Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
Mr.. R||S' INTERVIEW
President May Ask a Third
Term
IF THE CONGRESS FAILS
To Put Into Law Policies for Which
He Contends.
ATTENTION OF POLITICIANS
Do Not Think He is the Sole Custo-
dian of the Wishes of the
People.
ATTENTION OF POLITICIANS

The New York Herald published today a
special dispatch from Toledo, Ohio, quoting
from purported interview with Mr.. Jacob
A. Riis, indicating that If the policies for
which President Roosevelt is now contend
ing are not enacted by Congress by the
time his term expires the President may
feel that duty calls him to accept another
term. Mr.. Riis is the confidant of the
President, author of Theodore Roosevelt,
the Citizen" and probably closer to him
than any other man in the United States,
and thoroughly in sympathy with him in
all of his aspirations
Mr.. Riis' Interview.
The Heralds dispatch said: ''If duty de-
manded Roosevelt to continue this fight he
would do 1t. I know he does not want TO
become a candidate for another term. but
at the bottom of his heart he believes in
the people and will fight for them
This was the statement made by Jacob
A Riis this afternoon in an interview on
the war between special privileged inter
ests on one side and the people on the other
which Mr. Ris predicts.
This war, Mr.. Riis says, may last three,
five and even ten years before the people
are victorious 1t will wipe out partisan
which, says Mr. Riis, will be seen at the
congressional elections to be held in 1906.
'But suppose the fight isn't finished when
Mr.. Roosevelt's time expires, in 190S?" he
was asked.
Then came the reply as to the probability
of denomination for the President. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. RiiS said:
I'VE have had three great struggles In
this country. The first was led by Wash
ington, the second by Lincoln, the third-oh.
this Is the greatest struggle of them ALL
II Is the fight against the money power, the
organized privilege grabbers. And Roose-
welt will lead the people to victory in this
struggle.
Roosevelt is fighting the greatest tyrant
of them all. Slavery affected only the
south, but the money power means the en-
slavement of all human beings and all
homes. The product of human hands is
controlled by this power, and this means
slavery of the entire human race
When it comes to a question Of right
eousness and unrighteousness you know
where the President stands"
This was said apropos of the suggestion
that party lines would be wiped out in this
fight
"Outwardly party lines will be main
tanned, but 1t would not surprise me to see
partisanshtp disregarded entirely" replied
Mr.. Riis
Il don't say that all people who differ
from Roosevelt are Crooks he added, in a
thoughtful manner. People who honestly
differ from the President will agree with
him in the end, but all the crooks differ
with Roosevelt all the time
Just now these crooks are trying to dis
credit the President But they will find
they are making losing fight. Why, you
have seen 1t here in your own state-corpo-
rations have elected and controlled your
legislature for their own selfish ends. 1t is
so In other parts of the country. The peo-
pie are learning these things, and they are
rising In their might 10 overthrow them as
they did in Ohio
Attention in Congressional Circles.
At the Capitol today it was said that dis
cussion of the possibility of another term
for President Roosevelt will undoubtedly
attract profound attention in congressional
and political circles, the more SO if ore
dfcated upon the assumption that the Presi-
dents change of heart is based upon posi-
BILE failure of Congress to do its duty as
the President sees 1t.
1t has been realized by senator's and rep
resentatives that some of the Presidents
most enthusiastic supporters have shown
increasing tendency recently to put those
statesmen who do not concur wholly with
the Presidents views on proposed legisla-
ton into a class designated as opponents
of the people. This is particularly true OF
senator's Republican senators of promi-
nence who have had the temerity to dis
agree WIN the PreSldentS ideas of legiS-
lation and governmental policy find that
they have had the label slapped on them of
corporation senator's" and democrats have
been referred to "dema gogues' and 'im-
becies.''
There has been increasing resentment
among statesmen at the Capitol over the
arrogation to the President by some of his
friends of the chief guardianship of the
peoples interests. The House, of Repre-
sentativeS. elected every two years, is pre-
sumed by its members to in a mea sure rep
resent the desires of the people and to safe
guard their affairs while the Senate has
hitherto supposed that at least 1t represent
the states and their interest in national and
interstate matters
Cause of Irritation.
There also has been irritation over the
every policy he advocates Is necessarily
wise and right. and that failure of the
Congress to adopt them is neglect of the
peoples rights. Congress has always been
loath to accept any one mans ideas and
all legislation has been the result of COM
promise of opinion. The suggestion of Mr.
Riis, therefore, that if Congress does not
live up TO the full measure of executive
recommendation 1t may be advisable for
the President to remain in Office to carry
on the fight Is expected to further touch
the ssnsibilities of Congress upon the raw
1t was recalled at the Capitol today that
the unqualified and unequivocal declaration
of the President, made a year ago last
November. election night, that he would
not accept another nomination, contained
no suggestion of possible future recon-
sideration OF his resolve on any ground