The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-03
THE OPPOSITION TO THE PRESI-
DENT.

THE OPPOSITION TO THE PRESI-
DENT.
Just before congress assembled in
December, the Washington correspon-
dents were busy with their predic-
tions that Roosevelt would break with
party leaders, and especially with
some of the senators, Dol after that
body convened. But the days passed
on-and the break did not appear. Ru-
mors of wal upon the Republican or
~ganization as led by Senator Hanna
were sent out from time to time, but
instead of any such move, there
come the selection of Henry @. Payne,
vice chairman of the national commit
tee and a close personal friend of Sena-
tor Hanna. Now the correspondents
are sure the break will occur immedi-
ately after congress re-assembles in
January. But appearances are no
stronger for such a break now than
they were a month ago. The fact of
the matter is, President Roosevelt has
managed things 80 shrewdly that those
congressman and party leaders who do
feel somewhat sore and would like to
have''a row with him, have very little
ground to stand upon to maintain their
position. There are doubtless several
who would like TO make a break of
some kind, but they are we'll aware
that they will be on the losing side,
for the more their grievances are
aired, the stronger will be the public
feeling with the president. In fact
they perceive that the public, without
respect to party is already delighted
with Roosevelt's attitude, and that
they can get no sympathy from that
source. The president serves all alike,
and tells them that the candidates
they present for appointment must be
exceptional in character and fitness for
the place named, otherwise he will
look elsewhere and it leaves them
without a peg to hang upon.
The claim is now made that the
New England senators, with the ex-
ception of Senator Lodge, who is a
close personal friend, are growing cold
in their attitude toward the president.
This claim is made not only for those
who have been turned down as to some
pet appointments, but also to those
who have not met with refusal.
Doubtless this claim can be taken
with a few grains of allowance, and it
is safe to say that if they are growing
.lukewarm, their constituents are not.
While the president has not had any
congressional experience. and this fact
was placed against him, as compared
with Mckinley, still he had a wide
acquaintance with public men, and the
manner he took to consult with mem
bers of both houses of congress and
party leaders on public matters while
writing his message, greatly strength
ened him among public men. In his
selections for the cabinet, he has been
pursuing the same course, and the
same may be said as to his policy of
appointments. But he does not always
follow the advice given him on any
! subject. In that he resembles Lincoln.
The latter consulted much, and then
! drew his own conclusions and followed
them. So with Roosevelt. Theodore
Roosevelt may not succeed himself as
president, but his administration will
without doubt take a high rank in
the history of the nation.
1t is to be expected that there would
be a great deal of sneering on the part
of those who are strongly opposed tc
civil service reform, as to the action OF
the president in that direction. Presi
dent Roosevelt has always been a con-
sistent advocate of civil service reform
and did much in Its behalf when
member of the commission sewers
years ago, and now he finds himself
in a position where he can carry ouI
his ideas and he is rapidly placing
every section of the government under
that service. In the te~legraphic news
which comes out from Washington il
is CLEANED that while here and there
some old spokesman feels somewhat
sore over the move and wear a sneel
on his lips, The majority of senators
and representatives are expressing
satisfaction over the move, as it re
lieves them of much of the crush fol
places, and all they have to do now i
to direct applicants to go and take
civil service examination So in tn
riffs of the clouds which the CORES
pondents brush up, there come gleam
of the real feeling which exists TOWARD
the new adm nistration. But there !
yet three years ahead of it and it i
far too early to form an opinion o
what its record will be. But the coun
try as a whole seems pleased with tn
attitude so far assumed, and it is no
likely that party leaders will lon!
place themselves in opposition to tina
sentiment.