The Washington times., 1904-05-05
The New Statesman.
Deductions to Be Drawn From the Per-
sonality of Three Strong Men.

sonality of Three Strong Men.
There is some reason to suppose
that the next few years may see the
development Of a new type of Amer
lean statesman, and that in conse-
quence great things may be accom-
plished in the way of abolishing
abuses, clearing up misunderstand-
ings, and general political house
cleaning. Three strong men are at
present in the political foreground,
and if they continue to move there
something is bound to happen. The
three men are President Roosevelt,
Speaker Cannon, and John Sharp
Williams.
These three men are not alike. If
they were, it would be a miracle, for
only commonplace men duplicate
each others characteristics, and there
is nothing commonplace about the
President, the Speaker, or the Demo-
cratic leader of the House But they
have certain essential traits in COM
mon, and these traits happen to be
precisely such as are most needed in
American politics at the present day.
The country already knows Presi-
dent Roosevelt well enough. 1t will
stand by him. because he represents
earnestness, frankness, yigor, and
honesty. Nobody need be long in
doubt about his action in any given
emergency, or his reasons for that
action. He believes in cutting red
tape and going straight to the point.
Speaker Cannon has also these
traits. A breezy anecdote of this
years vintage is to the effect that
certain men anxious to have a river
bill put through came 10 him and
asked about it. He told them at
once that it could not be done. They
looked surprised. They had had oc-
casiOn to do business before in Wash
ingtOn, and they never had had it
done up in two sentences like that
before. Mr.. Cannon added, in seeing
their establishment, You don't sup
pose I'd fill you up with hot air and
then not do anything, do your
Doubtless that was exactly what the
lobbyists had expected, but they saw
then and there that there was a new
man in power. If any big question
happens to come up while Speaker
Cannon presides over the House, il is
likely TO be fought out squarely. 1t
is rather odd that the country should
just have walked up TO the bigness of
a man who has been in the House OF
Representative half a lifetime, but
his character is of a kind which
needed just this opportunity TO be
appreciated.
John Sharp Williams. the new
Democratic leader of the House, is
the first Democratic leader who has
made the opposition feel his infiu-
ence in a good many years. He is a
strong man-how strong. the next ten
years will probably show Already
enthusiastic followers are mentioning
him as a possible candidate for Vice
President, or even President, but as
yet nobody knows whether his pres
ent ambition runs in those lines. Mr..
Williams. like the two men already
discussed, is blunt and frank. and
disposed to fight 20 a finish. With
him as leader Of the opposition, and
Speaker Cannon in control of the Re-
publican majority, public questions
are likely to Se frankly discussed and
settled 10 stay, so far as such a thing
is possible in the House Of Repre-
sentatives.
II may be said in the spirit of
prophecy that this peculiar combina-
ton of strong men in high places is
n fortunate one for the country.
Speaker Cannon's ambition 10 make
the House a power in the land is far
more likely TO be realized with a Wig
oro1s leader of the opposition than
with a disorganized and disunited
minority To discuss a public ques-
ton with an opponent who does not
know what he is talking about is
quite as interesting as pounding a
feather-bed. No recent Democratic
leader has put snap into his following
IN the House as Mr.. Williams has ia
tho enoPf time since he won hjS NAV