The Lake County times., 1906-07-26


next house Of representatives. There
are two keynotes, as stated by Har-
per's-one that OF Speaker Cannon,
that the 59th was "a congress OF
achievement whose notable achieve
ments should be approved. The other
is Endorsement of Roosevelt" BY
way of preliminary Harpers remarks
that
There is something to be said for
each of these proposals. It it
were true that the Republican
party deserves the whole credit
for passing the three great laws
lately framed IN the public in
terest-the Railway rate act,
the meat inspection act, and the
pure food act-its leaders would
do well to make the coming fight
turn solely or mainly on this
issue The party that has made
good Is likely to be ousted in
favor of party that only
promises.
The weekly goes on TO comment,
however. that all three of these great
measures received cordial democratic
support in the house, whereas the
limitations, called "mutilation," put
on the meat bill and the rate bill
were the work of Republicans. The
Weekly thinks the achievement"
would have been greater with
Democratic house and that the presi-
dent was not only supported by his
party in congress and therefore in
dorsement of him cannot be logical
ly urged as a plea for Republican
success in the coming congressional
elections.
1t may be questioned, however, if
logic will be pressed to such a refine
ment by the voters at any poll in
America. When all is said and done
there is a sweet reasonableness'
about the mass of Americans, and
they are apt to Judge of the course
of party in power by the ultimate
outcome of its internal conflict over
details. No party worth the name
votes or acts en- bloc. It's action ON
public question is the result of
controversy and the net result is
what the voter takes as the party's
action. individuals will run on their
own records, of course, but as a par
ty the responsibility ct the polls is
for what it achieves with or without
external help or hindrance.
Three admittedly great achieve
ments stand to the credit of the party
as whole, and on this record Mr.
Cannon may very advantageously ap-
peal to the people for approval of the
party. Mr.. Roosevelt has the addi-
tional claim of an altogether excep-
tional initiative and phenomenal
persistency in support OF all these
measures, That he won in the face
of party opposition is to his credit,
surely. and that a sufficient number
of his party IN Congress. stood by him
may be claimed as a credit to both.
! AS to what a Democratic House
might have done, that is altogether
too conjectural for serious considera-
tion in the choice of Representatives
in Congress. The Democracy un-
doubtedly helped Mr.. Roosevelt. AS
an opportunist party. and the Weekly
will not deny that the Democracy has
only tactical policy on most ques-
tions. the members OF the Democracy
/ in Congress chose which wing of the
Republican majority they would sup
port on questions brought up for ac-
tion by the Republicans. They did
not originate any of the legislation
and their attitude in relation to il
while commendable so far as ii
helped along the reforms for which
the President and his supporters
fought, does not detract from the
credit due to MIR. Roosevelt and hi;
party as a whole for the benefcient
results achieved