The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1906-09-06
The President on the Work of Congress

The President on the Work of Congress.
President Roosevelt in a recent let.
ter to Congressman James +. Watson,
Of Rushvillc, Indiana, reviews the
work OF the recent session Of congress
in Il manner so interesting and dis.
eliminating that we feel justified in
breaking it up into such instalments as
will be available for our limited space,
for the benefit of Republican readers
regardless of politics, Here is the
first instalmcnt of the letter:
My Dear Mr.. Watson:-I hear,
through Speaker Cannon and Repre-
sentative Sherman, that you have
volunteered to give your services to the
congressional committee for the entire
campaign, without regard to the ef-
feet it may have upon your canvass in
your own district, and 7 feel like writ.
ing you word Of cUngratulation and OF
earnest hope for the success of your
efforts. II there were only partisan
issues involved in this contest should
hesitate to say anything publicly in
reference thereto. But | do not feel
that such is the case. On the contrary,
| feel that all good citizens, who have
the welfare Of America at heart, should
appreciate the immense amount that
has been accomplished by the present
congress, organized as it is, and the
urgent need of keeping this organiza-
tion in power
With Mr.. Cannon as speaker, the
house has accomplished Il literally
phenomenal amount Of good work. II
has shown II courage, good sense and
patriotism such that it would be a real
aud serious misfortune for the country
to fail to recognize. 70 change the
leadership and organization of the
house at this time means to bring con
fusion upon those who have been sue
cessfully engaged in the steady work
ing out Of great and comprehensive
scheme for the betterment OF our so
cial, industrial and civic conditions
Such q change would substitute pur
poseless confusion, a violent and hurt
full oscillation in between the positions
of the extreme radical and the extrem,
reactiOnary for the present orderl,
progress along the lines Of a CAREFUL,
thought.out policy.
The interests of this nation ar
varied as they are vast. Congress
must take account, not of one nationa
need, but OF many and widely diifercn
national needs, and I speak with his
toric accuracy when say that not |
our time has any congress done so wei
In so many different fields Of endeavo
: as the present congress has done. N
changes can do any good. Still les
can it in one session meet every neet
AT its first session the present congres,
in addition to many tasks IL actual
completed, undertook several task
which | firmly believe it will bring
completion in its second session mex
winter. Among these / hope and bt
lieve that the bills TO prohibit politica
contributions by corporations and I
lower the duties on imports from th
Philippine islands, each of which ha
been passed by one house, will
! enacted into law. l hope, and l hav
reason to believe, that favorable actio
will be taken upon the bill llmitin
the number OF hours OF employment
railway employees. These and one
two other measures, tho enactment
which / have reason 10 hope for, al
a important. But far more importar
are the measures that have actual
!. been passed, and, as TO these measure
" / wish to reiterate that they are n,
important in a merely partisan sens
but are important because they sui