Evening journal., 1905-03-06
ROOSEVELT AS
A POLITICIAN
The Presidents Attitude on I'M
portant Public Questions.
He TEARS SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.

shin of Railroads and other Public
Institutions = WonId Keep nigh
ways OF Commerce open 10 All on
EqunI Terms-How He Investigated
Workings OF Railroad Systems.
jackson Tinker, the writer OF the fol-
lowing article for Public Opinion, is
the Washington correspondent Of the
New York Press and is unusually we'll
Informed about affairs at the capitol.
The article presents tA,s conclusion
formed after numerous interviews with
the president and may be accepted as
an authoritative presentation Of the
presidents attitude on the most I'M
portant public questions pressing for
settlement
On his way to the capitol the other
day former Democratic United States
senator told an interesting story.
when Grover Cleveland was presi-
dent" he said, David 3. Hill and I'd
ward Murphy, who then were the Unit
ed States senators from New York,
called at the White House and urged
him to force Theodore Roosevelt out OF
the civil service commission. In which
he was the dominant factor. Mr.. Clevo-
land, after listening 10 their appeal. re-
piled: why, gentlemen, you are max
ing a serious mistake. II we should
get Mr.. Roosevelt out Of his position be
would 60 back TO New York and make
the Democratic party more trouble
there than ho does hera He Is cne Of
the best politicians IN our stata.' "
John Sharp williams. the Democratic
lender In the house OF representatives.
recently spoke Of President Roosevelt
in similar words, asserting mat the
Democratic party had undereshmated
the presidents ability las politician"
Many others have testified recently IN
the same effect.
Many inquiries are heard as to why
President Roosevelt has made such 6
forceful declaration for certain legisla-
ton which was not recommended In
his party's national platform and espe-
cially why he insisted upon remedial
traffic rate legislation and moderate
tariff revision or modification" this
being the term he prefers.
tits no betrayal Of confidence to give
an outline OF the presidents reason for
his attitude, as he is frank and open
IN revealing his intentions. While
many OF his friends and advisers were
worried at what appeared 70 be critical
times In the recent national campaign,
the president approached election day
with supreme confidence. One Of his
personal friends was asked what made
the president 80 optimistic. "He be-
lieves that Judge Parker Is not up with
the times and that the people have siz-
ed up Judge Parker as not being the
man for the Job" was the reply.
When the overwhelming defeat OF the
'reorganized Parker Democracy had
been registered at the polls President
Roosevelt was one OF the first to take
up the study Of what had contributed
10 the result. This line Of thought led
to another, What must the Republican
party do to retain the confidence OF the
American voters and be as popular in
the next national campaign as in the
one which has just closedl
The president had endeavored in the
last two years to relieve the people
from the injurious effects Of unbridled
combinations Of capital, and he had
won their confidence. he believed, large
ly on that account. But the deeper he
had gone into the trust problem and
sought an effective remedy the more he
had become convinced that trusts were
nurtured and have grown powerful and
defiant largely through the discrimina-
ton which they enjoyed from the rail-
roads. with the system Of rebates,
community OF interests" and unjust
discrimination against the small and
independent shipper. while the consum-
er received no benefit Favors exact
ed by and given to special interests
for their private refrigerator cars and
other adiuncts he perceived were at
the very root OF the trust evil.
AS good as the antitrust legislation
enacted in the last two years had been
the president gained the idea from all
parts Of the country that these special
interests must be curbed still further
and square deal for every man"
guaranteed under the law. He talked
long and earnestly with Philander G.
Knox, who had been a corporation at
torney before becoming attorney gen
eral. He summoned Paul Morton from
the Santa Fe railroad TO his cabinet
and bad many animated discussions
with him concerning the workings OF
the great railroad systems. He enter
tained at the White House A. j. Cas-
satt, Samuel Spencer, J. Pierpont Nor
gan. James J. Hill, President Mellen
and other railroad capitalists and ex-
ecutive heads and absorbed their
views. Large shippers and small ship
pers. too. engaged his attention, and
he studied carefully the work OF the
interstate commerce commission and
what 1t had been able to accomplish.
Then he summoned some OF the rail-
road presidents again and told them
frankly that he was convinced that
they were standing in the way OF their
own best interests by not being willing
TO accept moderate regulation OF rail.
roads by federal authority. Gentle
men," be said. ''you are only inviting
still more radical aczion-go government
ownership" One Of his visitors was
shocked when the president. turning
upon him in bis abrupt manner, ex-
claimed: "rhe Republican party will
not go up against any more stuffed