The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-26
SENATE PLOTTERS
ARE AFTER TAFT
Elder Statesmen Who Want to Be
President Plan an
. Attack.
War on Every Member of Roose-
welt Administration Who Is
a Possibility.
Specia1 to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Chicago. Dec. 26.-Walter 5Wellman1,
in Washington special to the Record
Herald, says: - r.-.,., 1u
poinr after him as soon as congress re-
convenes next month. - So said proml-
nent republican senator day or TWO
ton of leaders in the, senate not only
to continue their criticism Of Panama
management, but to take nv, the al
ministration of Secretary Taft In the
Philippines and subject it to rigid
scrutiny.
The meaning Of this and Of the h whole e
Roosevelt and his assistants in the ex'
eeutive branch of the government IS
that the presidential game of 1908 has
already opened There are candidates
for the next republican nomination IN
The senate-plenty Of them; and they
already are maneuverlng. to boWl out
all aspirants for the nomination..
Roosevelt himself is no longer feared.
The furry of few months ago in
which there was much talk that the
president might be nominated by both
parties two years from next summer
has disappeared. Since then Mr.. Roose-
welt has lost instead of gained strength.
He is still by long odds the most popu-
lar man In the country, but there Is
no danger Of his running for president
again.
Senators Are Hostile.
Leading republican senators are de-
termined that Mr.. Roosevelt shall not
extend his reign over the party thru
another administration by means of the
nomination and election Of one Of his
chosen cabinet ministers and personal
friends.
Her s3es their TO- mnhs the
Roosevelt a failure so far as tangible
results are concerned. Hence their
baking on railroad rates, the canal, the
tariff and lot of other things. Hence
the constant fire Of criticism to which
the administration is subjected in the
senate.
This is may rs Ret be very eGit 9ebs g9tiG
rate, it is politics and it is interesting.
Threat Against Taft.
Now comes the threat to "make It
warm for Taft.' It goes without say
ing that against the secretary person
ally, no one has any harsh feelings.
He is everywhere recognized as man
eerity and devotion to the public inter
est. He is noted also as the cheeriest,
most refreshing, sweetest character In
the public service at this time. As a
man, almost everyone loves him. 1t is
impossible to do otherwise.
able nominee sae Of a the aG repubcansp 70,
president in 1908, as product and rep
resentative of the Roosevelt admins
tration are different and the scheming
plotting, maneuvering, intriguing sen
ators would like to cut his comb.
Not all Of the senate animus toward
the Roosevelt administration is due to
preparations for the next presidential
struggle. Naturally the senate is actu.
ated by many and mixed motives. But
the particular part Of the motive which
We now have under consideration IL
playing an important part.
Taft Alone Is Feared.
Mr.. Taft is the one man now con
nected with the Roosevelt administra
ton who is feared in 1908 by the sena
torial cabal Mr.. Root is not mucl
4 talked up. Tho generally regarded az
the ablest man in American public life
today, it Is thought his past corpor
d alton connections in New York city
in view Of recent disclosures and the
present tendency of the public mind
would mitigate strongly against him a.
presidential aspirant. For that mat
ter, Mr.. Root is not a candidate TO-
8 the presidency and Is not likely TO De
Secretary Shaw does not seem to b,
making much Roadway and besides, i
not looked upon as representative O.
the Roosevelt administration in tn
sense that Root or Taft is.
There has been some talk of Cortel
you for president, but some reason o
other the senators do not take it seri
ously.
The secretary of war is the man the,
are afraid of and thew fear he has in
herited or is about to inherit the popu
larity of President Roosevelt, and s.
they are going after Taft. He i
''next on the list.''
The recent cutlery about the cana
was in part aimed at Taft. Nov
scrutiny of the Philippine administra
tion Is to be added.