The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-06
Washington Day by Day


 place some weeks ago an aged and emil nent man was quoted as saying that the time was then near at hand when Presi- dent Roosevelt would probably lose con- trol of the Republican majority in Con- gress. This prediction being based upon the presumption that as soon as the poli- ticians had secured from the President all the patronage at his disposal, they would not only cease to haunt the White House but would to a large extent personally neglect the President The view was fur ther advanced that this neglect would soon result in opposition, active or tacit
 The eminent old mans prophecy seems to be coming true a little sooner than even he expected. Indication of this is found in the Presidents frequent sum- mons to the few active supporters he now has in the two houses. He has in- vted to various conferences Senator Hanna, Senator Aldrich and few others, and amongst them they have tried to devise some plan whereby the eighteen rebellious Republican Senators can be brought into line in favor of Cuban fegis- lation.
 Senator Elkins who Is unquestionab1y one of the ablest men in the Senate and one of the strongest leaders In the Re- publican party; Senator Dietrich. Senator Nelson and others of the "'insurgent' Senators, are quoted as telling the Pres ident in plain words they will not, in any circumstances vote for Cuban reciprocity.
 These latter Senators in measure con- sented to a law granting rebate on irn- portations from Cuba, that being really what they desire, instead of the reduc- tion of twenty per cent ip the way of reciprocity. But Senator Hanna Senator Aldrich, Senator Platt of New York and their associates, who are backing up the Presidents views in the Senate, declare most emphadcalIy that they will not agree to rebate, inasmuch as that would be postponing the day of evil.
 Thus the Senate Republicans seem to be at the moment hopelessly divided. Those who may be called the Roosevelt Sena- tors, that Is to say, those supporting the policy of the President in respect to Cuba claim to have forty votes, which Is five less than necessary to pass the bill.
 
 be McLaurin of South Carolina and Nor gan of Alabama. The Democratic oppo- nents of the bill are unanimous, with the exception of MT. Morgan, and MT. Me- Laurin of South Carolina. In caucus the eighteen recalcitrant Republicans declare in effect that they will vote with the Democrats Yet MT Aldrich says his side is confident of winning the necessary five votes before the bill comes to a vote.
 So the president is confronted by very serious trouble in his own party. His patronageis Is gone. and in the oircum- stances he could not be expected to have any considerable personal following in the senate. His youth in public life and In years alike argues against that. It is believed that he has but one personal friend in the senate, MT. Lodge of Mas sachusetts and while we are told day by day that the president is bringing to bear all his "personal influence to induce the anti-reciprocity senators of the Re- publican party to vote with him, it is difficult to discover wherein that per 
 existent. man older in years and older in the public service might exercise, as president, an overmastering influence, due to his high office and to his exper fence. A number of such presidents have exercised such influence; but MT. Roose- welt Is likely to join his illustrious prede- cessors in that respect.
 It is said here, and with evident truth fitness, that the president is not sure of any one powerful man, except MT. Lodge, upon whom he can absolutely rely. Many af the senators are old men who have grown gray in the service of the Republican party, and some of them have vainly aspired to the presidency. It Is not unnatural that they should now feel jealous of Mir Roosevelt's position nor need 1t be doubted that they have little respect for his statesmanship, his abilities or his capacity to lead Most likely such men would be glad to see the young man in the White House fail. At any rate it is common talk here, amongst the friends of the various as- pirants for the presidency, that MT. Roosevelts nomination in 1904 is impos- sible.
 Most of the talk Is for Hanna; practi- eally all the younger men favor the Ohio senator for the Republican nomination two years hence, and they accept MT. Roosevelts defeat as a foregone con clusion, going so far as to say that his name will not be presented to the Re- publican national convention.
 Of course this Is mere political goS- sip, but it Is the gossip of the most wide awake and capable men in Washington.
 While President Roosevelt was need lessiy and grossly offending all southern CTS fin his Decoration Day speech at Ar lirgton, and while Gen. Fttzhugh Lee was delivering in Birmingham, at the same moment d noble eulogy ct the decoration Of the graves of Federal sol die1s, out in Kansas City horse named Dick" which Roosevelt rode in Cuba, was very conspicuous at the unveiling of the monument to the Confederate dead in Forest Hill cemetery, that city.
 It seems to have been a great day In Kansas City, and multitude of people of southern and northern antecedents at tended tic unveiling of what is described as a splendid monument to the Confed-