The daily Alaskan. [volume] (Skagway, Alaska) 1904-1924, 1906-08-29
THE POLITICAL GAME

welt by the Ohio senators, ana tne
stand pat" letter Of President Roose-
welt to Congressman Watson, OF Indi-
ana,are the visible evidences of some OF
the shrewdest plays that have been
made on the American political chess
board, in a long time. They mark o
truce, If not so absolute peace, among
the leaders of the two great fac
sious of the republican party.
When congress was in the big work
Of the session q few weeks before adj
tournament, the republican part seemed
hopelessly divided and certain to lose
the coming congressional elections
The situation was greatly improved,
from political standpoint, when Sen
ators Fulton, Allison and other induced
President I Roosevelt to break with
Senators Bailey and Tillman and accept
a compromise on the railroad rate bill
that would be satisfactory to majority
of the so-cslled railroad senators. How
ever, there was still menacing atti-
tude on the part of beligerant senators
and representatives at the time con-
gress adjourned, and as the ground work
for the coming campaign was being
laid in each state, that BODIED i'll for
many members Of the house andSenste'
It was not long, however, after the
national legislators began TO mingle
with their constituents that 1t was dis
covered that the price Of continued
membership in congress would be an
acknowledgment Of the supremacy OF
President Roosevelt in political mat
ters. Democrats everywhere were prof
Ting by. the loyal support a.demo-
cratic minority had given the president
on railroad matters in the senate, thus
forcing al unwilling majority TO grant
some Of the legislation desired. Hence
the conferences at Oyster Bay, the en-
dorsement OF President Roosevelt BY
Senators Dick, Foraker and others, and
the willingness everywhere to admit
that the president is the head OF the
republican party,
But Mr.. Roosenvelt's letter to Con-
gresham Watson. wherein he pro-
nounced for a protective tariff and
thereby added starch to the fast wilt
ing backs of the stand pat" brigade,
indicates that all these Endorsements
and all this harmony we're not brought
about without sacrifices on the part OF
the president. he has evidently en-
lsrged disagreement made with Speak
or Cannon last fall and stipulated that
there shall be no tariff tinkering for vet
alittls while-may be not during the life
of the present administration.
The result Of all this planning before
the opening of the guns on the line OF
battle has been to place the repubh-
cans in a much better straRetic position
to withstand democratic assaults than
they werein few weeks ago. In fact it
would seem that they are entrenched so
securely as to justify greater feeling
OF safety than thstobtaininG.
It is admitted that the final outcome
will depend largely upon the skill and
strength shown by the democrats in
making their assaults. That the latter
expect 10 make great inroads upon the
administration party is evident. At no
time since the dark days Of 1898 have
the democrats, apparently, prepared a
lineup as strong as that with which
they will charge the powers that be dur
ingthe next two months. They will have
all the advantages attaching to the
popularity Of Bryan, who is now the
acknowledged leader Of their party, and
who will return to his country from a
trlumphsl journey around the world in
a blaze Of glory. He will carry the
banner Of a reorganized party-re-
organized without conflict or friction by
common consent-into the thickest OF
the fray and will lead the charges in
person at the vital points. He will
be aided by galaxy Of orators that has
never been e1celled in the country,
and lie will be backed up by public men
who have become famous and gained