Bisbee daily review., 1905-10-24

Republican Politicians Cannot Be
 Relied Upon to Regulate Rates or
 Curb the Trusts-A Political Revo-
 HutiOn Must Preeede Reform LeEis-
 AatiOn.
 Last winter President Roosevelt set himself up as the regulator of the rail. roads, the curber of trusts and the champion of tariff revision. The peo- pie everywhere acclaimed him their champion and are still looking to him ss their deliverer and leader. Since that time there are signs that the presi. dent has weakened on the strenuous campaign he outlined against COT pOrate aggression. His intention to call congress together in extraordinary session and recommend that body to enact the necessary laws has been abandoned, or at all events postponed 10 such a late day as to be practically 6 concession to the railroads and trusts. That this view of the presi- dents nonaction is not alone the way the Democrats look at 1t is shown by the fact that even such a stanch friend of the presidents policy as the Chicago Tribune. through its Washington bu- -eau, sums up the situation by saying:
 Delay was the one thing asked for by she railroad companies. When they se- cured an agreement from the president that he would not call congress in extra session before October, and possibly not at all. the railroad managers believed they had the battle half won The yari- ous railroad managers who today are con- cributing money for the support of an in- dependent press bureau which Is endeaY- bring to influence public opinion have sent out confidential advices to practically ev- Sry large railroad in the United States to the effect that the president has "changsd his foot and he is no longer convinced of the necessity of railroad rate regulation along the lines he laid down so success fully in his annual message to congress Last December. It openly is claimed by other railroad officials that they have suc- oeeded in throwing dust in the eyes of chs president and there will be no legfs- lAtion in the direction of the absolute regulation of railroad rates at the next session of congress.
 As the Tribune Is the great Repub- hcan authority of the west 1t is prob ably right In It's Information of the vaccinations and intrigue that have sncompassed Mir. Roosevelt to prevent him from action But 1t is impossible 10 believe that he did not understand the reasons advanced for delay were the stratagems of the enemy and that If given time they could use their vast Influence and wealth to blind the eyes of enough of the people to turn the tide of battle.
 If the fight Is lost against tne plum derers of the people President Roose- welt will be to blame, for he had the result of the campaign in his own hands if he had called congress togeth- CT In early session. That would have focused the public eye on their doings and compelled them to take up the leg islation they were specially called to- gether to consider. To meet two or three weeks before the time for the regular session will be useless, as it was last year. The time will be frit- tered away, and the real work of the session will be postponed, as usual, un til after the holidays.
 The president may still be as strenu-
  ton to control the railroads and revise the tariff, but with all hIs power he cannot hurry congress to action except by calling 1t in special session at such an early date that there would be noth- ing else to do but act on the presiden- tial recommendations.
 The president has made a great error as q political tacticlan, and having ex- cited the people to believe they would attain relief their disappointment will be great If they do not obtain 1t. The crucial test, as President Roosevelt has told US, Is doing things" and his pop uiarity will be in the scale until he ac- complishes what he set out to do. The Republican party Is so inextricably in voived with the railroads, the trusts and the tariff beneflciaries that 1t Is perhaps an impossible task for any Republican reformer to accomplish anything of moment Probably noth- Ing but defeat at the polls and the re- tirement of Its leaders to private life will Insure a reformation of the Repub- lican party. Forty years of power have debauched the Republican politicians, and reformer such as President Roosevelt is looked upon as a danger to their grafting propensities.
 As it looks now the president will have more aid and assistance from the Democrats than from the politicians of his own party.