The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-25
"LITTLE B0B'S" CHANCE.
Can Take Up Battle of the
President.

Washington, Aug. 2l-By his decis-
ion not to call an evtra session of the
Fifty-ninth congress, President Roose-
welt, it is pointed out, has determined to
withdraw from the field as the aggres-
sive advocate of railroad rate legisla
ton.
1t is believed that the greatest OPP
portunity of a lifetime has come to
Senator elect and Governor LaFollette of
Wisconsin, which if intelligently grasp
ed, may start that strenuous statesman
from the Badger state on rapid pace
leading to the White House.
1t is further felt that the governor is
alive to the advantages of the situation
and that he will waste no time in de-
veloping all the possibilities in sight as
soon as he reaches Washington.
1t will not be the fault of Governor
LaFollette if no law looking to the con
troll of rates by the government is
placed on the statute books. 1t would
indeed, be miracle if he should sue
coed in forcing the slightest legisla-
tive recognition of the popular demand
on the subject from the reluctant senate
Governor LaFollette, it is thought will
be strengthened materially in his posi-
ton when the country comes to a full
realization that the one time ardor
which President Roosevelt approached
the rate question has cooled The line.
then, between the LaFollette element
and the administration will be distinctly
drawn, and if the governor does what
is expected of him there will be no hest
fancy on the part of the state legisla-
tionists in making their rallying point.
1t is felt that this great question is
susceptible of being made the issue in
national campaign, and that if the sen
ate and house should refuse to com
promise with the rapidly growing senti-
ment along this line, wave of public
opinion would be started that would
sweep Governor LaFollette very near to
a republican presidential nomination.
President Roosevelt doubtless does not
realize just how much criticism the re-
cession from his originally bold stand on
this matter is calling forth from many
of his we'll wishers. Some of those who
think he has made a mistake are con-
nected with him so closely officially that
they cannot publicly voice their senti
ments at this time, but privately they
talk very plainly.
1t is by no means certain indeed, that
the president has not in his cabinet some
men who take issue with him as to the
advisability of seemingly withdrawing
from the railroad fight at this juncture.
The presidents sincerity of purpose is
not questioned by them or by anyone
else who knows the man. The trouble,
as the matter is viewed here, is that he
has had the railroads side pushed at him
from so many and such persistent
sources that he thinks it would be
fruitless task to try to force through
bill at the session which is to open in
December.
1t is pointed out in this connection
that he is anxious to avoid anything
approaching a rupture with congress and
especially with the senate. He has
some matters under consideration in
which it will be necessary to have the
hearty cooperation of the senate and
this cooperation he is doubtful of OBJ
tanning if he insists too strongly upon
that body setting aside its dislike of
action along the rate line.