Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03
CURRENT GOSSIP
At THE CAPITOL
Pessimistic Republicans Won't
Publicly Talk Against President.


There are lot OF prominent repub-
| ucans all over the country who will help
Theodore Roosevelt keep the promise that
| h. will not again accept nomination for
| the presidency
That remark was made by an observing
| politician; by man who has been watch
ing the trend of politics in this country.
| 1t was made, by the way, some weeks be-
! fore Jacob Riis the great admirer of the
| President saw fit to bring prominently be-
| fore the country the proposition that the
| President would be elected for a third term
| in order to carry out the policies of the
| Roosevelt administration. In connection
| with the above quoted remark 1t Is fact
| so well known that there be no dispute
about 1t that there are republican poll
| ticians about the Capitol who will be much
| pleased when the present administration is
| brought to a close and that third term for
| Roosevelt would be the one thing in politics
| that they would not like. Conceiing the
! popularity of the President with the peo-
| pie, and feeling that any opposition TO him
| is sure to bring condemnation upon the
| senators representatives who voice such
| opposition, these representatives. of states
| and people are naturally uneasy and would
| be still more if they thought there was
| the possibility of another term for the pres
ent active occupant of the White House.
Going to Wreck.
| "Our party is a wreck; it is going to
pieces as fast as ii can" was a remark of
a republican senator, and he continued:
| I'VE are split wide open on several impor-
tant measures, with little chance of getting
| together we are split on statehood; we
! are split on the Philippine tariff; we are
| split all to pieces en- the railroad rate legs
| laton and we are spit on the Santo DO
| mingo policy of the administration.
us has always been supposed that on me
| Santo Domingo treaty the President mao
L, COLT h "a n
| the Senate" inte-jected a listener.
| He may have the votes, but it does not
! mean that we agree with the policy" con-
| tinued the sena tor. In tact we are not SO
| vitality interested in Santo DO ningo as in
these other matters in which we are d.
vided party.
| ..If the democrats" he continued, want
| to take advantage OF our plight now Is the
| time for them to do so.
Can't Tame Them With Public Utter
ances.
This pessimistic utterance from a repup-
lican sounds doletul enough, but at the
present writing no public utterance has
| been made to back up the statement. Nor
| is it true that the democrats have amy
| great confidence in any real rupture be-
| tween tie republicans over various meas
| ures now il dispute.
I'VE have been trying to taunt them
| into saying something publicly against
Roosevelt" said one of the brainiest demo-
| cratic senators, but they won't do t. wren
we had Cleveland in the White House they
| could taunt some of our fellows until they
| would get up and denounce HIN, when kept
| our party constantly at war.
| cleveland was also on pretty good terms
| with the republicans it was sugges Ell.
Yes" assented the senator. He used
| majority of the republicans and a minority
| of the democrats to carry out his poncleS,
| ard kept us apart all the time. But 50 lar
| | do not know whether the differences IN
the republican party will reach the stage OF
| a real split or not. or course. We nope So
/ But the republicans are masters or poll
| tics There leaders are good politicians
| none better. See how they managed the
silver question They coddled 1t along with.
the Sherman law unit they could insure
| the solidircation of the northern states, and
| lose only the silver-producing states. and
hold enough 10 win. Then they abandoned
| silver and left us to go to pieces on 1t In
view of the shrewd politics they have
played in the past L don th.nK we ought
| to count too much upon their present diff
| ferences -
Sherman and His Inconsistencies.
| Returning to the talk that has occurred
! about "a third term for Mr.. Roosevelt. some
one remarked that the President could not
| be consistent and again accept a nomin2-
| ton even if It were forced upon him. But
why talk about consistency? Consistency
| has teer rerudiated by all the best states
men of the present and past ages. "ithlh
| easy memory are some conspicuous exam
! niles John Sherman voted against the gold
standard in 1873, and Wi liam NJ. eWart
I the most caniankerous advocate OF silver
the Senate ever knew, voted for the de-
| monetization of silver. Both these men
changed positions Mckinley, elected on
gold platform had often voted for silver
| Within a month Champ Clark has &C
knowledged that he could not constantly
remain consistent without being Iool.
| Wise men change their m nds, tools
never" quoted Clark, when taking atout
| the Philippines in the House. Both Payne
and DalzelI were proven by the record 20
| have occupied absolutely different grouncs
| on the Porto Rico bill a few years ago from
| that which they took on the Philippine bai
| n few weeks ago. Yhere are those WHO re-
| member when a young democratic senator
| fired with an ambition TO distinguish MN
| self in the Senate with infinite pains aug
nm the record of John Sherman, and for
| nearly three hours proved that sherman
| public career was one gummy trail OF m
| consistencies Sherman sat In his seat ana
| listened while his iniquitously fneonsis ent
! record was hurled at him. w men the young
! senator concluded Sherman arose and salo:
II will say to my young Irieiiu IliS - -
| he remains in public life as long as L nave
| he will do a great many things that Wlll
| appear inconsistent, and are inconsistent.
| Conditions change with time ana what Is
| wise new may he unwise year hence.
! My past record gives me no concern Will
| ever
That was ALL Weeks of toll and great
| speech snuffed out because John sherman
! old not care whether he was consistent or
not.
And now we go back to the starting
| point What Theodore Roosevelt said on
| election night in November, 1904, may not
be at all consistent with what the people
| will demand in June, 1908. Three years
and half will bring about many changes.
In fact, one year and nine months has
brought great many. The proposal to
renominate Mr. Roosevelt receives consld-
cradle support when it is merely mentioned
1t may be more. serious when there is a
well-defned movement in favor of his third
| term And lust this about the tnlru term
propositions In spite of the tradition Grant
came near winning in 1880 and if Cleveland
had not been so absolutely unpopular with
his party the nomination may have been
forced upon him in 1901 Politicians viii
dare a great deal when they want to win.
IN DARKEST SCOTLAND.