Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-25
| DEMOCRATS SILENT
Over Threatened Defiance OF
Congress.
IT'S ALL ON THEIR SIDE
Consequently They Are Defending the
Executive.
SENATOR TILLMAN ALONE
Has Denounced the Presidents Atti-
tude and Democrats Wish He
Would Hush UP.
s ALL ON THEIR SIDE
TILLMAN
SENATOR
ALONE

Some comment is made in Congressional
circles because of the silence of democrats
over the latest threatened defiance by the
executive OF the legislative branch of the
government. Last Sunday it was widely
published that President Roosevelt intends
to ignore the act of Congress. if it r. n
states the dismissed negro troops, and
hold up the law until it is passed upon
by the Supreme Court
All this time has passed and not a roar
has come from democratic sources. Con-
gressmen are asking where are these de-
tenders of the Constitution, who sleep upon
their arms and rouse to fury at the creep
ing of a mouse; these vestal virgins that
keep the sacred flame of liberty alive
Where's John Wesley Gaines and Carmack,
and all of EN-?
Question of Encroachment.
Can it be, they are asking, that because
the negro question is involved and because
things are coming their way" that these
vigilant warders of the Constitution see
only gambolng lamb and not a Trojan
horse, i'll this latest 'encrOachrNent?" Is it
all right to ''encroach'' so long as it is on
their side of the line, is asked Would
these conservators of the Constitution view
differently the holding w of river and
harbor appropriation for two or three years
until it was tested in the Supreme Court?"
Silence is the order of the day in the demo-
cratic ranks and the average democrat
SHES like scared mustang at the inter-
viewer who pumps at him question on
this subject.
Democrats I'D to this time have been
mighty "techy" on the score of threatened
executive defiance of the Constitution. The
debates of the past session are full of i'm
passioned orations-not mere speeches, but
orations, columbiads, jeremiads and the
like, on the allegation that the tendency
of this administration is toward centraliza-
ton and encroachment upon the Legislative
branch. The defense and safeguard of the
Constitution has been taken up by the
democrats as their chief duty.
Yet, three days have elapsed and Sena-
tor Tillman is the only democrat to peep
Tillman, the negro batter. the infiammatory
one. has denounced the Presidents alleged
intended attitude. Has it come to the
point that Ben Tillman is the sole demo-
crat to demand a square deal for the
negro?" is the question asked in congress
sional circles. Senator Tillman in an inter-
view out in Senator Foraker's state praised
Foraker and scored the President for his
reported intention to hold ur an act OF
Congress that might not conform to his
views.
Wish Tillman Would Hush.
One prominent democratic Senator said
to a Star man he hoped Tillman would
hush and that the democrats would keep
silent and let the republicans fight out
the question among themselves. Democrats
argue that the President is a grand man
to dismiss the troops. and they want them
to stay dismissed. A little trifle such as
holding up an act of Congress because il
confiicted with executive pride of action
and the executive will. doesn't phase them
They say this is indeed horse of another
color" and as at present its horse on
%La, al a n mi he
democratic mind to 7.
There is said to be no question that the
democrats will sustain the President In his
action If 1t comes to vote in Congress
They would like to see Roosevelt rebuked
by a republican Congress. But they re.
gard the punishment of the 25th Infantry
as more important than anything else and
| will vote as they feel.