The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-23

a WAcf11NO4ONs &FoRSAAsSA a.
" While the November elections
" were not as favorable to the re-
publican leaders as they could have de-
sired. the fact that the party, in an or
year. won substantial victories almost
along the whole line, convInces them
that only some appalling series Of blum
ders can lead to a political revolution IN
1904 which would change the entire polit-
icaI character OF the government. The
feeling Is general that in this respect.
no danger is to be apprehended from tbs
legislative branch OF the government
IN both the house Of representatives and
In the senate there Is levelheadedness
of conservative common sense which can
be depended upon under all circum-
stances. in all emergencies, in all situa-
tons. Criticise both bodies as we may,
abuse them, point out their deficiencies,
their sins of omission and commission,
the truth must be admitted that the
congress of the United States is the very
abiest legislative body in the world. that
1t has satisfactorily dealt with the very
greatest problems of government and
kept the eighty millions OF people 1t rep
resents In the van of human progress.
It's past Is the earnest OF Its future.
sss
What Is TO be the policy of the execu-
tive? This Is the paramount question OF
the hour, the question upon which the
wisest leaders In the republican party
are gravely celebrating, but on which
they maintain a silence that cannot be
broken until the time comes to break
IT, One of the very greatest Of the early
statesmen Of the republic said that in
time of war the people look to the exec
utive, but in time OF peace 20 the legis-
lative branch of the government. MT.
Roosevelt apparently. wants to reverse
this maxim of governmental administra-
ton, and that in peace as well as in
war. the American executive must be
1t. Andrew Johnson, with his my
policy" had the same idea That mis-
guided STRENUOUS accidental President
started out to run the whole machine Of
government, to override congress. but
one fine morning he ran up against por-
tentious articles of impeachment, and,
on trial, came within one vote Of being
pitched out Of the White House. And
he, too had swung around the circle"
and been acclaimed by thousands and
tens of thousands as a popular hero. The
republican party and its vice presidents
do not seem to have the Knack of dwell
ing together In harmony.
80
It may be confidently asserted that
there will be no tariff legislation during
the coming session. Influential members
of both houses who are here, and others
who have expressed their views on the
subject in letters to their friends. are
almost all against It. The President is.
of course, expected to make 1t one OF
the topics In the message, but congress
has an effective way of smothering PRES
idential suggestions when they do not
happen to suit the views Of the leading
members of the majority who control
the machinery of legislation. 1t consists
in a simple reference to the executive
recommendation to the appropriate COM
mittee where 1t is allowed TO slumber
in what Mr.. Cleveland would call lin
nocuous desuetude." 1t is true the Pres
ident is In position to force the fight
ing by calling an extra session OF con-
gress, but as the inevitable result of
such a movement on his part would be
to plunge the business of the country in-
to confusion, and perhaps lead to cur
tailment Of production, throwing an
army Of men out Of employment, 1t is
not believed that he will assume so en-
ormous a responsibility.
It is not improbable, however. that q
bill or resolution will be passed, author
izing the President TO appoint commits
sion to consider the whole question and
report to the next congress which Will
convene in December, 1903. That plan, 1t
is thought, would placate those who are
clamoring to have all trust made goods
put on the free list, and, at the same
time be acceptable to the manufacturers
T. 49, Co. H.
erection of their lines of defense. Pos
sibiy, however. the republican leaders
will not consent to the calling m of OUT
side assistance in the settlement Of the
question, but will appoint a commit ee
of their own number, 10 SIT during the
coming summer, make a tour of the
country and get materiai ror half a
dozen volumes of expert opinion, which
will lead to weeks and months of de-
bate, until the country forgets all about
1t in the heat and turmoii or the next
Presidential election.
David B. Hills failure TO erect his cam
didate in the Empire state Is keen dis
appointment to his political friends from
different sections who have turned up
here since election, and, on the other
hand, a cause OF intense satisfaction to
his enemies, who declare that It puts him
clean out Of the race for the Presidential
nomination In 1904. Hill gets no credit
whatever for the immense democratic
vote in Greater New York and 1t is not
unjust to him that 1t should be so, for he
had next to nothing to do with 1t. The
Tammany leaders ran their campaign
without consulting him, except in a per-
functory way, and Coler had the sagac-
ity TO repudiate the solialistic plank in