The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-14

Let the investigation be thorough
and complete no matter who is hurt
or which side is guilty!
WILL. ROOSEVELT STAND FIRM?
A little while ago it was given out
that the President would call an extra
session of Congress in October to con-
slider the railroad regulation bill
Later. in response to a demand to
postpone the extra session until after
the fall elections in Ohio and other
States, it was given out that the extra
session would not be called until No
vember And now it is suggested that
there will be no extra session at all,
but the bill will come up at the regu-
lar session with other matters. This
latest suggestion is accepted by the
opponents of the rate bill as evidenc-
ing a weakening upon the part of the
President upon that measure. one
thing is certain: if there is no extra
session. the bill will be emasculated or
defeated. The majority of the Senate
out showing their hand. If they can
displace it with what they can call
imperative business" they will do so
and letrit die or pass a bill through
which the railroads can drive four
horse team.
The newspapers hostile to any legis-
lation-and railroad interests control
not a few big dailies in America-are
now declaring that sentiment has
changed and preparing the way for an
easy retraet by the President. The su-
preme test of his character is in this
rate fight. If he wins, he has done a
greater thing than any President has
accomplished in a generation. If he
falls down and permits the battle to go
by default he will lose the confidence
of the people of the republic. Mr.. OF
to Gresham, son of the late Judge
Walter Q. Gresham, the balest juror of
his day and the foremost man of the
Northwest, voices the opinion of most
men in a recent interview in the
Washington Post. He says:
'The only great danger that / can
see that lies ahead for the President
is that, not realizing the extent of the
popular approval of his course, he
may weaken in his attitude on the
question of governmental control of
the railroads. 1t is not at all prob
able that the President will take any
backward step. but should he do SO, he
will find himself bereft of all the eX-
traordinary popularity which today is
his. There never was clearer propo-
stion than the supremacy of the ma
tional power in the regulation of the
trade and commerce of the United
States. The right of the government
to dictate reasonable rates on the
highways is absolute. Nobody of any
sense is contending for the confisca-
ton of property, and that is only a cry
to divert the minds of the people from
the main issue. The President is in
the right in this matter, just as he is
in refusing to let the government be
bled by home concerns who want to
charge eXorbitant prices for goods de-
livered for the building of the Pana-
ma Canal.
Mr.. Roosevelt has grown in popular
confidence because the people have be-
lieved he was in earnest and would
courageously wage the war for regula
ton of railroad rates. Mr.. Gresham is
right in saying that if. he takes 'any
backward step" he will find himself
bereft of all the extraordinary popu-
larity which today is his" Mr.. Roose-
Welt can win this fight if he is ready
to stake everything upon it. If he is
ready to compromise, or to say: II
have done my duty but / could not
control the Senate"-if that should
represent his attitude, the people who
have applauded his course will lose
confidence in his zeal and devotion to
the public veal. While the majority
believe with Mr.. Gresham that Mr..
Roosevelt will not take a step back
ward" there are others who think he
will not hazard enough upon the issue
to win, and will be content with the
record he has made.
Which is right?