The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-05-10


they represented. This was shown
this week in the concert of action
among the railroad senators to strike
out the words, lin its Judgment" in
connection with the rate authorized
or prescribed by the commission as a
maximum rate.
Senator Aldrich approached Sena-
tor Bailey recently and in an offhand
way made the proposition that as the
bill had been thoroughly discussed
and the merits of all amendments pro-
posed, well digested by all hands, that
he enter into an agreement with him
that the amendments be voted upon
without further debate. The propoos-
ition was promptly declined by Sena-
tor Bailey who suggested that 1t con-
tanned a trick to have the democrats
remain silent and not expose the tricky
phraseolOgy to be added to the various
amendments that would completely
change the. purport and yitiate the
bill. This is another evidence of the
absolute sincerity of Mr.. Bailey and
the democrats to assist in perfecting
bill in strict accord with it's ayowed
purposes, that of doing justice to the
people and shippers, as we'll as TO the
railroads.
It is the opinion of many of the
shrewdest political prophets who have
been closely watching the action of
the president and the senate and at
the same time keeping a close tab
upon public opinion as reflected
through the press, that the people
OF the country at large are far bet
ter informed upon the whole subject
under consideration and the merits
and the dement's of the president and
the various members of the senate,
than they are generally credited with,
and that credit for patriotic purposes
and loyal devotion to the interests of
the people is conceded to the demo
Gratis, and that the democratic party
in the nation has been immensely
strengthened by the conduct of sen
ators Bailey, Tillman and others, and
that the surrender of Roosevelt to
the railroads will drive millions of
voters to the support of Bryan. The
knowing ones politically, regardless Of
their own political affiliations, now
freely assert that in case Bryan be-
comes the democratic candidate for
the presidency in 1908, that he could
carry the election against Theodore
Roosevelt of any republican, except
ing it be LaFollette of Wisconsin, by
a larger majority than Roosevelt beat
Parker in 1904. They regard the late
turn tail of Roosevelt on the rate ques-
ton after the victory had been won
for genuine rate regulation, mainly
through the efforts of democrats to be
fatal to republican prospects in 1908
1t is believed that Roosevelt was in
fiuenced in his course by his desire
to keep his party united, and that the
very fact that even Roosevelt would
betray the people in the name of
party is stunning blow to republi- |
can prospects in the next national
election. They hold, however, that if |
the republicans had listened to the |
counsel and followed the advice of |
ex-senator Chandler of New Hamp-
shir, and had given the country the
legislation demanded by the people
in good faith, republican prospects |
would not have been jeopardized as
at present.
In view of the presidents conduct |
and his many sensational utterances
in public messages and private dis
patches, and his final somersault on
the rate question, he is rapidly gain
ing the reputation of being erratic
and unstable as well as having his |
motives suspected. This detracts |
from the force his Standard Oil mes |
sage would otherwise have It is
unfortunate and much 70 be regretted |
that tho n,soc;dc,,f uybos hos ,,rc,~<,co5 |