Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-17
WHY DID HE DO II?
Presidents Suggestion for an
inheritance Tax.
HE is IN DEADLY EARNEST
Amazement Growing Among Repub-
lican Congressional Leaders.
a THIRD TERM IN VIEW
Is the Belief of the Average Man in
the Street-Efect on Party's
Prospects.

Amazement grows apace among republi-
can leaders In Congress as they ascertain
that President Roosevelt is in deadly earn
est in his suggestion for progressive
inheritance tax and that he has had the
proposition In the front of his mind for a
long time, awaiting opportunity to spring
it.
why did he do it?' they ask. What
was his object? What will be the effect
on his party?'
These questions open wide range of dis
cusson, which takes in presidential poll
tics, future alignment of parties and the
political fortunes of prospective and possi-
BILE candidates. The first question the lead
ers discuss is why the President felt moved
to precipitate a new economic issue just at
the time when Congress is struggling with
his latest, the railroad rate question, and
trying to whip it into legislative enactment
that will stand the constitutional test.
One Explanation.
Some of the leaders draw rueful face
as they say they wish he could have held
down the lid little longer on his econmic
innovations, just to give them a chance
to draw breath and take a fresh hold on
the problem in hand. They say they re-
alize he is man given to quick and bold
plays, which sometimes smack of the spec
tacular, and that he does not permit him
self to remain long out Of the limelight,
and perhaps, they add, this might serve
as one explanation.
The suggestion that the President has
made counter move, by way of retalia-
ton, against corporate interests and COM
binations of wealth alleged to be opposing
his rate bill is distasteful to the party
leaders in Congress, who insist that no
combination in Congress is trying to defeat
the legislation. Some thoughtful senators
in both political parties and of all factions
are trying TO perfect the admitted imper-
feet legislation of the House and pass a
bill which will carry out the principle ad-
vocated by the President and stand the
scrutiny of the Supreme Court. They do
not concede that the situation calls for
revenge and, If 1t should do not see how
the President has hit at the Senate.
Third-Term Talk.
The man in the street Is still prone to
the belief that President Roosevelt has a
third term in view; you can't get that idea
out of the average piker. Their explanation
is that he Is playing for popular support
and endeavoring to take advantage of the
sentiment created by others who have been
working along more radical lines for some
time. But, OF course that view is secuted
by the Congress leaders, who repose implicit
faith in his solemn and repeated declara-
tons that under no circumstances would
he be a candidate to succeed himself I'm
cepting a unanimous nomination at the
hands OF all the radical elements of all
parties.
Another explanation is that possibly he
Is desirous of remaining the peoples idol,
or debating the next national convention
IN behalf of a candidate of his own choos-
Ing, assure his hold on the United States
senatorshtp from New York, and come ba cly
into power as the tribune of the people on
the peoples form until time brings another
opportunity for the presidency
Still further, 1t Is suggested that he re-
sents the charge that he is extreme; a radi-
cal. republican iconoclast and that he in
tends to demonstrate that the republican
party is with him, and not with the con-
servatives who have dominated Il in the
last two score years.
Effect on Party's Prospects.
The possible effect upon the party's pros
poets Is the subject of very serious discus
sion. There are two views of 1t; one< that
perhaps the President may cinch the ad-
herence to the republican candidates next
fall through his own personality. Of all
classes who indorse his utterances and that
benefit may thereby accrue to the general
congressional ticket. The other Is that the
STANDARD which he as the responsible head
OF the party has set up may alright con-
serVatlve people, result in a stay-at- home
vote, while the enthusiastic socialists and
the democrats come out and vote, and tha t
some surprising results may follow
Hence repetition of the question among
the leaders, Why, oh why, did he do it2'