The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-25

The Rate Bin Fight Raises Questions
u vexacity and Good Faith


with the proposed railroad rate legts-
lation two are Of surprising impor-
lance. One imputed 10 him a lack Of
staying power and determination. The
other related 10 his confidential uego-
tiaions with Democratic Senators prior
TO the aoption Of the Allison amend
ment al the last monument by a stric.
party vote. Has the President acted
in good faith in encouraging the sub
stitution Of his amendment, without
the knowledge OF his allies, for an
amendment which Democratic Sepa-
tors, according 10 Mr.. Tillman. hal
been persuaded TO support in the be-
lief that the President approved OF ii
and would stand by il? The Pres
dents allies among Democratic Sen
ators assert that they have been gross
" deceived by him: that Mr.. Roose-
welt used them for his Owl purpose un-
til their assistance was no longer nee
essary and then deserted them. This,
of course, is a plain unvarnished &C
cusuation of bad faith. The witness
summoned by Senator Tillman to sub
NSAhAAo AN NAAN . VI ~ N~AhNH-
is Hon. William E. Chandler, a former
Senator from New Hampshire, 4 Re
publican, now holding Il Federal pc
sition. Mr.. Chandler acted a. the in
termediary between Democratic SCna-
tors and the President. Upon his state
ment Of the facts Mr.. Tillman based
the temperate arraignment of The
President which he submitted 10 the
Co.,, -, Co,lo- NJ DDnrr,al-
has seen fit through the medium Of
Senator Lodge to pronounce certain
statements by Mr.. Chandler,
which were cited by Mr.. Tillman, 4
deliberate and unqualified ~falsehOod."
Mr.. Chambers reply, which is publish
ed in The Sun today, is clear and
Straightforward.
The President OF the United States
has raised the question Of veracitv
win almost brutal frankness in respect
TO Mr.. Chambers statement. If the
President has been misrepresented, he
has the unquestiOned right to arraign
his accusers. In the present case il is
not only his right but his duty 70 re-
pei and disprOve accusations affecting
his loyalty TO his allies, who acted
with him upon the presumption that
no President of the United States vii!
fail to keep faith with those to whom
he has given his word. 1t is plain
from the statements in the Senate of
Mr.. Rayner, Mr.. Bailey, Mr.. Tillman
and other leading Democrats in that
body that they feel Mr.. Roosevelt has
not stood by them in accordance with
the terms of the alliance. Mr.. RGyneC
has suggested, with the biting irony,
that Mr.. Roosevelt is % constituted
that if he is nea q trap he cannot
help fooling with the springs, aud
therefore when the shrewd Senator'S
of his party laid a trap for him he
ingenuously toyeo with the trigger and
was caught. Mr.. Bailey's solution Of
the mystery is that the President IL
not the iron man his adorers represent
him to be, but "a man of clay-Of very
common clay'-and a gutter" The
suggestion of the-Texan Senator is that
! Mr.. Roosevelt lost all heart for the
fight and welcomed the opportunity
to make peace with certain Republican
Senators who were striving to obtain
every possible advantage for the rail
roads. 1t is clear that Mr.. Roosevelt
must make an explanation which will
satisfy the country as we'll as The
Democratic Senators that he is not the
kind of man to sacrifice allies merely
to secure the good will of his party
organization and to placate the vast
corporate interests which have tried TO
defeat the railroad legislation demand
ed by the country.
A President of the United States
may be a partisan Of the straightesI
sect and yet retain the confidence of
the country if he adheres rigidly to
his obligations and keeps faith absO-
| lutely with all to whom he gives
pledges of loyalty. The Democratic
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress represent a political party which
has millions of voters in its ranks. IL
is worth Mr.. ROosevelt's while to cul-
| tivate relations Of respect and conf
dence with his fellow citizens of all
parties-not only with Republicans,
but with the Democrats in the House
and Senate who have cordially cooper
ated with the Executive 10 promote
the passage of rate legislation. Inc
most valuable asset which a President
can possess is the confidence OF the
public. It would be regrettable, indeed
not only for Mr.. Roosevelt, but for the
country. if the conviction should gro"
that he failed deliberately III the on
test over the Rate bill TO stand By
those with whom he hal gone into
the struggle, pledged TO fight 10 the
bitter end for certain principles. For
in captivating, as is charged, without
the knowledge of his allies, he canlot
hope to escape the suggestion that be
was afraid of the railroads and OF
; their in.uence in national politics, n
Welded to them in the belief that TIE
advantages his party would gain would
offset any temporary discredit which
might attach L his treatment Of his
allies.
It is not pleasant to think OF Mr..
Roosevelt in the light Of a cold-blooded
politician, on the one hand, or d
quilted" as Senator Bailey %pronounc-
es him. on the other. The President
has been pictured in the public mind
as q hero in civic warfare-a coInli-