The Topeka state journal., 1905-11-18

NIT A40E4 X - IN A54zlE In - IN LiELs
The friends Of Senator Long in kan
sas believe that when it comes to the
test on vote he viii support President
Roosevelt on the rate regulation pro-
position. Senator Long cannot afford
to do otherwise. for his people are for
the presidents plan almost unanimous
~. because the presidents plan is right.
But Just now Senator Longs non
committal attitude is throwing his in
huenee against the president. You
notice that the newspapers opposing
railroad regulation are praising his "in-
dependent stand" and telling what a
great man he is for refusing to be '1ined
up on the presidents side. In his Wich-
ita speech Senator Long said that he
could not abdicate his responsibility and
allow another to do his thinking for
him, and this is what the railroad pa
pers mean by Senator Longs "inde-
pendence."
Now that is a proper spirit and a COM
mendable attitude In a public leader.
But in the present instance Senator
Long would by no means be abrogating
his independence by definitely defining
his position in the coming railroad fight
"a contest which is already well under
way. in fact.
If the presidents position were not
well known, If there were any doubt as
to what his programme is and what
his wishes are, Senator Long would GER
tainIy be not only justified in refusing
but it would be his duty to refuse to
declare himself absolutely for whatever
the president might want. But in this
instance President Roosevelt's position
is well known. He has adopted the only
feasible, yet conservative, plan that
viii give the people relief and still be
just to the railroads. It is also well
known that there will be an attempt to
head off the presidents plan by secur-
ing a compromise" that will pretend to
regulate the railroads without doing it.
The fight is already on. Some of the big
gest men in the senate have already de-
clared themselves. Senator Long must
ultimately take q position either for or
against the president
The railroad crowd in the senate has
adopted the nything-to-b o-beat-the-presi-
dent plan, and if Senator Long is not
for the Roosevelt idea he win be against
it. That is why the railroad interests
are now so industriously praising the
senator.
At Leavenworth Friday Senator Long
called attention to the decision of Judge
Hook in the court of visitation case as
a reason why a senator should go slow
in declaring himself. He quotes the at
torney general Of the United States as
saying that Judge Hooks opinion was
one of the strongest decisions ever an
nounced by a court" The attorney gen
era1 of the United States made that dis
covery in preparing his own opinion for
President Roosevelt some time ago rela-
tive to the powers OF congress in the
matter of rate regulation, and the pres.
ident is following that opinion in his
programme. That seems to be another
pretty good reason why Senator Long
should declare for President Rooseyelt's
plan.
The State Journal has been and is
friendly to Senator Long, but it does not
like nor approve his present attitude on
this great question of railroad rates.
The senator has become inoculated with
the virus peculiar to the United States
senate which gives a senator the idea
that the senate is above criticism. The
United States senate takes itself entirely
too seriously. It is too jealous of its
prerogatives and dignity Mr.. Long
would do well to steer clear of these
conditions.
A point in the present contest is that
too many senators are Jealous of the
influence Of Theodore Roosevelt. and
they will even throw their influence
against him on that narrow account.
The people of Kansas do not wish Sen
ator Long to be in that class.