Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-17

Il is MT surprising that the "big stick"
methods OF President Roosevelt should
have resulted IN open hostilities between
the Executive and Congress, rather than
good feelings.
Few Presidents who, like President
Roosevelt, never served a term in either
branch Of tho Congress, have ever averted
this kind of a quarrel during their adj
ministmtions. And a man Of President
Roosevclts cahbro drifts into the inevi-
table conflict as naturally as oil Goats upon
The surface of the water
An imperious will has ever been the
dominating element ia the Roosevelt
character win that brooks no inter
ference and can not even tolerate dis
agreement, The key 10 Roosevelt favor
has ever been supine submission. In his
game Of politics 70 has always been edo
as say or wont play" This trait was
conspicuous in him IN his every important
official capacity-as member Of the New
York Legislature, police commissioner Of
New York City and governor OF New York.
In the greatly enlarged responsibilities
and powers of the Office Of the President
Of tho United States, IL is more con-
spicuous than ever.
President Roosevelt, in this respect. is
very Ike a certain discredited and repudi-
alod Republican politician in Delaware.
Once the latter was leader Of his party,
and the party was victorious and united.
But his leadership proved fatal. For
every Republican who ventured TO disagree
with him over any suggested policy on his
part he had a big club in waiting with
which he whaoked the dissenter over tho
head. His idea was to compel submits
sion, but the logical result was TO incite
rebellion. In the end this autocratic and
insolont party leader was dethroned and
is now in political obscurity
Like other impetuous and arbitrary
politicians, who assume that they arc the
entire party because they are IA a position
OF leadership. President Roosevelt i.
rapidly descending TO his level The
probabilities are that by the close of the
present session Of Congress he will be the
most discmdited President that over occu.
pied the White House. with the possibl,
exceptions of Tyler and johnson. II may
be that he viii split the Republican party
as President Van Buren, split tho Demo
cratic party, back in the iorties
What contrast there is between Roose
welt and Mckinley Roosevelt regards
the Congress as his creature, more autom
atom 20 register his royal viii. Nc
kinley had served in Congress, and knew
its feelings. He also know is prcroga
tives and the limitations Of It's rights, anc
respected both His persuasive inAuenc,
was marvellous and members Of Congress
who could not agree with his policies wor,
brought to their support by the soothing
effects Of his captivating personality
No Chg stick for Mckinney. He hat
no use Tor the methods or the weapons o.
the political bully. But he could TAX,
an obdumte Congressman into the privac,
of the Executive chamber and send hin
away pleased and compliant, even though
he declined TO give him what he asked for
il has been said that disappointed Office
seekers frequently left the presence Of thi
President feeling that they had won
dearly-prized friendship, though they ha,
failed TO secure an office. That such
President should have had great influence
with The Congress is not a mystery.
But President Roosevelt is not Nc
kinley, by many thousands OF miles.