Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-16
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS-

THE PRESIDENT AND COhGREhS.
The statements OF Senators Tillman,
Bailey. and Raynor. though made in
pursuance of a concerted and We
hement assault upon President Roose-
welt. and his statement in reply in
Guiding the communication of Attor-
ney General Moody. when fairly and
thoughtfully considered in their whole
and true purport, bring into bold
relief two points:
/. The eager desire and activity of
the president throughout the session
to promote and secure the enactment
Of a measure for the most efficient
possible control of transportation rates
and services.
g. His unceasing effort to do all that
a chief executive could do to help, OBJ
serving the proprieties between CO.
ordinate branches of the. government
and without going so far as to arouse
congressional jealousy of executive in
reference or otherwise to jeopardize
while seeking to advance the consum-
nation of the paramount purpose.
With the memorable efforts of the
president, which succeeded in making
the issue the paramount one by the
time congress convened, the country is
so familiar as to render hostile or par
tisan deceit utterly futile. The record
is open and unmistakable. indeed it
is one of the most notable in political
history for a generation. and includes
not merely official messages to con-
gress, but an extraordinary series of
appeals direct to the American people
through public addresses and other
WISE, as we'll as the consistent direc-
ton Of the whole attitude of the ad-
ministration. That record is one Of
the settled things in politics, and Sen
ator Bailey, even when engaging in
partisan attack, is compelled to admit
that whatever form of legislation is
attained, the results are due to the
president more than to any one man
or number of men in public life"
The purpose of some of the state
ments by actors in the rate bill drama
of what has been going on behind the
scenes since congress met is partisan
and hostile to the president, and the
narratives are colored by the purpose
as they are always sure to be in such
cases. But taking them all together,
in attack and in defense. fair and
open-minded men cannot fail to be i'm
pressed with the fact that the same
motives of leadership and loyalty to
the cause which so conspicuously char
acterized President Roosevelt's course
up to the meeting of congress have
guided his action every day 10 help to
legislative success.
The net effect of these disclosures
likewise signally illustrates the ex-
treme delicacy as we'll as the inn
portance of his task in connection with
congress. The day has not passed
when he has not been the center of
inquiry, of conference. of appeal, of
trigue to trap him. and he has had
to deal with keen and powerful men
OF diversely interested motives and of
all parties in both branches OF con-
gress The statements dealing with
these matters now being made afford
the public some clear views of this
phase of the struggle behind the
scenes, and wherever the curtain is
drawn aside, whether by friendly or.
hostile partisan hands. the president
stands forth actuated by the same zeal
and determination to secure the main
point which he has shown in public
with respect to this great subject from
the moment he entered the White
House.