The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-13
OLD LEADERS UNABLE TO KEEP
UP WITH THE PRESIDENT.
MAY TRY TOPuT ON BRAKES
Declare Many of the Reforms Advo-
Gated by Roosevelt to Be I'm
possible Of Accomplishment.

Chicago, Dec. 9.-Walter Wellman,
in a Washington special to the Rec.
ord-Herald, says:
President Roosevelt is too swift for
some of the old-fashioned republican
leaders. They find it difficult to keep
up with the rapid pace which the
strenuous young nan in the White
house is setting for them. 1t is not
easy for them to realize that the ire
mendous popularity is due largely to
this way of going ahead to do things
with all the energy of his nature.
In other words, the country began
a new epoch when it made Theodore
Roosevelt the head of the state, and a
good many of the older leaders are out
of touch and sympathy with the
Rooseveltian IRA. The younger men
OF the party are much more in accord
with the president. But the old men
hold the reins of power in both
branches of congress, and one of the
most interesting questions of the day
is whether or not Mr.. Roosevelt is to
have a fine row with the veteran lea
ders before he gets through with his
.term.
Would Apply Brakes.
Already they are trying to put on
the brakes. The president wants tar
if reform-the genuine .thing-and
the leaders are comforting as to how
little they can give him and get off
without a rumpus and an appeal to
the people. He wants new legislation
to stop indirect Determinations on
railroads, and the lawyers of the SEN
ate are sagely pointing out that the
thing can't be done. He wants the
rate-making power put into the hands
of the Interstate commerce commits
sion and the railway attorneys Of the
upper branch declare it is impossible
without getting into conflict with the
supreme court. And SO it goes.
Il had supposed this was a good
time to sit down and rest and enjoy
a little prosperity and repose, but here
comes u president stirring up all
manner OF new things ald providing
trouble enough to last him a-aI us the
remainder OF our days. There is such
a thing as too much strenuosity."
So said one of the oldest and ablest
Of the republican senators. And SINH
lar expression are often heard these
days from the lips of the elder states
men. In fact, this sort of talk is the
feature Of cloakroom and corridor Cos
sip in the big white capitol which
stands on an eminence at the eastern
end of the avenue-the "Capitoline
hill" as our forefathers named it.
Such talk does not mean that there
is organized opposition to Mr.. Roose-
velt's policies. 1t only indicates the
attitude of mind out of which opposi.
ton may easily spring if the president
drives too fast.
Elder Statesmens' Idea.
The idea ofsthe elder statesmen ap,
pears to be that the presidents mind
is altogether too active and ingenious,
and that he should slow down. They
think he is a very good ~essayist, u
that it is not necessary to write pieces
about everything under the sum-, from
infant damnation to the philosophy OF
national disarmament, in a message
to congress-.
1t is not a secret that the leaders OF
congress have made up their minds
that it is useless for them to try to
keep up with such a president as this.
He is altogether too swift for them.
They have no attention OF trying 20
act upon or even consider One-tenth
part of the suggestions for the i'm
proyement of the government and the
universe which roll so easily and pro.
-"
ILLEGALLY from the pen Of this literary
president-literary even if he does
"try" experiments instead Of making
them.
At the same time the elder states
men are not a little worried as to what
Mr.. Roosevelt may do next. They
know he has the people with him.
They are wondering how the country
will take it if he concludes to hammer
them a little for non-action. The
president is in for four years and
doesn't. want another term, while all
the representatives and many of the
senators must soon seek reelection.
Plano Tuning.