Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-26
MEN WHO SHAPED THE LAST
CONGRESS-.
Influence OF Pers onality in tho Forma'
tiou Of Legislation.

tiou Of Legislation.
When President Roosevelt sent his an
nual message to Congress on December
9, he recommended legislation sufficient
to occupy the attention of a long session.
There were only three short months In
which to crowd it all; clearly no ordinary
methods would avail to accomplish even
u portion of the work mapped out If
there has been any great measure OF
success in achievement of legislative re-
suits credit must be given first of all to
the Presidents personality.
President Roosevelt's relations with
Congress are cordial. He keeps as close
~ in touch with tho leaders as any
President in q generation. Even under
Mckinley, senators and members did not
feel more at home at the White House.
Roosevelts methods are widely different
from McKinley's. but they are equally
effective so far as legislation goes. There
are times when his nsistence seems to
create friction, but in the long run it
YIELDS interests which, divided and sci
fish, might balk the wishes of less
rcsolute executive He Is earnest. en-
thusiastic, courageous and frank. He Is
as unmistakable as Cleveland, but not as
repcllant. Cleveland distrusted Congress
and suspected the motives of the most
conspicuous leaders of his own party
They retaliated by stunning the White
House. Roosevelt makes it clear that he
seeks cooperation There IS not a man
of any prominence in public life to-day
who does not feel that he is welcome at
| the White House and who Is not glad to
go there. No President has ever accom-
| plished more by personal appeal to
party leaders in Congress.
A dozen men in Senate and House can
come pretty near determining the charac-
ter of Observation-Disclosures. Allison, Plat
of Connecticut, Hanna. Spooner. Lodge,
| NJ
| dcrson. A sensible President makes it
| his business to see that these men are
brought to see either their personal in
terests or the public interest in the at
tanment of results he Is after. Trust
legislation during the present Congress
| might have been an irr1descent dream
il it had not been for Aldrich of Rhode
| Island. Aldrich represents great financial
interests. but he Is first of all strong
republican. 1t is his aim to see that the
business interests of the country look
to republican success for financial sta
biity and commercial progress.
| There arc two committees in the Senate
which might handle trust legislation
the judiciary committee, of which Senator
IIoar is chairman and the interstate com
merce committee, at the head of which
is stephen b. Elkins. Senator Aldricf
IS member of the interstate commerce
committee. Senator Hoar prepared a
mendations of the President and the
attorncy-go The conservative mel
IN the Senate were afraid of it. They
set quietly at work to sdetrack it
Aldrich. Allison and Hanna decided tina
they could handle the question better
through the interstate commerce com
mittec. Without sa wing anything to Sen
ator IIoar. they had bill prepared il
that committee which followed very close
" the administration ideas. Senator Ell
{ kins introduced 1t.
The persistence with which the omni
, bus Statehood bill has held the RICH
of way in the Senate for many week
is due to the personal quality of on
man-Quay of Pennsylvania. Had it no
heen for him the bill would have dropped
out of sight as soon as it became plaii
that the strong men of the republican
majority We're opposed to 1t. Quay, 70
; reasons of his own, is anxious that New
Mexico should become a State. Penn
/ sylvania friends of his have investment
in the Territory which will be greatl
enhanced in value on the establishment
of a State government. Other senator
may have friends whom they are equal
anxious to oblige; it is doubtful whethe
any other than Quay could have muster
cd the forces necessary to put up
formidable fight. Quay is a man of nj
word. whatever else may be said of him
What would have become Of Cuba
reciprocity if it had not been for Plat
of Connecticut it lis hard to say Who
tho President was making his fight 70
' reciprocity last winter Plat stood b
him like a rock. Plat has little fait
1 in compromises. He has no patienc
with the men who are constantly try
} ing to find an easy way oct of every dill
$ aculty. He is always for fighting it ou
= on a question of principle-and Tor h;r
g reciprocity with Cuba has been ques
$ ton of principle ever since the day IN
= Plat amendment was adopted. Their
= is no man III public life whose mor
$ word goes further with his associates
, l.. a. Coolidge, in Golfers Weekly.