The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-07-22
WHAT CAN ROOSEVELT DO.

The president has pledged the country
that he will secure reciprocity for Cuba
and relief to our people from the bur-
dens imposed upon them by the various
trusts and monopolistic combines How
Is he to carry out this pledge aud when
is he to do 1t? The present congress
has declared against both Of his
schemes, and not until the new con-
gress meets in December 1903 viii he
have a different set OF congressman.
and the probability is that even then
that body viii be Of the same mind as
the present one. He cannot expect the
next session Of the present congress to
reverse its action on these measures
taken at the last session.
his own party, in control Of both hous-
es, refused. after being twice urged by
him. to grant to Cuba the relief desired
in the form of a reciprocity agree
ment.
During the last session of congress
the senate put itself on record as op-
posed to further legislation for the sup
preston of trusts by defeating the
amendment to the antitrust law offer
ed by Senator Dubois. which embodied
the presidents recommendations for
antitrust legislation, contained in his
message to congress and in his Pitts
burg speech. The measure was voted
down by the senate, nearly every repub-
lican senator voting against it. 1t is
not to be supposed that these senators
will reverse their views on this subject
by the time congress meets next De-
cember. What reason then can the
president have for supposing that he
will have greater success with the very
same senators and congressman in the
second session of congress than in the
first in carrying through the proposed
legislation on the trust question, as
we'll as on that Of Cuban reciprocity?
Is the president sincere in his declara-
tipn in regard to these two measures?
Is it possible that his Pittsburg speech
was simply a political move? Did he
not know when making those promises
that he could not deliver the goods?
While declaring at Pittsburg that he
would secure legislation on these two
points did he not know that such was
an absolute impossibility during the
next session Of congress and that there
was great improbability of being more
successful with~the next congress.
The prospects are that the accom-
plishment of such legislation during
Roosevelts administration is an impos-
sibility, and the president is a man of
sufficient political sagacity to realize
that such is the case, and for this rea-
son one is forced to doubt his sincerity
in the matter. If he is sincere and
means to push the matter with his par
ty he will find himself in the position
that only two other presidents of this
country have ever been-a president
without party. These were Tyler in
1s41 and Cleveland in 1894 The repub-
Hcan party is opposed to these two
measures and Mr.. Roosevelt is not
stronger than his party. He will be
compelled either to give way to the de-
termined opposition of his party or
knows how Mr.. Cleveland lost the sup
port Of the party which elected him by
his position on the financial question.
President Tyler succeeded President
Harrison within a month after the lat
ter's inauguration. In the congress
which met in extra session in May there
were good whig majorities in both
houses. The president opposed his par
ty friends in congress on the financial
question. He vetoed two bills on this
subject passed by them, the second one
drawn on outlines furnished by him
at their request Thereupon the whig
members of congress issued an address
to the people detailing the reforms at
tempted by them and impeded by the
president, and declaring all political
connection between them and President
Tyler at an end.
Cleveland awaited Roosevelt if he at
tempts to enforce his views on his
party. Cleveland lost because he ad-
vocated measures the majority of his
party disapproved. Tyler lost because
be officially disapproved measures his
party had adopted. Roosevelt has de-
clared his determination to secure GER
tain legislation which his party in con-
gress has already during his term of
office declined to enact, and to pursue
a certain course which he knows is an
tagonized by the legislative branch Of
the government in control of his party
If he is sincere and determined what is
to prevent his meeting the fate Of Tyler
and Cleveland. With these facts before
him one is inclined to doubt the sinceri-
ty of Mr.. Roosevelt, especially in re-
gard to his proposed crusade against
trusts and combines.
Senator Quay mas deposited in bank
$4,000 which he wishes to bet, even