The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-09
PRESIDENT IS
 PULLING WIRES Rough Rider Afraid to Force
 the Tariff Question HE IS TOO STRONG ID DOWN Republicans Realize the Futllity of Put ting Out Another Candidate and
 Acquesce in the Probable
 Defeat of Roosevelt.
HE IS TOO STRONG ID DOWN

Washington, December 1-(Spec1al)- The fact that President Roosevelt in his message, made no mention of the tariff question, that he advocated no changes in the existing tariff law, though only last year in one of his western speeches he did so, is full evidence of his poiti- cal years. The young man in the White House is alarmed. He reached that goal of all American citizens by accident and he wants an endorsement in the form of another term. Experienced politicians whose advice he sought told him that to delve into the tariff problem in his message would alienate tremendous cam paign fund-producing interests and that he had best fight shy of it, so he did. And likewise so of financial affairs and of all other affairs which might antagon- ize interests or individuals.
 The Rough Rider President realizes the divisions and antagonisms he has created and aroused in his own party and in his message he was diplomatic enough to add no more fuel to the flames. There fore, the message of necessity was weak. Old Wounds Are Open.
 But the old wounds are open yet. Many republican senators are striving to find candidate to put out and advocate against Roosevelt. Yet, as one of them said in a private conversation today: What's the use? Suppose another man were nominated? Roosevelt would have the power to prevent his election. and I doubt not for a moment that he would quietly exercise his power" This simply means that some shrewd old republican seniors think it best to let the nomination go to Roosevelt, and see him defeated. If it should go to anyone else they believe he would de- feat that man. Indeed, scores of repub- lcans in the two branches of congress ! are free to admit in private that their party is in a sad plight at the present | time.
 President Roosevelt, fully realizing that Hanna and other senators are plotting against him, and believing that they in- spired that strong editorial utterance in the republican Cincinnati Commercial Tribune against his nomination for sec ond term, is calling upon his friends to publicly declare in favor of him for an- other term. Senator Foraker of Ohio led off in an interview this morning for Roosevelt, declaring that there should be no other candidate before the convention He asserts that Roosevelt is the one re-
 
 asked whether he thought Senator Hanna was pleased or displeased at the frequent mention of his name Senator Foraker said
 Foraker on Hanna.
 "I do not want to speak of my col league in connection with the matter, but 1 don't know of any reason why we should not regard him as entirely sincere in saying that he Is not a candidate and does not intend to become a candidate. 1 have no doubt, however, that it Is pleasing to be mentioned in the connec- ton. It is rather gratifying evidence to him, no doubt, of the friendship and good will of his many friends. For me to say anything beyond this would be mere speculation, and 1 do not care to in- dulge in that
 Senator Platt of Connecticut who has served twenty-four years in the senate. is another who declared tonight in a written statement for Roosevelt He says: "I do not believe there will be any other candidate for the nomination, and if it were possible for any other candidate to wrest the nomination from President Roosevelt, I believe he would be defeated at the polls"
 In other words. Senator Platt voices the sentiment outlined above that a split in the republican convention and the re-
 
 publican disaster at the polls next Mo- vember. So the fight is one within the republican ranks, with Roosevelt deter mined to be tsrned down. Within demo- cratic ranks, the winds of politics are blowing more toward German daily. I learn today that the New York city, or Tammany delegation will go to the next democratic convention for Mcclellan.
 Disposes of Parker.
 This will relieve any embarrassment over the Parker situation. David B. Hill, as every one knows, is urging Parker. and Tammany does not want him. Thus. if the Tammany delegation can not in- duce the national convention to accept Mcclellan, then they will vote for Cor man as second choice. In reality, the Tammany leaders believe German to be the man the democrats can elect
 Chairman Jones of the democratic na- tioral committee has decided to call that 12, to fix a time and place for the hold ing of the national convention. It Is the present policy of the democratic leaders to hold the convention in advance of the republicans, and make a declaration in favor of revising the tariff, wherein such provision is necessary, but not in man. ner to disturb the business interests of the country.
 One finds no democrat here who is not confident of a Presidential and congress sional victory next fall.