and
\, ouestlou Of whether that treaty should
,rv way be referred TO the house of
..,,,sentatives or merely ratified by the
j ,,. AS was pointed out in a recent
~, 10 The Post, this question has been
.,,slv discussed In official circles here and
..i,rs Of the house have shown In sew
4, different ways the displeasure they
\, because Of the effort to put the Cuban
Eats IN effect without any attention being
IA TO their wishes and what they be-
81. 10 be their rights. These leaders felt
,,,tIrularly bitter toward the president
,,,,uss he had looked into the matter and
,,rounced that, in his opinion, 1t would
n ne necessary to refer the treaty to the
.,usp. which body, he held, had nothing to
h With the matter This attitude mate
AM weakened the case of the house lead.
y, Of course, and 1t is not at all sur
,,tlpg that they should have expressed
no uncertain terms the regret they felt
.r,use the president had seen at to thus
cpose their views,
Che Of the results OF this condition Of
4 f,Irs was an Increased activity on the
4 M OF Representatives Cannon, Tnwney
IA other members Of the house who were
ydted with being the leaders Of the
rSyement to embarrass the friends of the
r.aty In every possible way unless some
II - th g.. l..
I'D one result of this activity, It seems,
complete change Of front on the part
the president, who, according to re-
g,ble adylces, is now firmly convinced that
ne treaty should be placed before the
hu.e and not monopolized by the senate.
The presidents mental gymnastics are
N the more noticeable because OF the
nervousness with which he some days
10 made the statement that the senate
md the senate alone was capable OF han.
ding the treaty. An official pronuncia-
usnto to this effect was given out Mt the
White House and was sent broadcast over
be country by the Associated Press and
hs special correspondents stationed here.
10 one questions Mr.. Roosevelt's right to
change his mind, OF course, but it is point
ID oul that he might save himself much
needless embarrassment IL he would only
profit By D0yy Crocketts famous advice
md be sure he Is right before he goes
ihead There was no need of haste In an
touncng the presidential opinion regarding
ihe treaty. mat paper can not he sub
Fitted 10 the senate until after congress
tstonyenes on January 3, consequently
iAere was no pressing reason why the
PRESIDENT should have given It out some
un days or two weeks ago that he agreed
WIN those WAC held 1t unnecessary to let
tie house have any hand In the ratification
II the treaty
These things only tend TO strengthen the
Impression that the president IS unstable
ind unreliable. Leaving politics entirely
Al OF the question, 1t may ne said In all
anaoF that the country as a whole would
Y benefited were Mr.. Roosevelt TO exer-
Csc little more conservatism and a little
noe caution In dealing with matters In
sllch there Is general interest. All that
hR about his being so warm hearted" and
% 'impulsye' that he can not give the
nhe serious attention to official subjects
taal devoted to them by other servants
lhe people is beginning to pail. Mr..
hQNe!elt may continue to be cratic and
enumerated and impulsive 10 his hearts
WHelt so long as he does not allow those
,MHcterlStics TO interfere with his con-
aad OF the public business and he may
saalge bis mind as often as he changes his
comes II only he will not allow matters
y which the people are interested to be
slcted by those changes. This opinion,
Is safe TO assert, IS shared by a large
sa1gAty OF the congressman and other Of
, IN. " Washington, irrespective Of their
f4.lhcal beliefs.
NoW that they think they have the presi-
Sil' on their side, those who believe the
yuan treaty should not be handled by the
ssa'e alone are confident of victory In the
sl, ~ may be that they are counting on
ss,rtsrtalntles even yet, for Mr.. Roosevelt,
sspng changed his mind once, may change
tss pssaa inc only safe course would
,tIviore seem TO he to leave the president
XIII out of any planning that may be
ssg on, and TO count on his doing this
@at only when he actually does it.
~
'ne general impression seems to be that
uF position Of the house leaders has been
s"etialy strengthened during the past
Wv ua!s Irrespective of any action on the
,'' the president, and that the chances
"Vor their ultimate success. White
"u'ug official has been given out, II Is
sut mat an agreement has been
assHeu whereby the senate, after dis
80 oi the treaty, will send It over to
use Tor action there This, Of course,
,Y D'seo on the assumption that the treaty
~ Oe ratified In the upper house.
new Of the conditions which existed
rn wy senate when congress adjourned last
n,s,'er there is room for considerable
uoais,so on lhis score, but the admlnistra.
Assn ,t are now claiming that there has
9tbs snahBe or heart on the part Of many
nd M stnators from the beet sugar States,
tgtlion any measure providing for n re-
hlo III" me duties on Cuban sugar sent
nsio,ls,rIS country is now sure OF safe
Dent II assuming for the sake OF argu-
teelrata' tnls presentation of the case Is
Il wopia ~ Iar as the senate Is concerned,
tnSl,ionIu NC quite reasonable to assert that
hd tba, uuye also changed In the house
w would 90 sura,snt reciprocity treaty or
Fobsbiy 90 through there. But IL is
il tbe sa SaIe to assume such a thing only
/ Il Nv 'aAe OF argument. In other words,
hye ~ no means certain that conditions
Git C,heu 10 an extent which will per-
Trough Cuoan reciprocity measure to go
lldicatlorS sress without great opposition
slnion w point TO material changes OF
I'm y, on the part OF some of the mem.
grsIty congress WIN opposed the reel
nd In ~ last session, both I'm the senate
hIlad M mouse, but until some more de-
y BE- ss, nation Is at hand Il would hard
lave hesn 20 assert that these changes
" ree,n.ssNu,iI nclent to insure the passage
'oclty measure.
~ ~ajSstatnvs~'
~ NIL. ell'mfd by friends Of the r,ciproc-
l,so,. ellent that both Michigan and Mn.
Il. Aa'e Withdrawn their opposition to
,.,D,..'.y' ana that the senators and rep
tenn, Ives from those Suites will not at.
atA. prevent the ratification. In view
h,,, iuet that the treaty. II ratified. will