The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-01

lt as been char
Ac triumphs for
alton th.t cannot fail to
4ent Roosevelt a sense Of
.sfactiOn as he thinks back
me events of 1903.
Foremost in the list must be placed
the passage by Congress of the Cuban
reciprocity treaty. which went into ef-
1ect four days before the old year end
ed The accomplishment OF a reciprocal
convention with Cuba, it is conceded,
was the result OF the Presidents unre-
uniting efforts. Only by the strong
backing of the Administration. persisted
IN throughout, was IL possible to bring
Cuban reciprocity about in the face
OF strong opposition. In the calling of
the extra session to pass the measure
10 make the treaty effective the Presi-
dent stood out against the wishes Of
many OF his advisers in Congress. 1t
is known that the President takes the
deepest satisfaction in the fact that
the convention is now operative.
Alaskan Boundary.
The President regards with great
satisfaction. too. the outcome of the
Alaskan boundary contention. He feels
that the peaceful settlement Of this dis
pute. in which America gained practi-
caiiy all II asked, was a great event
Tor the Northwest, a part of the coun-
try in which he is deeply interested
1t is no secret that he feels the ont
come reflects credit on his Administra-
ton
me vigorous handling of the North
eIh securities merger is another of the
Dis tnlngs or the past year. President
Roosevelt is well satisfied with what
mas been accomplished thus far coward
the enforcement of the Sherman anti
trust law. What will be the outcome of
the great suit now pending before the
supreme Court Is conjectural and the
decision of the Court must remain
probiematical until the new year is
Wei advanced Whatever the decision.
viii open up great questions with
which the Administration will have to
graDple.
POstoffice Scandals.
The successful manner in which the
Postofiice scandals have been dealt with
and in which scandals in other depart
ments have been probed into make the
year 1903 historic
Other notable features OF the year
in which the President is directly con-
eerned have been the signing OF the new
commercial treaty with China, the sue
cessful negotiations with reference to
the Venezuelan claims, the exposure
OF naturalization frauds, the establish
nent of the Department OF Commerce
and Labor, the steady growth of the
influence OF the civil government in
the Philippines. the adjustment of the
open shop" question, and the diff
Guilty with Turkey over the Beirut in .
cident.
Political Aspects.
The remarkable reception given to
the President in his extended trip last
spring is another of the notable feat
ures of the Administration past year
In a political way, the complete failure
UP TO this time of the anti Roosevelt
forces within the Republican party TO
settle down on candidate against Mr.
Roosevelt is OF first Importance.
AS TO what the year just entered upon
will contain for the President, the pos
sibilities are unlimited The next
twelve months is certain to be crowded
with important events in the Admin
istration's history. The Panama Canal
matter and the questions growing out
OF it are conceded TO be of the most
tremendous consequence. While these
questions belong IN a sense to the last
year, their solution must come in 1894
Early in the pOst-hOliday session of
Congress il will be determined whether
the Panama Canal treaty is TO be rati-
fed. whether peace or war is TO come
with Colombia. and whether the canal
is TO be started in this Administration
The political possibilities connected with
the canal problem are unlimited
Other Pressing Problems.
While the Panama Canal matter is OF
such paramount Importance as to over
shadow everything else there are nu-
merous other problems which the Ad.
ministration must deal with in 1904
one that seems fraught with danger
at this time is the Kishenef prosecutions
and the troubles likely 10 grow out OF
them. The disposition of the Leonard
Wood case is watched with much solicit
tude by the President. The continued
turmoil between capital and organized
L Dor. on the eve Of Presidential cam
paign. is necessarily an object of some
anxiety on mis- part.
1t remains to be seen this year, too
what the opposition 10 his negro policy
I'm the South will develop. The fact
that this Is the year for the celebration
OF the Louisiana Purchase is viewed
with not a little satisfaction by tho
President.
Ahe next campaign.
Finally. and. Of course Of the first i'm
portance to Mr.. Roosevelt personally,
the year .SOi is the year Of the Presiden-
tiaT nomination and election. Is he to be
renominated or are the forces that
have for months been cOvertly seeking
MS overthrow To have their way in the
endg This is one OF the two great do
nestle political questions OF the year
The second IS. II the President gets
the nomination, viii the Democrats be
able 70 bring out a candidate strong
enough TO defeat him by mastering the
Democratic and the disaffected Repub-
lean strength With the Republican
convention nearly seven months away
II looks now as IL Mr.. Roosevelt would
be renominated As to the unification OF
the Democrats in support Of a strong
candidate, II may reasOna bly, be expect.
ed that with the early meeting of the
Democratic National Committee An
Washington and the reassembIing OF
Congress. the present month will wit
ness Developments that will 20 far Il
decide the form the campaign is TO as