Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08
Anxiety Over the Service
Pension Bill.
QUIET OPPOSITION
TO IT'S CONSIDERATION AT THIS
SESSION OF CONGRESS.
Sneaker Cannon Looked to for Post
ponement-Revolt Against the
Machine in Kansas.

Many members of Congress who visit the
White House are more concerned ABOUT
the service pension bill pending In Congress
than about any other measure. 1t Is CIV
ing the republican leaders a great deal or
thought and few of them have talked in
a most confidential way on the subject with
the President without revealing his views,
however The position of these leaders Is
that the passage of such a bill at this time
will be unwise, improper and decidedly err
roneous from a political point of view
The intense efforts that are to be made TO
pass the bill, carrying, as 1t does, millions
of dollars in appropriations Will be met
with quiet but forceful work in opposition,
and the talents and energy Of many OF the
Senate leaders will be in the direction of
postponng action on the measure until the
next session of Congress. Whether they
will be able TO succeed remains to be seen.
The bill naturally has behind 1t the great
political power of the G. A r., and leaders
of both parties will be careful not to an
tagonize that power at this time in a direct
manner. So the work against the bill must
and will be done quietly, all in the direc-
ton of post poning 1t to another session.
The fact is pointed out that the republicans
are not permitting extraordinary appropr1-
atoms of any kind, and are cutting on all
legislation that tends to swell the amount
of money authorized by Congress to be
spent. Therefore, they do not think that
the advocates of the service pension bill
should press that measure and at the same
time join in the general movement against
large or heavy appropriations at this ses-
sion.
Speaker Cannon is being depended on to
have something important to say as to this
bill. 1t Is recognized that his own political
interests are involved as much as those of
any other republican leader, but he is
unanimously agreed upon as the one man
having the nerve to prevent action at this
time if he desires. He can refuse to give
the measure time in the House this session,
but in doing SO he would take upon himself
the assaults of the Grand Army organiza-
tons of the country. If he does not do so
the bill will encounter trouble in the Sem
ate from senator's who can oppose it in a
quiet way without being identified with the
work.
Big Revolt in Kansas.
Representative Victor Murdoch of Kan
sas has just returned from that state, which
Is the livelfest mass of politics known in
many years. The situation, however is full
of trouble for members of Congress and
everybody else tinkering with politics, and
the consequence is that Kansas senator's
ana representatives do not talk for publ
eaton on the subject. The Kansas re-
pupllcans. having nothing else to do, have
Just finished overturning the Kansas ma
chine, and at the same time overthrowing
county bosses and leaders by the whole
sale. So many old leaders have gone under
ana so many new alignmentS have been
MADE that Kansas congressman are just
beginning to get the ends of the new con-
dltion OF affairs together. They are trying
10 determine where they are at" and be-
cause there is SO much dyna mite in the air
they DO not want to ignite anything by an
lnnammatory word or suggestion. The re-
Volt against the machine is said to be the
NEST complete ever undertaken by the
people. 1t has been directed at the Bailey
Leland machine. The senator's and repre-
sentatlves are not directly in the path of
the cyclone, and no fight has been made
personally on them, but one result has been
TO establish new leaders in nearly every
county. whose loyalty to present congress-
men may be a matter of concern
An interesting feature of the situation is
that all sides are for Roosevelt for Presi-
cent. Not only are all the republicans
OF an elements for Roosevelt" said Mr.
MURDOCH. who talked with the President
inns morning, but all the democrats and
all the populists for him. In this re-
spect the situation Is a deeply interesting
one. Roosevelt will have all the delegates
from the state In the national convention.
and he will sweep the state in November
py many thousands of votes"
me president had a number of visitors
VINO presented friends These included
representatives Marshal, Stevens TrmbIe
OF kentucky and Butler of Pennsylvania.