The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-05
FREE RUSSIA AS
PRESIDENT WORK
Roosevelt Believed to Have Beer
Strong Influence in Getting
Gear to Act.

Strong Influence in Getting
Gear to Act.
7. BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Nov. 4.-There is a
growing belief in Washington that his
tory Will eventually give President
Roosevelt credit for having had a larg-
er hand than any other outsider in pre-
nous manifesto giving qualified liberty
to his subjects Two recent occur
rences point that way. One was the
special address to the American people
contained in NJ. Witte Is declaration ac-
companying the manifesto. The other
is the fact announced early this week
that the president was in possession of
czar S program some time before that
plan was announced to the public.
These facts fit perfectly into the author
itative statement made on Tuesday in
this city regarding the president s in
terview early last summer with Ambas. a!
portance, Cassini reported in detail to
st. Petersburg by cable. On the occa.
sion in question, the president argued
with all his power in favor of increased
liberty for The Russian people, and
strongly urged upon the czar that he
investigate the policy adopted by the
United States for the government Of the
Filipinos, with view to determining
whether it would not suit, also in Rus
sia. His pretext for doing this was the
fact that he was at that time endeavor-
ing to persuade Japan and Russia to
submit their troubles to conference
with a view to making peace.
The fact that the president could
the recent uprisings in Russia is an
other proof of his great ability, as a
statesman, and his bravery. in bringing
his views home to the car direct. is
in entire keeping with his conduct
along other lines It is believed here
that no other ruler in the world had the
courage to make suggestions of this
nature. .. - -
+, States Rights Again. !
One of the indirect results of The
president southern trip is a revival
of southern interest in his railway-rate
policy. The south from the beginning
has favored that policy, and this was
manifested last session = of < congress.
when southern democrats, with demo
Gratis. generally, supported the. Esch'
sentatives, democrats will be. ready
again stos support the president IS bill
and So, if the southern trip is to have
any new or wider influence, it must
be among southern senator's, some OF
whom have been rather inclined te
question the propriety of the presi
dents course, basing their opposition
On on the old, ground Of, states : rights
They argued that the effect Of the presi
1anf3a n1on fIuo.1l6 ho to iporaosa fhe
powers of the central government !, al
the expense of the powers exercised by
the several states, and therefore, or
principle, they opposed it. In view Of
the character of the fight, however, anC
of the vital interests involved, ,fSit Ill
now very likely that The majority ao1
southern senators, as one result Of tht
presidents trip, will feel impelled tt
support his rate bill.
The southern trip was not undertake,
for purposes of proselyting. The presi
the railroad-rate question had assumed
any formidable proportions, or ha.
threatened to do so, promised that h
would 90 into, the states Of the oil
south, thus finishing his tour Of tn
country as a whole.
~ > President for Dual States. -
1t is expected that the president, i
his message to congress, will favor tn
ttwo-state idea; that is, the combining Q
New Mexico and Arizona for statehoo
purposes on the one side, and of India
territory and Oklahoma on the othe1
| This is the plan favored by Senate
i Beveridge, chairman of the senate con
mittee on territories, and which he Ial
= ored so valiently, tho unsuccessfully, t
carry. out in the last session. Cond
ktionssin the territories themselves, hoV
Fever, are not as promising as they hay
been, and this may affect congress an
ultimately postpone action. Arizon
is preparing to oppose joint statehoo
with even greater vigor than hertofor
mand that it be permitted to come int
the union Independently Of s0klahom
This failure of the interested commu1
tiles to agree, may easily prevent an,
things being done, and already SON
Of the wise ones are predicting ths
statehood will be found next winter |
be as far distant as before the agit;
ton was begun.
Railroad Cause Injured.
|, Washington believes that the raj
road cause has been injured thru th
happenings in Chicago last week Th
railroad interests, deliberately splanne
to pack the Bacon convention, and ca
ry thru it resolution declaring agains
: the president s plan. Their purpose wa
discovered in time to prevent ssucces
but not soon enough to prevent th
delegates friendly to the railroads frol
going to Chicago, and after being shl
out" Of the Bacon convention, 'organi
ing a rump convention of their own.
The general belief that the railroad
did in fact plan to pack this conventio
e is borne out by facts which have bee
brought to light in this city. Sever;
weeks ago a wellknown newspaper co
respondent was talking to one of tt
/ leaders of the railway lobby that is b
; ing maintained permanently in this cit
} This lobbyist, after his attention ha
| been called to the Bacon conventio
said: =.
NWhat if that convention should di
close the fact that there has been
J change Of front on the part Of the shi
pers, and that they are now opposed
/ the plan of the president2'
"a similar convention ina form
year pronounced stronglya in favor :.
: that plan,' the newspaper man sal
"I know it, but that was before tt
= subject had been inquired. into car
/ fully. I predict that the conventit
3 this. year will reverse itself, and if !.
r does, what will become Of the arg
t ment put up by Bacon and his frien
that the shippers, almost as one ma
g are demanding this new legislation :
: $tsHYou don It mean to hint" asked t
: newspaper man, 'that the railroad i
t terests will attempt to pack the CO
. vention this year, do youR" I.