The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-19

4
or three Congresses to put expendi-
lures back on as careful a basis as they
| were prior to the Spanish war
| WAR ON ROOSEVELT.
Nothing in the present very eventful
| session of Congress has demonstrated
| more emphatically President Roose-
welt s determination to have a strong
and vigorous railroad rate law, than
the events of the past week. Under
the determined pressure from infiu-
entail opposition quarters, he has more
than once, during January and Febru-
airy, been pushed near to the wall and
behind the maneuverings is a good deal
of history not printed in the news
papers. Over his head the opposition
Republicans have been constantly
brandishing the threat that he was
going to split the Republican party in
to two factions. They knew there was
no threat likely to have greater infu-
ence with the President. 1t has been
used more than once heretofore to
check some of his important plans.
Two years ago, about this time, when
the possible candidacy of the late Sena-
tor Hanna was assuming considerable
proportions, few influential Republi-
can senators, who by no means liked
Senator Hanna, began quietly to get in
line for President Roosevelt They
made their attitude known at White
House conferences. The President,
anxious for denomination, felt CRATE
full to them. Later on in the 1904 cam
paign, just after the Democrats had
nominated Parker and his nomination
was promising to command the support |
of powerful business interests, center
ing chiefly in New York, these same
Senators went to the front. They held |
conferences in New York, Philadelphia |
and Pittsburg, with millionaires and |!
large business firms. The result was
not only the convincing of those in
terests that they would do better to |
support Mr.. Roosevelt for a full term !
as President in his own right, but they |
also consented to make contributions to |
the campaign fund.
SENATORS ARE BITTER.
The names of the Republican Sena |
tors, who brought all this about, arr
in the list of five Republicans in the
Interstate Commerce Committee, FL |
kins, Aldrich, Crane, Foraker and
Kean, who a few days ago voted |
against reporting the Hepburn rate bill /
unamended. In that list, too, are the
Senators, who for weeks have been
going to the White House offices, al
most daily, and importuning the Presi-
dent to consent to a broad judicial
to the Hepburn bill. When
he would not yield to their importuni
ties, a stormy scene finally occurred
and very angry words were exchanged.
These Senators, back of ALL are more
angered because they could not per-
suade the President to listen to their
in return for whatever debt
the Republican party owed them for
support in 1904. That is
why the fight in the Senate over rate
legislation is now so bitter and may be
for months.
Every little while one hears some
thing here in Washington about the
that the Democrats will con-
srol the next House of Representatives.
Many of the Republicans are counting
On it. Speaker Cannon has said in
private that he expected that would. be
5he outcome of the next November
elections. His views have been voiced
oy many other Republican leaders who
'ear that the pendulum is swinging and
hat the people are ready to rise up
| 4
because of the many unfavorable dis
closures of the last year or two.
POLITICAL PESsIMISM.
Yet Just the cause for such political
1essimism is not altogether apparent
when one analyses the situation. To be
sure the unexpected overturning in the
asst election, by which Ohio, for ex-
ample, went Democratic and gave an
example of Independent voting, has en-
such a belief. Then the in
Iurance disclosures have not only
shown the demoralized condition OF the
in New York state, but
las affected the party nationally and
given the Democrats something to
make a forceful plea on to the people.
Every election, state and municipal, ,
iince 1904, has, on the whole, had I'M
favorable elements for the Republicans.
only few days ago, elected
/ Democratic mayor, who will probably
blossom forth next summer as the {
Democratic nominee for governor, and /
he Democrats think the Republicans {
re in such a disorganized condition IN
especially after the poil ]
zeal revolution of last fall, when s
Democratic state treasurer was elected,
hat there is some chance for victory
n that Republican stronghold.
But where the Democrats can get the
-otes to control the National House IS
uite another question. In the first
lace their gains must all come from /
orthern states Every district in the
outh, except two in the mountains of
'ennessee, and one in the mountains of
rirginia, is now held by Democrats.
'wo or three seats might be gained in
faryland. two or three in West Vir-
mia, two or three in Kentucky, and
tx or eight in Missouri. But those are !
order states rather than Southern t
tates. 1
Some Democratic hope is based on l
IN ta+ stall