The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-04-14
Mn wno sAAPEn
THE LAST CONGRESS.
Influence Of Personality in the Form
alton Of Legislation.


annual message to congress on De
cemaer ?. he recommended legislation
sun lent to occupy The attention of
lonr session. There were only three
shor months in which to crowd Ct all;
clearly no ordinary methods would
avail to accomplish even q portion OF
the work mapped out II there HI
been any great measure tf success in
achievement Of legislative results
credit must be given first Of all to
the Presidents personality.
President Roosevelfs relations with
congress are cordial. lie keeps as
closely in touch with the leaders as
any president in a generation Even
under Mckinley. senator's and mem
bers did not feel more at home at the
white house. Roosevelts methods are
widely different from McKinleys but
they are equally effective so far as
Legislation goes. There are times
when his insistence seems to create
friction. but in the long run It Yields
Interests which. divided and selfish.
might balk the wishes of a less reso-
lutte executive. He is earnest, enthus.
iastic. courageous and frank He is
as unmistakable as Cleveland. but
not as repellant Cleveland distrust-
ed congress- and suspected the mo-
tives of the most conspicuous lead
iers of his own party They retaliated
by stunning the white house. Roose-
welt makes it clear that he seeks Co
Operation There is not a man of any
prominence in public life today who
does not feel that he is welcome at the
white house and who is not glad to go
there. No president has ever accomp-
lished more by personal appeal to
party leaders in congress.
A dozen men in senate and house
can come pretty near determining the
character of Aldrich, Ali
son, Platt Of Connecticut Hanna,
1 Spooner Lodge. Hale, Quay, Proctor,
Cannon and Henderson. A sensible
president makes it his business to see
that these men are brought to see
leither their personal interests or the
public interest in the attainment of
,results he is after Trust Legislation
during the present congress might
have been an irridescent dream II &
had not been for Aldrich Of Rhode
Island Aldrich represents great
financial interests, but he is first of
all a strong Republican 1t is his aim
to see that the business interests of
the country look to Republican sue
cess for financial stability and com
mercial progress.
There are two committees in the
senate which might handle trust legis
lation--the judiciary committee OF
which Senator Hoar is chairman, and
the interstate commerce committee
at the head of which is stephen b
lEllins. Senator Aldrich is a member
of the interstate commerce commit
tee Senator Hoar prepared bill
It was not in line with the recon
mendations of the president and The
attorney general The conservative
men in the senate we're afraid of II
They set quietly at work to sideracl
it. Aldrich. Allison and Hanna decid
ed that they could handle the question
better through the interstate CON
merce committed Without sayin
anything to Senator Hoar. they had
bin prepared in hat committee whicl
followed very closely the administrf
J. tion ideas. Senator Elkins Introduce
it.
The persistence with which the on
nibus statehood bill has held the righ
of way in the senate for many week
is due to the personal quality Of on
man-Quay Of Pennsylvania. Had
mot been for him the bill would hay
p, dropped out of sight as soon as 1t b
> came plain That the strong men OF th
Republican majority were opposed
IT, Quay. for reasons Of his own,
anxious that New Mexico should b
come a state Pennsylvania frient
of his have investments in the teri
tory which will be greatly enhance
in value on the establishment of
state government Other senator
may have friends whom they al
equally anxious to oblige; it is dout
ful whether any other than Qua
p could have mustered the forces ne
essary to put up a formidable igf
Quay is a man of his word, whatev
- else may be said OF nim.
What would have become Of Cub'
I Ireofnrocffy ~ it had MT hoon for pla