The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-16
HOUSE REVOLT AS
MEANS TO AN end
<Disaffection Of congressman Is
Seized by Plotters as a
,..... Weapon.
Patronage, Aggressiveness, and
Efforts Against Bossism
Play Their Part. -
BY w. W. Jermane.

| rs BY w. W. Jermane:
| Washington, jar. 16.-Speaking to
his friends more than a year ago, the
president said, about the short session
I of congress which had then Just assem-
bled, "This will be session of talk;
the next session will be a session Of &C
tion.' In his effort to secure that &C.
ton, he has created great discord in
the usual harmony that prevails on
capitol hill ,
So far as many Of the honest men
in congress are concerned, the presi-
dent IS postoffice civil service order is
at the root of their disgruntled con-
dition. Some Of these men are almost
| equally annoyed because they think he
is attempting to push them faster than
they care to co.. and make them do
| things at his bidding, whether they
think they should be done or not.
In short, there is an opinion at the
capitol, and not confined to the insur-
gents, that the president is too aggres-
sive, and that in consequence he is
causing congress, whether it wants to
do 50 or not, to appear before the coun-
try as simply the register Of his will,
and not as an equal coordinate: branch
Of the government, with ability to
think question out for itself.
Charges Against President.
AS specifications under this general
charge it is said that he is helping the
speaker in the work Of "picking off,
the insurgent statehood republicans,
I that he is trying to crowd the Santo
Dominican treaty of the senate and
that he is keeping entirely too close
tab on both houses, thru members
for whom he is sending daily.
The specifications are not convincing,
and yet there is Just enough Of truth
in. them to cause commotton in the
present disordered state Of the con-
! gressional mind. ia
The money power Of tho country
which il plotting the presidents over
throw, has been quick to take advan-
tage Of the situation. and to try to de-
velop it. These efforts are not being
: made openly, and the were they
I defeat. But they are being made under
cover, thru members of the two houses
who as yet profess to be the president g
| friends, and every string that will add
I to the possibility Of discord is being
played upon. 49,.
/ Turning on President.
| In the meantime, number Of men,
In congress and out, who heretofore
have on the surface been with the
president, think they see a drift of
sentiment away from him, and in con-
sequence they are coming out in their
true colors. These men are turning on
him like wolves, ready to rend him into
a thousand fragments. All the hostil-
! ity of years has come to the surface
at one time-all the real or faneied
| oo,cou FOR oonrloinA which fhov novo
J been nursing ever since it became ap
parent that the president was not of
) their kind, and would not play the
game of politics as they wanted It
; played. They kept step to the presi-
dent g music as long as they thought It
! was polite to do so, but now they have
Joined the opposition and are talking
with all the frenzy Of new converts.
Back of the Wrath.
l The presidents efforts at the puri.
l fcation Of politics generally has made
some of these men angry. His inter
, ference in New York recently; his re-
fusal to interfere in Pennsylvania dur
ing the late campaign; his sending OF
d Secretary Taft to Ohio to make that
!. Akron speech in which Boss Cox was
9 denounced and Senator Foraker g rail
3 road rate policy was held up to ,r!idi
o remained Of congressional patronage
6 the fourth class and the presidential
2 postoffces and his policy Of placing
. these> Offices, as far as possible, on {
- civil service basis; his recognition il
8 certain states recently Of senators in
q stead Of representatives in patronag'
2 matters, and his general high-minded
g ness and MISUNDERSTANDING, with REGARD
y to patronage generally-all these thing
~ horo hino1 fo nr0Hnoo tho nnnHi
% tion of restlessness in the congressional
g mind upon which the money power i
. playing with view to its enlargement
- Tariff and Statehood.
q q The Philippine tariff bill may reacl
30 a vote today. It will be passed, becaus
e the democrats, as a class, cannot. af
~ means tariff reduction. This leave
10 statehood as the chief weapon Of at
Il Il tack in the immediate foreground o
~ ~ the house arena. -~--.-t~ r
ooss That bill will be fought to a. finish
oe and both sides are today confident o
% % victory. The insurgents claim they hav
90 enough votes to defeat rule for tn
IS bills consideration. The speaker de
90 clares the organization will win. Pei
% % haps it will take roll call to decide il
% Meanwhile, the speaker continues t
IS create the feeling that statehood is i
So bad way by deferring the bringin
in of the bill from committee.
Up to the People
Il In this contest, now threatening t
6 become general, it is the people alon
y who can save the president and hi
policies. Statehood is but one step i
the opposition game, and not the mos
important one. If the bill should b
s. beaten, the country will not suffer, an
Mt many honest men will think the rigt
ne has triumphed.
40 But if statehood should be defeate,
We then the opposition will force attentio
Sc on other measures. Everything whic
en- the president favors is to be fought
H. the last ditch and it is the hope
e. the opponents Of railroad rate regul
x tion that enough defeats Of this kin
ge can be administered to the preside1
in to destroy his prestige with the publ
ut Then they will come along with the
he rate bill, and the president, not havin
ce the support or the confidence Of til
re people, will be compelled to yield an
al accept such bill as the railroad
want.