The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-31
MUST HAVE THE COURAGE OF
ANDREW JACKSON.

and his close friends in the Senate
will accept amendments that will in
the end emasculate the desired leg
islation. In his speech in Raleigh,
after a very able argument and a
vigorous onslaught on sham" legisla-
ton, he used one sentence that has
been seized upon by the Samuel
Spencers as indicating a spirit of COM
promise. Mr.. Roosevelt said:
81 hope to see all the power that
think it ought to have granted to
the Governments: but l would far
rather see only some of it granted, but
really granted, than see a pretense
of granting all, in some shape that
really amounts to nothing
The Presidents statement is all
right in the sense in which his hear
if he meant to convey suggestion
that he would accept anything less
than is contained in the Esch-ToWn-
send bill, as some appear to believe,
that would be surrendering his posi-
ton before the fight in the Senate
begins and that is not the sort of
reputation Mr. Roosevelt has made
as a fighter. The fight for Govern
ment regulation of railroads is as i'm
portant as Andrew Jackson's memoir
able fight against the national bank.
"Old Hickory" won because he was
right and resolved to win at any hon
orable hazard. Mr.. Roosevelt is
right in espousing the legislation that
was demanded by the National Demo-
cratic Convention. He will win just as
surely as Jackson won if he is as
determined, as courageous and as re-
sourceful as Old Hickory. Of course
it is going to be great fight. When
such Republican leaders as Senator
Tucker and such Democratic leaders
as Senator Morgan start in to point
out this and that danger, and the rail-
roads maintain an extensive literary
bureau and a costly lobby, and spend
money like water to retain their un-
restrained power to charge what they
please,-with such opposition, it is
going to be no easy fight that will be
waged in the Senate this winter, but a
memorable and history-making one.
Nothing has been contributed to the
Eliminating than a letter to the New
Orleans Picayune by Hon. John Sharp
Williams leader of the Democratic
minority. 1t will be remembered that
a year before Mr.. Roosevelt had made
his first public utterance on govern
ment regulation of rates, Mr.. Will
liams introduced a bill to secure such
regulation which had the approval of
many of his Democratic colleagues.
When the Republican majority, fore
ed by public sentiment to act. determ-
ined to pass bill along the same
lines they gave the name of Esch-
Townsend to their bill, after the fa--
nous Representatives from the North
west, who prepared it. With devotion
to the principle above any personal
desire to be known, Mr.. Williams
abandoned his bill and gave hearty
support to the only bill that would
pass When called upon to preside
over the National Democratic Conyen-
ton, in a remarkable and carefully
prepared speech foreshadowing the is
sues of the campaign, MIR. Williams
put special emphasis upon railroad
rate regulation by Government.
In response to an inquiry whether
the Democrats should stand by the
President in his fight for Government
regulation of railroad rates, Mr.. Will
liams wrote the following wise reply
to the New Orleans Tribune.
"Yazoo City, Miss, Oct. Elm an
swer to your telegram: Every Demo-
crat ought to support President Roose-
welt in his demand for railroad rate
legislation. | deny however, any right
of paternity in the President. The pro-
posed legislation was outlined in a bill
introduced by the Democratic leader
in the House of Representatives, after
consultation with many of his col
leagues, nearly a year before the Pres
ident opened his mouth upon the sub
ject. In a speech upon the floor the
Republicans were challenged by him
to take it up and pass it as a matter
of pure justice to the shippers of the
country. The temporary chairman of
the National Democratic Convention
dwelt upon the substance of the de-
mand at considerable length and
charged the Republican party with
recreancy to public duty because it
had made no effort to vitalize and vir-
ilize the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. The Democratic platform adop-
ted by that convention demanded
though in somewhat general terms.
the DrOpOSed legiSla ton.
Eve genuine Democrats welcome the
President to our ranks and are glad
that he is broad enough, patriotic
enough and just enough to help us
give American agriculture and COM
merce a square deal. Even if the
President had been the originator of
the proposed legislation, even if his
party had originated the idea. instead
of sidetracking like legislation as they
always have done. we ought still to
support the legislation because it is
just and right
"' He serves his party best who
serves his country WE'LL and the man
is but a narrow bigot who refuses to
do a just thing because he does not
like the source whence it comes
"Mr Roosevelt is doing good and
brave thing in maintaining his un-