Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-14
A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE
Believed to Be Found in Mr..
Roots Speech.
NEW POLICY ANNOUNCED
In the Capitalization of Federal
Power.
PARTIES MAY BE DIVIDED
Hopes and Fears Of Both Sides-Sub-
ject May Be Loaded With
Dynamite.
PARTIES MAY BE DIVIDED

nounced by Secretary Root, fill our long
felt want and furnish the democratic
party with an issue?" This is the ques-
ton democratic statesmen and politicians
are asking each other with great eager
ness and a pronounced reviving of droop-
ing spirits. Those politicians who have
felt that the democratic party has kept
a kind of standing Want adj it's de-
mand for an issue are saying that Secre-
tary Roots pronunciamento OF the admin
istrations attitude has perhaps furnished
an answer.
The democratic politicians profess to see
unbounded possibilities in the new issue.
They say it is neither sectional nor
class issue, and that it will appeal as
cogently in the north as in the south: in
conservative New England as in rash and
hasty California, and to the wealthy as
to the poor.
The immediate challenge which Secre-
tary Roots announcement met with in
New York has aroused the hope almost
beyond the dreams of avarice" that the
democratic party may enlist in its cause
against Capitalization the moneyed men
who have heretofore cast in their lot-and
purses-with the republicans. 1t has also
suggested to those democrats who have
smarted under the sting of populism,
Organism and radicalism applied to the
democracy in the past decade, that In the
conservatism,
Another Alluring Prospect.
The prospect of the possibility of DIVERT
Ing to the democracy in it's new position as
the conservdtor of the Constitution that
portion of the republican vote which may
be apprehensive of President Roosevelt's
progressiveness is also alluring. Democrats
know that there is an influential and con-
ant In he
party which Is fearful of the Presidents
rapid progress in unfolding new pians for
extension OF federal power and supervision.
e Democrats in Congress are well aware OF
the feeling existing In coEsideraite decree
among republicans In both House and sem.
ate resentful of alleged croachment of
the executive upon the legislative power
They know that the feeling is suppressed
loyalty. to the head of the party deterring
free expression~Of 1t, but they realize also
That 1t Is just question Of time when the
storm Will break in one house or the other,
and democrats look for immediate response
from the country to the protest which
would thus be voiced. Democrats saw that
this sentiment will merge with the senti-
ment or opposition to centraliza ton, and
that the creation of spirit of opp osition to
the republican party is Inevitable, and by
which the democracy will profit
The belief is universal in Congress that
secretary Root voiced the Presidents opin-
ions in his New York speech They assume
mat the President chose Secretary Root as
ms mouthpfece, In order to put out a
Ieeier' out nave no doubt that he thor
oughly indorses all the Secretary said, and
that the announcement correctly defines
the attitude of the Roosevelt administered
ton and the Roosevelt policies
republican senators and representatives
are chary about expressing for publication
their views upon the new policy There are
obvious reasons for their hesitancy. Thew
dislike, In what fs yet merely academic
discussion, to take issue with the executive
and disclose disagreement in the party.
hesitate to talk freely, and while the issue
Is not yet sharply enough defined to line up
factions, remarks Of leading republicans in
both houses show the existence OF strong
feeling not in harmony with the admins
tration's policy, as declared by Secretary
Root.
Loaded With Dynamite.
Republicans say the subject is loaded
with dynamite, politically, and that is an
other reason why they are cautious in their
public utterances. They realize the POSSIBLE
tiles of democratic advantage in an issue
such as this could be distorted into by clev-
er politicians They hope, however, that the
democrats may be put in tine attitude of re-
viving the old states rights question, and
II this new policy can be exploited as mere
ly rebuttal of that theory the situation
will be relieved of some Of its menace to
the republicans.
OF course there is an element In Congress
which is entirely in accord with the admin
istrations latest attitude. This is the mill
tant, younger faction, which idolizes Roose-
welt and attaches the name Of Rooseveltism
to everything which they declare to be pro-
gressive and aggressive. They are impatient
with old conditions and seize eagerly upon
the idea that the growth Of the nation war
rants changes. They look to President
Roosevelt to set the pace.
Representative Lacey Of Iowa. one Of the
MI ra.
garded as a conservative, said:
while 1t is true that demand for con-
gressional action often and most commonly
grows out of the neglect Of some states to
do that which they ought to do, It does not
follow that the nation should do that which
the Constitution never contemplated the
nation should do. However, have not read
the Secretary's speech with sufficient care
to discuss 1t at length. and the opinion
which have just offered Is only upon the
broad and general proposition"
Say It VIII Be the Issue.
Representative Livingston Of Georgia, the
ranking democrat Of the appropriations
committee and regarded az one Of the DEM
ocratic leaders Of the House, said:
II am glad that Secretary Root had the
courage to declare q policy long In practice
by the republican party GENERALIZATION.
For years that party has been. by legisla-
tive action. encroaching upon the reserved
rights OF the states, and has attempted to
excuse action on the ground Of expediency,
leaving the impression that It would not be
a fixed policy. Now the republicans come
out in the open with a plain declaration
which practically wipes out state lines In
the 1908 campaign this will be the dominant
issue. II the country IL willing to accept
that policy, then I am mistaken in our peo-
pie. am aSainst It distinctly and emphat-
ically."
Would Check Capitalization.
Representative Tawney of Minnesota,
chairman Of the House appropriation COM
mittee and an influential member Of the