Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-12-25
Senators Making Use of Dis
charge of Negro Rioters
Merely AS Move
IN GAME OF POLITICS
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
Another of His Kind Not Wanted
In the White House BY Many
Old Time Leaders.
Special to The Citizen.

Special to The Citizen.
Washington, Dec. 25.-Is a schism
in the republican party imminent? ?
The question is asked hourly in Wash
ington, by men high in council in both
the republican and democratic parties.
Some who ask the question hope the
answer will be affirmative. Others
dread the possibility. All agree as
to the criticalness of the situation.
That there Is in congress. especially
in the senate, a powerful faction op-
posed to President Roosevelt is so
well known as to need no argument TO
support the fact This faction eager
ly desires and persistently seeks the
presidents undoing. 1t is personally
opposed to Roosevelt, but more strong
ly opposed to Rooseveltism as a re-
publican creed. 1t opposes things ad-
vocated by Roosevelt which under
ether circumstances It might espouse;
opposes them simply and solely be-
cause they are advocated by ROose-
welt. A good deal of its opposition is
under cover, indirectness being made
necessary by the fact that the coun-
try appears to be in support of the
president.
In the matter of the discharge of
the battalion of colored troops be-
cause of the riot at Brownsville, Tex,
the anti-Roosevelt republican senators
believe they have a chance to put the
president il a bad light before the
country, and they have taken instant
advantage of it. If any one supposed
that all this outcry results from out
ragged feeling over an alleged injustice
to negro soldiers, he Is very simple.
indeed. The Brownsville affair."" as it
has come to be known, is merely a
pawn, and a minor one at that, in the
big game being played under the dome
on Capitol Hill There Is moi at the
capitol any genuine sympathy for the
discharged soldiers. 1t is a game of
politics pure and simple. and it is be-
ing played by cabal of the craftiest
politicians to be found anywhere on
earth.
The game that is being played,
moreover, is for the biggest stake in
American politics-the presidency.
There is some fear that, should there
he no check in Mr. Roosevelt's popu-
larity, the 1908 nomination may be
forced upon him: but il is not espe-
cially against this the opposition SEN
ators are bending their efforts. The
thing they really fear is that Mr.
Roosevelt may be in position to die
tate the selection of his successor, and
this they are determined to prevent
They are resolved there shall not be
another president of the Roosevelt
school, If they can prevent it; and if
the past is any" index to the future,
there Is at least an even chance they
can.
II is doubtful if the senate combna-
tion has yet selected man to pit
against Roosevelt, or Roosevelt's
choice. for the nomination, but there
are strong indications that Senator
Foraker, of Ohio, is largely favored.
1t is admitted there is substantial
element of republican votes Senator
Foraker could not command, but it is
believed he would gain enough con-
servative democratic votes to offset
any republican disaffection.
II Is this situation that raises the
query as to an impending republican
schism. The break, if break there
be, Is not likely to occur at once; be-
cause the wise old politicians who are
conducting the senate opposition have
no stomach for fOrlorn hopes, and they
will not show their hand until they
feel assured victory is within their
grasp.