The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-02
WILLIAM F. sHEEHAN.

"Conceding that the Presidents inter
position IN the anthracite coal s+rixs
may have been the outcome OF a gener-
Gus impulse to relieve a considerable
section Of the community from the hard
ships caused BY a dearth OF fuel vet
from the moment that Mr.. Roosevelt
swOre TO obey the Constitution and the
laws Of the United States he was no
longer at liberty to crafty a symp1-
thetic yearning unless he could find a
warrant for such qualification in the
text OF the Federal organic law. or in
some construction thereof by a Federal
tribunal.
The President acted on his own iii
tiatiVe and therefore he established
precedent which. in other hands, AMI
under other circumstances, may be
turned TO dangerous account.
Roosevelt's Course.
Much the same thing may be. and
ought TO be. said about the course
which Mr.. Roosevelt pursued with an
eye to the acquisition of the Panama
Canal franchise.
''Fhe Colombian congress had as much
right TO reject the compact as our own
Senate might have asserted, and. the
canal agreement made In Washington
having been brushed aside at Bogota,
our relations with Colombia should have
reverted to the status quo ante
DO prudent citizens deem II safe 70
intrust the war-provoking and war
waging powers OF a President TO Mr..
Roosevelt. in view OF the proofs that
he has given OF a bellicose. reckless. and
meddlesome spirit. by the dispatch Of
worships 70 Beirut. Morocco and smy--
ma. on insufficient information. or ytth
impossible demands. and in view OF lis
"a Inf Frr-- z
republics that. unless they not only
make reparaEtOn for pubic wrongs but
pay promptly to foreign creditors All
debts arising out OF contracts they
may look for cOercive Intervention On
the part Of the United States2
DO our citizens really mean to an
thorize their Chief Magistrate TO act as
Judge. jury. and sheriff in the case OF
every European claim put forward
against delinquent or bankrupt com
monwealths OF the New World2
The claim OF the Republican party
10 stand upon its record came 10 an end
in 1900 BY eight years OF power il has
been amply paid for Whs tever good work
II accomplished under the Mckinley Ad-
ministration.
The Wood Case.
1T was. Of course. in the interest OF
his prOtege, former Assistant Surgeon
Leonard Wood. that Mr.. Roosevelt ere
ated another mischievous precedent,
when he called into existence a con-
structive recess between the extra ses-
sion and the first regular session of the
Firty-eighth Congress, which. as a mat
ter OF notorious fact. were merged In
one another
The Cabinet which Mr.. Roosevelt in
hertted from his predecessor has been
subjected TO drastic reconstruction. for
no reason except a determination to
place at the head Of the Republican Ma
tiOnal Committee the Secretary OF the
Department OF Commerce who, with the
inquisitOrial facilities al his disposal,
must have acquired exhaustive infOrma-
ton concerning the inner workings OF
corporations and combinations, from
which campaign contributions may be
insidiously extracted.
Sacrificed Convictions.
"By the disavowaI OF his earlier opIn-
ions. and by the violation OF the assur-
ances given on his accession TO the Pres
idency. that he would faithfully carry
out the policies and purposes of his pre-
decessor. Mr.. Roosevelt has disclosed a
Willingness TO sacrifice cherished con-
victiOns and solemn promises 10 person.
al ambition and self-inJerest
Even in matters OF domestic admin
istratiOn. and while he is so TO SPEAK.
only a President on probation, Mr.
Roosevelt has not been able TO coueeal
his fmpatience Of constitutional re-
straints-"