Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-26
VOTE OF JONES
MAKES PARTY
VERY MAD
ARKANSAS SENATOR, PLEDGED
FOR THE NICARAGUA ROUTE,
VOTED FOR PANAMA WITH
REPUBLICAN AGGREGATION.

WASHINGTON, June 23-The action OF
Senator James X. Jones, of Arkansas. in
going over to the Panama forces at the
eleventh hour has brought down an ava
lanche of criticism upon the head Of the
chairman of the Democratic national
committee. The Democratic senators
were committed to the Nicaragua route
by the party platform which Jones was
so instrumental in framing. His action
in combining with the Republicans at the
tail end of the struggle when the Mica
ragua forces had apparently beaten the
Panama lobby to stand still, Is, to say
the least peculiar. Some of his critics,
however, say 1t Is not peculiar for Jones,
for he has something of record for doing
strange things. They recall how he was
exposed as possessing such large block
of round bale cotton trust stock In the
very height of his spectacular fight
against the trusts during the last cam
paign. That exposure probably hurt the
party as much as anything else, and was
worked by the Republicans to greater ad-
vantage than any other campaign thun-
der The friends of Senator Jones ex-
planned that 1t was a business venture,
and inasmuch as 1t was a profitable one
no one particularly blamed the Demo-
cratic chairman for having done anything
more than any other business man would
have done had the opportunity presented
itself. The propriety of his remaining
chairman of the national committee, how
ever, and making his principal night
against the trusts was another question
and not so easily condoned.
The friends of the Arkansas senator can
not urge In the present case that In act
ing Numerically opposite 10 what he
has been preaching for so many years,
ne has been actuated by private business
interests and for that reason his apostacy
is being roundly condemned. There was
a good deal of sympathy expressed tor
Jones few weeks ago, when the election
in Arkansas went against him and 1t be-
came apparent that after nearly twenty
years Of membership he was to be retired
from the senate. Even though his man
agement of the party through two presi-
Dental elections had led to disaster, there
was nevertheless a kindly feeling towards
him. His action on Thursday has changed
all this, and 1t is safe to say that Jones
will retire to the seclusion OF private NE
without general regret in Democratic
ranks.
Teller, one of the other Democrats VINO
voted for the Spooner amendment has not
incurred so much resentment II was
known in the first place that he was OPP
posed to an isthmian canal, and In the
second place that he had always Favored
the Panama to any other route IN case
a canal had to be built. Besides Teller II
a Democrat for political expediency only
He remained in the Republican ranks un-
III the free silver movement assumed sucn
strength in Colorado that he was COM
PEELED to choose between. retention Oh
his toga and a change OF political ralen.
1t did not take him long to make up MS
mind when-thes matter assumed This. s. MAJ
and he has been doing wheel horse duty
M the ranks of Democracy ever since. His
exposure Of the combination between the
administration and the sugar trust IN
seeking TO force the Cuban reciprocity
scheme through congress has perhaps
hurt the Roosevelt administration as
much as any other single thing, and as ne
has been consistent In adVocatlng Panama Ain
II there is to be a canal at all. his action
has not caused the bitter feeling that is
entertained towards Jones.
Teller will have to make another night
for his seat next year. 1t Is claimed that
inasmuch as the free silver issue Is dead
a change has come over the state. and
that Walcott will be able to give him a
hard fight. The Democrats, however, are
confident that Teller will be returned and
their hopes seem to be justified by the
recent election of Patterson.
The administration has not pulled itself
together since the defeat Of Cuban reel
procity. 1t is the general belief that Mr..
Roosevelt will make no more suggestions
at this session. Congress is In too uncer-
tain a mood, and the chances Of second
rebuke are too great. The party leaders
wish to relieve the situation by adjourn
ing as soon as possible. But it is reas-
onably certain that congress has broken
with Roosevelt and there are to be numer-
Gus other turn-downs at the next session.
If a Democratic house is returned and
that begins to look more probable every
day. it's first and main object will be to
embarrass the occupant of the white house
as much as possible. If the Democrats
should not be so fortunate as to carry the
fall elections there will still be sufficient
opposition in the Republican ranks to
combine with the Democrats in making
his life miserable. Roosevelt has brought
the trouble on himself He threw all prec-
edents and policy to the winds almost be-
fore President Mckinley was cold. He be-
gan making appointments without con-
sulting congressmen-often in defiance or
them This was something new 1t was
strenuous. Some OF his friends in the met
ropolitan press ''sicked" him on.-They told
how he had a contempt for mere machine
politicians. Some times for variety he
would take 40 mile walks or throw champ
ion wrestlers without half trying the
same day on which he turned down the
politicians. These feats were sent out by
the column until the nation was fairly
gagged with strenuosity. Now the chick
ems have come home to roost The ma
chine politicians whose discontinue gave
him so much amusement have combined
against him and have determined to de-
feat every possible measure Of his they
can. Were going to make that fellow
forget that he ever was a rough rider,
said a western congressman the other
night. Hes going to be known as Ted
dy the rough ridden and not the rough
rider. You mark my words he's going to
be stood up and knocked down all through
the next session."
His friends are still sticking" him on
to the wicked practical politicians. telling
him to go in and whip them; that the
country is with him. But he's not so
strenuous these days as he was.