The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-01

SENATOR GORMAN REDIVIVUS.
Senator German has come to life again.
AT the beginning of the present session of
Congress he showed signs OF great political
activity and was about the most prominent
of Democratic presidential possibilities. He
led off in an aggressive attempt to line up
the Democratic senator's against the Presi-
dents Panama canal policy. His utter fail
ure and the discovery that he had con-
troll over what he supposed to be faithful
following left him in a debiHtated condition.
Then followed the election of the Hon. Isa-
dor Rayner as United States senator from
Maryland over Senator Germans deter
mined opposition. This was a body blow
to Mr.. German. Shortly afterward came
the announcement from Senator Simmons.
of North Carolina, that that State had
changed its preference from German to
Parker. This knocked Mr.. German clear
out and rendered him unconscious for quite
length of time.
His first sign of returning consciousness
was authorized announcement by Sen
ator Bacon. of Georgia, a few days ago,
that he. German. was not candidate for
the presidency and that the Georgia DEM
ocrats should go ahead with the organiza-
ton for Parker. Senator Bacon explains
that Mr.. German did not say in so many
words that he was not a candidate. nor did
he declare himself personally in favor of
Parker. but what he said was fairly
ceptible of that construction. Senator Cor
mans friends insist that what he said leaves
his possible candidacy just where it has
been all along, namely. that he would ac-
cept the nomination if II should come to
him the voice of his party, but that he
will not scramble for delegates nor encour-
age his friends to do Modest Mr.. Cor
mani He will not decline nomination be-
fore it is offered and will let the office seek
him If it wants to.
The Maryland senator has further sig
nalized his return to political consciousness
by making vicious and unparliamentary
attack on the President. His experience in
attacking the Panama canal treaty ought to
have taught him that President Roosevelt is
a hard proposition to tackle in fight. This
time, under the pretense of discussing the
postoffice appropriation bill, Mr.. German
charged the President with executive usur-
pation. with violation of the Constitution.
with arbitrary exercise of power and with
lack of judgment and discretion. Prac
tically all of these charges were made by
Mr.. German in different form in his at
tack on the Presidents Panama canal pol
icy, but his arrows all fell short of the
mark. He will have the same experience
again.
Senator German bases his present attack
on the Presidents recent order regarding
the construction of the pension law and on
the alleged fact that the President has
discouraged certain legislation and urged
an early adjournment of Congress. There
is no evidence that the President has done
this-certainly he has not talked to Sem
ator German about it-but if he had there
would have been nothing improper in 1T. A
President is not barred from having opin-
ions regarding public affairs and express
ing them to members Of Congress. Many
Presidents have done so. Senator German
treats it as an unauthorized interference
with the legislative department, says "a
mysterious order was sent out that Congress
must adjourn. and asks, How long are
we to submit to such a system?" The whole
tenor of Mr.. Germans speech was to charge
the President with being regardless of the
constitutional rights of Congress and unfit
for the Office he fills.
The object of this speech is precisely the
same as that of Mr.. Germans speech
against the Panama canal treaty. He is
trying to find issue and to reinstate him.
self in the leadership of his party He will
not succeed in doing so by making per-
sonal attack on President Roosevelt, for
the country has absolute confidence in his
honesty and patriotism, and would much
rather accept his construction of official
duty than that of Senator German. The
latter has siSnalized his return to political
activity by another bad break.