The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-28
TRYING To HOLD
PRESIDENT DOWN
The Standpatters, Led by
Cannon. Begin a Fight
Against Extra Session
PARTY CHIEFS SEE
DANGER IN MEETING
frrom Our regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 27;-The
most beautiful game of politics this ooun-
try has seen in many n long day is now
being played In Washington The admin
istration is on one side and the older Rc-
publican politicians OF the Senate and
House of Representatives are on the oth-
or. Speaker Cannon is leading those VINO
are fighting against an extra session OF
Congress this fall and they IRE making
the struggle of their lives, 'this last IL
hardly cxaggeration. These wise old fcl-
lows know that an extra session OF Con-
Eress, that goes to work to rip up the
tariff and to enact lesisation giving the
government control over railway rates,
will make more campaign material Tor
the Democrats than can be used In Il
years time. 1t may be called n fight for
life, the congressional life OF many Il
landmark in the Senate and the popular
branch.
Speaker Cannon declares with all the
homeiy emphasis he can assume that the
Republicans of Massachusetts. ONO ana
other rock ribbed Republican States are
against an extra session and he sug-
gests that II the President is determined
3 10 call the Congress together before the
time fixed by the constitution. he makes
the date November 18th. The stand
patters are soidly behind the Speaker
and they are bringing every possible in
iiuencc to bear upon the President,
Real Significance Of II,
There is good reason for saying that
back of all this fighting against an eN-
ira session is scheme to put off as
long as possible any legislation affecting
the rate question. or course, the oppon-
cnts of tariff revision are making COM
mon cause with the opponents OF rate
legslation Should the President yield,
abandon his intention to call M extra
session for early III October and delay
Z II until even the middle of November, 4
great advantage would be obtained. They
argue that little could be done before
the Christmas holidays, that the Speaker
could delay the announcement OF ms con, =
1nIttccs until Just before the holiday i'd
iournment, so that the new year would
be well under way before committees
would begin seriously to consider biils
affecting railroad rates, the Panama
4 canal. not to mention legislation to safe
guard the treasury and providing rem
edy for the growing deficit.
1t is. asserted with positivcness that the
first thing the new Congress Will take up
WIN he the question OF changing the de-
felt Intoaa surplus. 1t Is argued that the
country Is more deeply interested IN put
ting a stop to the outflow Ut money
from the treasury without correspond
!. Ing income than II Is In railroad rates,
which cannot possibly have ;ni" bearing
on treasury receipts. II this be the cor
rect view. or II the Congress can be made
n think it the correct one. it is plain TO
see that it will be easy for the Speaker
70 To guide the House in the conside-
ration OF the public business that 1t Will
z be we'll along in the spring OF 1906 before
< the railroad question Is reached IN any
thing like tangible form.
There is another reason than oppos:-
ton TO railroad legislation per sc for this
nolicy of delay. The sixtieth Congress
IS to be elected next year and the old
leaders of the Republicans see the dan
ger of doing more than is absolutely
essential They want to hasten away FOR
The campaign when that mIch Is done,
without giving opportunity for the man :
ufa ct,lre Of campaign thunder for the
Democrats They believe that many VINO
Ire now so loud In demanding railroad
legislation will be quieted down to:whis-
pnrs and win have serious doubts as to
me wisdom OF giving to n commission
The power to make n railroad rate. sub
iect to the review of some court.
The leaders in Congress are willing tc
nut tho tariff question ahead OF the rate
question, II need be, and by arousing the
strong protective sentiment of tho coun-
try will shut off action on the railroad
question
Has His Jaw Set.
have not mentioned the name of the
man In the White House. Theodore
Roosevelt has RS jaw: set. He declares
there shall ht' al" extra session, He dc,
clares the Congress shall enact a law
giving the country relief from what h
regards as oppressive railway rates. ~!
recent utternnces on this subject arc the
strongest he has made in his life II TN
Congress IS, looking for n fight, 1t cal
get ii. That is the sum and substance
of the attitude of the President. Secrc
tary Taft Is behind him. 1t was assertet
and was not denied until the Senate In
terstatc Commerce Committee begun III
vestgatlng tho rate question that tn
people were behind both OF them.
Already some over-zealous opponents o
rate legislation are saying things abou
the President that TO a man Of his TEN
Ierament are not calculated to turn ava
wrath. AS pretty a fight as this countr
has seen for years Is on
MR. MASSIE TO RUN,