New-York tribune., 1906-05-16
LULLIN THE RATE FIGHT
DEMOCRATS KEEP PEACE.
Presidents Letter Paralyzes OPposs-
tion-Bad Faith, Says TiTImau.
IFroTa ne Tri6une Bur1au.I ]

General apparently paralyzed Senators Bailey
ana Itllman. and they had not word 20 say
They had expected a sensational statement from
the White House. containing drastic criticism
Of themselves. and possibly Of MT Chandler
and when they read the straightforward. sim
pie narration OF events which the President sent
20 Senator, Allison. they appeared AFRAID 20
touch IT,
"It is so simple on it's face that they imagine
there is dynamite IN Il somewhere" said one
Republican Senator. and the course OF the Demo-
cratic leaders seemed 20 indicate that such was
their fear.
On the Democratic side OF the chamber there
is little sympathy with Messrs. Bailey and TIu-
man. From their own statements II appears
that these statesmen undertook to traffic with
their Democratic brethren; that even the con-
ference held Ostensibly to discuss the Bailey
amendment was called with the purpose OF as
certainins how many votes could be delivered
BY Messrs. Bailey and TiIImah % a supposed
emissary OF the President whose credentials
these leaders had never taken the trouble to
verify. bnd that. while the Democratic Senator's
were being rounded up 20 be delivered IN mass
70 the alleged representative, they were kent IN
complete ignorance OF the plans OF their supsrfo-
officers Now that the facts have come out.
many Of the Democrats are indignant az the
/ manner IN which they we're DEALT with OF IN by
/ MessTs- Bailey and TiIlman. and the comments
| they make on the Bailey-Tillman methods OF
! leadership would not look wen In print
/ One OF the disquieting rumors which found
circulation on the Democratic side Of the cham-
Der to-day was that Senator TiIIman had written
ex-senator Chandler that he sOrsly mIstrusteH
the sincerity Of Senator Bailsy's methods; that
ne suspected the Texan OF treating with Mr.
Aldrich. but that he. Tillman. was keeping a
close watch on his Texas friend and would not
give him any opportunity TO sell out the con-
spirators II was even rumOred that Mr.
Chandler had left this note IN the hands OF the
President and that Il might at any time be
forthcoming TO the chagrln OF the Senator from
South Carolina and the discontinue OF the SEN
atOr from Texas. Under the circumstances. no
Democrat felt the ground sufficiently solid under
his feet to warrant his addressing himself to the
PRESIDENTS letter, and its reading passed without
comment. Later in the day it was suggested
that probably Mr.. Chandler would have COM
pleted the statement which he is supposed to be-
preparing for publication by this evening
WERE LOOKING FOR FIGHT.
There was an air Of suppressed excitement IN
the Senate throughout the day and the galleries
were packed from the opening OF the session
Many diplomats and members Of their families
/ have attended the debate on the rate bill since
IL began. but to-day there was present a far
| larger number than usual AS soon as the
routine business was disposed OF the debate on
Senator Lodges amendment providing for the
reorganization Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission began. and proceeded without special
| incident until after o'clock Then Senator
Tillman got the floor and read the written state
ment Of ex-senator Chandler. which appeared
in The Tribune on Sunday morning after which
he made the following statement:
There are only two points in the Presidents
| letter which deem worthy OF notice His at
tempted explanation is ingenious but not in
n
claTing:
''He was asked 20 see ex-senator Chandler as
representing Mr.. Ttllman. who was in charge OF
the bill He stated TO me the views Of Mr.. Till
man with seeming authority
Mr. Chandler has declared most positively IN
a written statement that the President sent for
him for the purpose Of getting into conmunica-
ton with Senator Bailey and myself and hs
has produced the letter OF Mr.. Loeb.
| now declare most emphatically that 20 no
/ human being have ever given authority or eN-
pressed a wish to have any conference with
/ Theodore Roosevelt in regard to the bin now
under consideration On the contrary. have
lished interview that he had nothing 70 do with
1t, and that II was the business Of the Senate
and while did. at his request. enter into neg0-
| tiatiOns with the Attorney General. tt Is well
known to every Senator on this floor what my
| attitude and feelings have beens and il IS most
| remarkable, while the President sent for Demo-
cFat after Democrat TO confer with him about
this measure, that he should undertakes. under
the circumstances. TO assert that sent an agent
20 him 70 begin negotiations The statement is
absurd its face.
The other point 20 which I shall refer g. the
cavalier way in which Mr.. Moody discusses the
idea Of the President not being bound.
While cOntFadicting in no instance however
slight, my statement OF what occurred. the At
tOrney General seems to think that the code Of
honor among gentlemen Is not binding upon the
Executive and his Cabinet
The President asked him TO see Mr. Bailey and
myself. We met by appointment made by SEN
atOr Chandler and talked over the vital Ques-
tiOn. He wrote and sent to Mr.. Bailey his UTl-
derstanding Of our views. and when we met sub
sequently reached absolute agreement both
as to the form and the substance OF a proposed
amendment 70 which he said the President
would assent and help get votes for
OF course, the President was not bound not
70 change. but he was bound under such ciFCum-
stances to give notice. and this was not done.
notified. The charge made and still make Is
that the President Is guilty Of bad faith and
that the rate bill. which win be. when enacted
into law, a much better ana stronger measure
than we had hoped to get. has been enlasculated
OF one Of its most valuable and essential feat
ures by the Presidents action
am ready TO leave the whole question % the
thoughtful and honorable men Of the country.
Soon after beginning his statement Senator
Tillman Injected the words. This is Tilman
talking now" which caused a litter IN the SEN
ate and considerable laughter In the galleries
PRESIDENTS LETTER on TABLE
Senator Allison then arose and sent to the
desk the letter Of the President. inclOsing the
statement OF the Attorney General. saying
Mr.. President / will ask that the clerk read
this letter. which the President has sent to me.
It seems 70 deal chiefly with this subject.
When the reading was ended Senator Nelson
moved TO lay the pending motion the table,
and no comment was made on the Executive
communication
After spending a considerable part OF yester-
dav ard most OF to-day on the Lodge amend