The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-07
PRESIDENT MAKES GOOD
MIR. ROOSEVELT PROVING HIMSELF
Equal TO HIS PLACE.
Vastly Less Criticism of His Acts Than
There Was-ConsuIts News
paper Men.
- WILSON Dg3rIILnso Co.
Baltimore. M

powers OF penetrating the future Iarther
than ordinary men. are beginning TO pre-
dict that President Roosevelt will prove
himself one of the most distinguished chief
executives that has occupied the White
House.
This marks a change of sentiment.
few months ago-even a few weeks ago
there was a great deal more talk than
there is now, to the effect that the Presi-
dent would not succeed himself 1t was
thought that he was too fond of doing
surprising things, Of startling the people,
and thereby sewing the seed of suspicion
and dstrust. 1t was thought that he was
not safe man, and that the organization
which powerfully supported Mckinley
would ultimately desert him. The White
House, they said, was no place for a man
with experimental mind erratic
genius, such as the President was vaguely
believed to possess.
To-day one hears comments to the effect
that Roosevelt is "a great big, strong
man." and such remarks come even from
Democrats. There is no universal APP
prevail of all the President does, even in
the ranks of his own party. There are
still plenty of men who shake their heads
obviously some seemingly ilnpetuous
action Of the President which they canrot
at the time understand as clearly in line
with established landmarks of party policy
and more particularly of partisan politics.
But beyond the carping and criticising that
is heard ever and anon there looms up
a conviction, gathering strength right
along, that the chief executive has long
head, and that he is a man of singular
purity, of great strength Of character and
a stubborn sense of right that is unil.-
fiuenced by anything akin to the hypocrisy
of -h.e fra-F frase
| lively abhors wrong and is impatient TO
punish it wherever it shows its head
The influence dominant al the White
| House since Roosevelt became its tenant
| is less political than ii has perhaps ever
been. One reason for this may be that
| the President does not exactly know whom
/ to trust, since his accession TO power
an act of Providence beyond the plans
of party management. He has therefore
| sought, more than any other President has
ever done, the advice of distinguished
! than for broad Observation-Disclosures prom
! inent newspaper men, well-known educa-
! tors and writers, and especially men whom
| he believes to have an intimate knowledge
| of conditions with which he happens to be
| called on to deal in his capacity Presi-
dent of the United States or the mere
| dispenser of the federal patronage the
head Of political party.
LITERARY INFLUENCE.
The man who enjoys the Presidents con-
| fidence to greater extent, perhaps, than
any other is Senator Lodge. of Massachu-
sets. This relationship may be accounted
| for on the ground that Senator Lodge is
a distinguished member of Mr.. Roosevelt
party and leader in the Senate. But a
better explanation is furnished by the cir
cumstanoe that. Lodge Is a literary man
as well as a politician.
A searching analysis will show that the
men who enjoy the Presidents confidence
| beVOnd others who. Loo
combine knowledge of politics with the
| idealistic faculty of writing. In almost
every State the President has one or more
| Cabinet advisers who are called into con-
| ference with him without any one suspect
ing their presence, who are in a position
| to give him unbiased opinions on matters
| in which he is interested, and on whose
advice he acts in majority of cases, re-
CARELESS of factional leaders. And in most
men, writers educators. 1t is true these
| advisers are seldom called in unless there
| is factional division over question among
the politicians. But the President has UNI
| bounded faith in the opinions of such men
when 1T comes to cutting the gordon knot
in some vexed partisan problem that threat
| ems to disturb his slumbers
| 1t is certain that the President is &C
| cording an influence TO literary men
| which they have never possessed in the
history of the country He enjoys their
society, and believes that their calling and
| experience, their freedom from political
| entanglements and superiority TO partisan
| obligations makes them safer counselors
| in the prosecution OF policy of rigorous
| justice than men necessarily biased by
| contact with every phase of political
| chicanery.
| ly relations with Germany is ascribable TO
| this influence at court. While maintaining
an absolutely correct attitude toward Eng
| land, the President determined NOT TO cul-
tivate the friendship of Great Britain at
the expense of the traditional good feel
| ings on the part of Germany and France
Much has been accomplished IN promoting
| the exceptional position occupied by the
! United States abroad through the devel-
! opment of American industry. hut the
| recognition accorded the United St1tes lv
| the leading powers across the waters has
been the individual handiwOrk of The Pres
| ident, and is due TO his policy more than
to any other cause In spite. of Tie Incl
| dents connected with the Spanish war
| which threatened TO disrupt the cordial
| relations with Germany forever and the
apparent Indifference of American states
men, which tended TO widen the breach
| IL is generally recognized that the broad
| policy of the President in a short time re-
stored the relative status IF the two coun-
! tries to their old-time cordially, and mis-
| activity In this direction has gained for
him influence in the arbitershlp OF ma
lions that no President of the United Sta tes
has ever possessed. Abroad he is looked
upon a statesman of great discernmeut
ideal force OF character and exceptional
culture.
FAIRNESS ACKNOWLEDGE
In like manner he has settled many
political problems in the States. and while
at times his unexpected decisions and
abrupt ways of reaching a conclusion have
l engendered friction inside the party lines
in almost every case his desire 10 raise
office holding to a higher standard than
any dictated singly by partisan consdera-
ton. has been freely recognized. and his
absolute fairness and love OF justice has
been heartily acknowledged. While he
has struck wounds in going contrary Ia
general expectation. they have seldom
been so deep not to be quickly healed
Few men who expected 10 be appointed
were long kept in suspense, or allowed "a
hug false illusions as 10 their fate. The
President seldom takes up a case, no mat
ter how complicated. in which he doe.
not soon reach a decision through the
unfailing medium OF his secret Cabinet
The President has been described $ hav-
ing many traits In common with EXPIRES
ident Cleveland. II he has. they do not
partake OF Cleveland's perversity and
stubbornness. No believes that tae
President would Intentionally split with his
party on any policy that is an accepted
awfo Of he anfz 4