The Washington times., 1905-10-17
PRESIDENT AFTER
SUPPORT OF SOUTH
FOR A RATE LAW
Dixie Democrats to Be
Told of Proposed
Rate Regulation.
REPLACE REPUBLICANS
Roosevelt Determined, If
Possible, to Secure Votes
for His Project.
REPLACE REPUBLICANS

That the President Is looking for
big game on his trip to the South. be-
ginning this week, is the opinion of
the politicians. He doesn't have bear
in his mind, and the Republican ele-
phant Is already in his game bag. He
wants to capture no less a prize than
the Democratic donkey.
The legislative program to which the
White House IS fully committed must
have some Democratic support IL II IS
TO be enacted. This is the opinion now
coming TO be generally entertained.
Last spring. after the ESch-Townsend
bill passed the House. there was a the
ory for a time that the railroads would
not be able to stave of legislation
through another long session. II was
urged by the Presidents enthusiastic
supporters that having committed the
House to his plan he would herd the
Senate into the corral before the end
OF a long session and line up the full
party strength, making him indepen-
dent OF the Democrats. II he should
DO this the Democrats would line UP
and there would be unanimous action.
Worked Like Beavers.
But things have changed since the
Esch-Townsend bill passed. The op-
ponents of the measure have got back
their wind They have worked like
beavers with public opinion, with poll
ticians, with business interests, with
every force that could be reached: and
they have turned the tide, or at least
stemmed it. They have divided the Re-
publicnns and have put ramrods in the
hackbones OF many of their shaky adj
herents They have made 1t appear
very plainly thar there are. two sides
70 the question. and that the railroads
are not alone in opposition to the pro-
posed legislation.
They have worked with the South. and
have skilIfully urged that the South.
with infant industries that need the en-
ccuragement or special consideration IN
rate making would suffer Irreparably
by taking away the power to grant
these. while the giant industries OF the
North would be strong enough to stand
through the storm. and at the end would
stand alone, with the field ali TO them
selves
All summer there has been accumu-
ducing results, in both West and South.
Nobody realizes better than the men
who for years have been fighting for
legislation, that they have not held all
the ground they had gained last winter
But the President is strong III the
South. personally and politically. He
wants support there. and is confident
that his case. properly stated and fairly
understood. would win him support.
This, In the opinion of very Inany peo-
pie. Is the explanation of hi, 80. He
wants 10 help overcome the tlment
that has been developed ia ,osition
to rate legislation. He wants Demo-
cratic votes in Congress 10 take the
place of Republican votes he knows he
Will lose
East VS.. West.
1t is plain enough now, apparently,
that II is East against West, with the
South holding the balance of power. The
Far West is with the East: but the
great central section OF the country is
with the President.
Will the President win the needed
Southern support?
On this there IS wide divergence of
view. He needs IL especially ir the
South and only recently Senator Nor
gan OF Alabama has declared himself
opposed tC granting the ~~~o osed new
power to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission He is a power with Senate
Democrats and. indeed. with House
Democrats as well, from the South. His
statement is acce1fed as Ver- Significant.
Apropos of this question Of party
attitudes toward rate legislation. sem
sation has been caused by the state
rnent that Secretary Taft :tnd Senator
Foraker may Rave a joint debate at
retary is To make an address there.
The mere fact that the Secretary was
announced for a speech there on that
date caused a furor few days ago,
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