Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-12

day, Dec. /, the house Repub-
licans "bit off more than they
could chew. After Hon. Carter Glass,
successor to Major Otey of the Lynch.
burg (va.) district, had been sworn in,
Mr.. Tayler of Ohio, chairman of cleo
tion committee No. l, aiosc and moved
that the Glass credentials be referred
to his committee, which should be en-
powered to sit in Washington or Vir-
ginia. to send for persons and papers,
etc., the evident intention being to be-
gin congressional investigation and
agitation as to the constitutionality Of
Virginia's new constitution. A buzz
went round that at last the great fight
was on, and there was much rushing
about and laying together of heads.
That was on Monday, mark you. On
the next day, Tuesday, Mr.. Tayler
made unanimous report from his
committee to the effect that it was in
expedient to tackle such huge ques-
tion at the short session! A change
had suddenly come over Br'er Taylers
dream. He had slept upon his sugges-
tion. 1t did not promise well. What
on Monday seemed holiday perform
ance-the unscating of a Democrat
duly elected - on Tuesday was too
huge an undertaking for the short ses-
sion! Wherefore this sudden return
to sanity? The reason is not far to
seek. Certain northern states, notably
Massachusetts,, have placed certain
qualifications on suffrage which would
cut down congressional representation
II the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments are strictly applied; hence the
halt SO abruptly called in Mr.. Tayler's
programme. Much depends on whose
OK is gored-yery much indeed Crum-
packering is dead for the short session
at least.
As to Presidential Candidates.
The short session of the Fifty seventh
congress opens with considerable talk
as to presidential nominees. The events
Of the vacation time appear to have in
fuenced the political fortunes Of many
men. To begin with, when congress
adjourned in July the gossip indicated
that there was big fight on betwixt
Colonel Roosevelt and Senator Hanna,
with the chances decidedly in favor of
the latter gobbling the greatly coveted
plum of the Republican nomination,
but now President Roosevelt seems to
have things all his own way. 1t is
q ten to one shot at this writing that
he will break all the presidents in
cases where vice presidents haze be-
come presidents by reason Of the death
OF their c1rsefs ana secure IlIr ,,oluina-
tios, for himself. OF eni,rsn- everybody
knows that Tyler, Fillmore. Johnson
and Arthur all desired to succeed them
selves in the White House and failed to
do so, but III their cases their parties
We're badly torn by personal factions.
In fact, Tyler never was Il Wing. He
was simply disgruntled Democrat
! nominated by the Wings as an expedi.
/; ency. johnson never was Republic
an. but was a war Democrat. Fillmore
was at loggerheads with William II.
Seward and Thurlow Weed. Arthur
belonged to the Stalwarts, and Blaine
; led the Feather Heads. At the pres.
ent time the Republican party is singu-
larly free from personal factions. So
Colonel Roosevelt has little to fear on
that head. But they are split upon tar
If and trusts. On that rock his presi-
dental bark may split. If he can steer
clear of that. his title seems clear-if
not to mansions in the skies, at least
10 presidential nomination. The one
thing that SO greatly improved Colonel
Rooscvcit's prospects lii life was his
conduct touching the coal strike. me
president is a good deal of scholar,
and he no doubt frequently recalls the
splendid lines Of Shakespeare:
There is tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to
fortune;
Omitted, The voyage of their lives is
Eound in shadows and in mieeries.
On the Democratic side the only man
in the east WHO appears to have been
benefited by the vacation events is Sen
ator Arthur Pue German of Maryland.
he Of the Greek head and. face. His
presidential stock has risen .percepti-
bly-not as much as Colonel HaoSevelt's,
hut it has risen. The wiseacres with
one accord consider Ex-Governor and
ex-senator David Ben1stss1Hll out Of
the running. His sin appears to be TINT
he failed to get Dir. Coaer INTO tile giilj-
ernatorial mansion at Albany, though
a great many believe that coler was
fairly elected. If that be true, it seems
q little tough OH the Sage Of Wolf
ert's Roost to hold him responsible for
the theft of the governorship by the
Republicans But success is the stand
ard of merit, aud for the time being. Mt
any rate, Hill is in eclipse. His enc
mics say that he should have nominal.
cd Judge Parker, who, as they allege.
would have been elected hands down.
Hills enemies assert that the reason
he did not nominate Parker is that he t
knew Parker would be elected governor
and feared he would be elected presi-
dent However that may be, st IL plain
rs the nose on Lord Napiegs face that
German has gained In prestige white
iii has lost. German always has been
songer in the south than Hill, The
',:slierners will never forget-and they
hit not to forget-that the great Ma
lander saved them from the Lodge
1rce bill. That was great perform
sce and stamped German as the most
illiant parliamentary leader of his
'ieratian. So the German talk goes
!. apace,. swelling in volume as 1t goes.
While Colonel Roosevelt was improv-
aa his own presidential chances IN the
lat.er OF the coal strike he was play.
,g everlasting smash with the presi.
ential ,,rosnpetS Of another 1iStjn.