The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-13
Now Considered Heresy to Talk
of Candidate Other Than
Roosevelt, but Opponents
Working Quietly.
OPPOSITION GROWS DAILY.
Congressman Feel That BriStGW $
Report Imputing Improper I'm
tuence to Representatives
Was Inspired by the Ad-
miniStratiOn.
Tho RepuhliC Bureau.
iith -. and Pennsylvania Ave.

a.
| Washington. March 12.-Thc rreconcil-
ahles who favored Hanna for President in
opposition to Roosevelt draw the breath
| of hope now that mention of Speaker Can
non in connection with the presidency
yesterday thrilled the House of Represent
atives to a demonstration which could
! hardly have been eXcelled in its enthusi-
! asm
| That's the way conventions are Cai-
! ried.'' is the comment which was seriously
| and frequently repeated in and around
! the Capitol to-day. Doubtless the cru
| cified-oIi-a -crosS-of- gold incident of pro-
| ltical history was in the minds of those
| from whom the remark fell. Certainly
the unexpected outburst has created more
| than Il mere ripple in national politics and
| it is accepted as indicating what a large
| element among the Republicans still de-
| sire. even II at this advanced stage of the
! Roosevelt campaign they do not dare to
assert or demand it oubiclT.
VIM. Alden Smith. the "Silver-tOngucd''
| orator of Michigan. whose speech precipi-
tated this Cannon boom. declares that he
had had no intention of pitting the
Speaker against the President and insists
that he was as much surprised as any
cheering. And yet. say some of the lead
ing Republicans who. for obvious reasons,
will not be directly quoted, no occasion
exists for surprise.
NEW ANIMOSITIES.
The speech dealt with the Bristow re-
port, which associates so many Congress-
men in transactions with Machen and
Beavers. Emanating from the Admins
trative Department and from Bristow,
who is particularly the Presidents man
in the Post Office Department. the report
has occasioned new animosities in Con-
gress against the President.
1t Is insisted. also. that the report could
not have been sent 10 Congress without
the knowledge of Roosevelt and that he
must have had opportunity to judge of its
results. Discussion of the matter goes on
to argue that the public disposition is to
quarrel with the direct Representatives.
the Congressman, and to be little moved
by mismanagement or mistakes in the
administrative arm. In this light it
would appear that the Bristow document
is calculated to divert attention from the
stencil arising through corruption in the
Post Office Department, obscuring that
question by involving Congressman. But
as it has been stated by a House
leader who will not allow the use
Of his name. NO matter how strong
Roosevelt may be with the people. he will
stand or fall with his Congress. And one
of his subordinates has aimed a blow
which will be felt in two-hfths of the Re
publican districts in the country this
fall
For these reasons, though Mr.. Smith
may. or may not have been surprised
not everybody agrees that he was-it is
not so very astonishing that the mention
of the Speaker should have spontane-
ously carried the House.
The House was in mood to be carried
against Roosevelt. That many of the in
dividual members are in the same mood
now is unquestionable. For them to ad-
NIT it publicly until somebody with the
force of Cannon permits the use of his
name. would mean a heresy that would
cast them out into the utter darkness 50
far as the Roosevelt organization is coz
cerned. Quietly. however, effort is being
made to sound the strength of the ''revo!u-
tiOnists''-to push along. or. rather keep
alive the old Hanna schism-and the Can
non boom helps.
The construction of Elr. Alden's speech
pecial emphasis upon its concluding point
I'VE are the only body OF men high in
governmental affairs whom the people can
vote for directly he said. We are their
chosen servants and are here to do their
bidding. The contest is now on between
the representatives OF the people and
bureaucracy that has assumed 20 sit in
judgment upon our official acts withod7
nciI, n
to the public information properly belong |
ing to it."
Loud applause greeted this last remark. |
and it gave Mr.. Smith a moments respite. |
Then came the climax. Mr.. Smiths voice |
rang out clear through the chamber as
he exclaimed.
NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT.
"Mr. Speaker. whenever the people want |
n popular leader, they come to the House |
of Representatives to get him, and hope |
the day is not far distant when the peo- |
pie will deservediy crown that great COM
moner, the Speaker of the House, with |
the presidential office, for which he is so |
admirably fitted"
The Congressional Record this morn |
ing adds In parenthesis. Lord, long-con-
tinued and enthusiastic applause but |
that only vaguely describes the scene |
which followed. In its condition of hys- |
terra the House was ready TO name Speak |
er Cannon for President by reclamation.
The Speaker was at the time talking |
to Representative Olmstead. He did not |
catch Mr. Smiths words. Mr.. Hinds, who |
stood at his side, said:
HE has nominated you for President" |
The Speaker arose and the smile usually |
unon his face faded away In its stead |
there was a stern look, as he pounded Wig |
orously, but ineffective.y, for order.