Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-01-06

lis Scutmc cObSlslb vi pTOulDitluS ali
corporations from engaging in inter
state business until they have prOcur
ed federal licenses and complied with
such conditions as Congress may i'm
pose.
There is no question but that the
President has put his finger on the
two greatest evils of the business sys-
tenn of the country. He has efnphasIz-
ed the necessity for providing for gov
ernmental control of railroad rates and
of the great corporations which engage
In interstate commerce and which are
popularity known as trusts. He has
asked, almost demanded, that Congress
pass legislation which will remedy the
existing evils. In 30 doing the Presi
dent has not hesitated to borrow from
his opponents and advocate leading
Democratic policies, but he is count
ing without bis host in expecting Re.
publican Congress to aid him in cor
recting these evils. Instead of setting
themselves to the task which the Pres
ident has pointed out to them as of
vital Importance to the well being of
the nation, Republican members of
Congress are gazing at each other in
amazement and questioning if they
have not made the objectionable error
OF electing Democratic president on
the Republican ticket.
1--WE have come to the parting OF the
ways" said the President to .Repub
lican Senator recently. I'VE must now
decide whether the Republican party
shall stand for square deal for every
man, be he great or small, influential
or insignifical whether it shall improve
it's opportunity, curb corporate greed
and prove to the people that it stands
for their interests, or whether it shall
merit the name given it by the Demo
Gratis, the party of special privileges
and vested interests y. What reply
the Senator made to the President your
correspondent does not know. 10 your
correspondent. a moment later, the
Senator said, THAT man is a fool. He
talks like wild-eyed Democrat. If
he goes on at this rate be will soon be
a bigger socialist than Bryan. big
ger anarchist than Debs." If Mr..
Roosevelt could hear what the national
legislators in bis own party are saying
of bis policies and his aims, even As
stout hearted an individual as be would
probably feel sickening sensation.
The President has just been guilty of
a frighiful heresy in the eyes Of the
members of his party. He has appoint
ed Francis E. Luepp to the Office of
Indian Commissioner. Mr.. Luepp is q
life long Democrat and has for years
been Washington cor. of a prominent
Democratic newspaper. Mr.. Luepp
was appointed member of the Indian
Commission by President Cleveland,
resigning after several years service.
He hiss been the special investigator of
of numerous. Indian scandals and has
not only studied the problem of hand
ling the Indians but has the best in.
terests of the Indians at heart. That,
of course, makes no difference to the
partisan politician. Mr.. Roosevelt
should have appointed a Republican
Fitness for the. Office should have been
purely a secondary consideration. Mr.
Luepp succeeds VIM. A. Jones, one OF
the best Indian Commissioners who
ever filed the Office, and Republican
Mr.. Jones was formerly a Republican
member of the Wisconsin State !egls
lature. When Mr.. Jones handed to the
President his resignation Mr.. Roose.
welt asked if he could suggest good
man for his successor. Mr.. Jones re-
piled, Yes, Francis f. Luepp." "Mr
Luepp is a Democrat" replied the
President. 81 know that, "sald Jones
"but if there il one office in the ad
minlstration which should be filled
without regard to party politics it il
the one have the honor of resigning, y
and to Mr.. Jones credit it may be said
that he always placed the interests OF
the Indians and the good of the service
before partisan considerations,
When Congress reconvenes there ID
to be made terrific fight on the Pan.
anna Canal Commission An effort will
b e made to cut the membership down
to three and other changes will be ad
vOcated. The existing Commission
may be open to criticism. probably is,
but those who believe in an isthmian
canal will think twice before they en-
dOrse the attack. The onslaught.is to
be led by Representative William P.
Hepburn of Iowa, chairman of the
committee ON Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. Mr.. Hepburn il the pro-
tege of j. w. Blythe. national commit
teeman for Iowa and Counsel for the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail-
way. An examination of Mr.. Hepburn's
record shows that he has always fought
any isthmian canal, that be, with 9th.
ers whose sincerity was questioned,
espoused the Nicaraguan route that be
almost succeeded in killing the Panama
Civil Government bill in the closing
hours of the last session and so delay
ing all work on the canal for year.
The q. B. & q. is virtually trans
continental road. The transcontinent-
al roads dread the competition of an
isthmian canal because it will inevlta-
bly, lower transcontinental railway
rates. Before endorsing Mr.. Hepburn's
attack the wise man will reflect for a
moment on the adage, Beware of the
Greeks bearing gifts"
Soon after he was elected President
Roosevelt declared bis conviction that
the tariff should be revised and init