Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-12

President Roosevelt, the Senate and
the People.

the People.
The Boston transcripts Washington
correspondent sends that paper an inter
esting letter on the movement, cropping
out of late here and there in the daily
papers intended to show that President
Roosevelt's popularity is waning" that
he has lost his grip I'm Washington.
and that he is losing his hold" with the
people, etc. This correspondent says the
fact is that special writers are now going
to Washington for papers both of high
and low degree under instructions to
write from the anti-Roosevelt point OF
view, and to make out their case whether
or no. IT is rather significant that, on
the whole, the attitude OF the Democratic
papers is just now more friendly to the
President than that of the so-called in
dependent Republican papers.
The reasons for this development are
not far to seek. TO begin with the great
corporate interests Of the country have
never been friendly to Mr.. Roosevelt and
they would be only too glad to discredit
him at any time. Then there are not
few Of the Republican party leaders in
Congress who have never taken kindly to
the very positive way in which the Pres
ident has asserted and maintained his own
views on essential public questions. In
other words. there has never been any
doubt that a certain element in his own
party would gladly break into open re-
volt did II see any chance of success I'm
doing so. But, fortunately, these men
know very well that were they openly
to antagonize the President the country
would stand by him and not by them.
The Transcript writer thinks that the
Senate as whole would be glad to see
the President thrown down. and that II is
that body that will do most OF the work
to make his path rough. 1T is an ex-
ceedingly vexatious situation that con-
fronts the Senate. 1t is reluctant to give
the President the railroad rate legislation
he is asking for. but. ponder as it will.
II is unable to find way Of escape. 1t
seems TO have made up its mind to dilly-
daily with the subject as long as possible.
and in the end do as little as possible. In
the meantime it will harrass the Pres
ident in quiet way whenever II gets
chance. 1t can hold up appointments. and
IL is already doing that. The feeling In
the Senate is that public sentiment is
coming it's way; IL takes courage In its
| sly opposition to the President when II
sees newspapers that formerly were cham
pioning everything he proposed now crit
iclsing him and some OF his pet meas
ures with severity. 1t may be said that
! the Senate is waiting ng-resting on its oars
until it makes certain Of the drift OF
public sentiment" The President rec
/ -
that he can to keep on good terms
with the Senate, in order that his meas
ures of public policy may not fail.
"On the whole. the situation at the cap
| ito is extremely interesting. 1t is a
| fruitful theme for discussion by public
men from cabinet officers down. VIII
/ the President be able to carry through
| his program and maintain his wonderful
| hold on the public? Some OF the critics
| aver that he reached the top wave of
| popularity when the Russian japanese
peace treaty was signed last sum-
| mer but they are unable to point to the
specific thing or measure that is to cause
the public to relax in the supreme conf
dence IL has felt In the President. The
/ Santo Domingo treaty, everybody admits.
! may occasion the Administration a great
deal OF annoyance before II is disposed Of,
but conservative men express the belief
| that within FIVE years the pubic will be
asking what the Santo Domingo trouble
was all about. AS for railroad rate leg
slation: Suppose the President should
lose the fight. would the public blame
him? Most men will be inclined to say
that the Senate will have to stand the
| criticism"
From the point OF view OF the plain
people 1t seems entirely safe TO say that
their faith in Mr. Roosevelt will not
waver and their support of him will not
fail so long as they remain convinced. as
now, of his integrity of purpose. and OF
his determination to insist on those lines
Of public policy which are for the good Of
the whole country, irrespective of indi-
vidual. or corporate, or party interests.