Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-14
MONDAY EVENING. MAY "A. 1906.

RARELY has the Chief Magistrate OF
the nation been brought to book 30
ruthlessy as President Roosevelt was,
Saturday, when Senators Bailey aad Till
man denounced him as "quitter" on
the rate bill, aud then brought proof OF
their assertions. Messrs. Bailey and
Tillman proved that President Roosevelt
had entered into secret deal with Sens-
tor Tillman to pass the rate bill with the
Railev limited court review amendment
by a combination of 20 democrats and
20 republican votes. Ex-senator Will
liam E. Chandler, of New Hampshire,
was the gO.between for Senator Tillman
and President Roosevelt, as Senator Till
man refused to go TO the White House.
Through Mr.. Chandler the deal was
made, and both sides were pledged to
it. At the moment when success was
absolutely assured, President Roosevelt
abandoned the fight. The result WAS
that the Allison compromise court re-
view amendment WAS adopted Sat
urday, without division, 20 the great
ioy of Senator Aldrich, and the whole
"conservative" contingent. 10 Mr.. Till
mans exposure of his negotiations with
the President he incidentally quoted ex-
Senator Chandler as saying that the
President had charged Senators Knox,
Foraker and Spooner with trying to ruin
the rate bill with ingenious amendments.
Senator Lodge, alarmed by this revela-
ton, used the telephone to ask the Presl-
dent about it. Then he announced on
the floor that the President denounced
it as ''unquai6edly false" The issue
as to the falsehood now lies between
the President end ex-senator Chandler.
1t is notable that the President
made no denial of the charge that
he had entered into q secret deal
with Mr.. Tillmsn and had then
quit without notice to Mr.. Tillman
or to Attorney General Moody, who
was also in the deal. The attacks OF
Messrs. Bailey and Tillman upon the
President were evidently concerted.
Mr. Bailey was the first to deliver his
broadside. He mercilessly hayed Mr.
Roosevelt as a gutter on tariff revision
and on other great questions that have
come up until finally he has quit on the
rate bill at time when he had an OPP
portunity to mount to the plane of Jefer-
son. Jackson and Lincoln. His closing
words were the most sensational that
have been uttered ia the Senate in many
a day. He said: 'Let US have no
more talk in the Senate and talk 10 the
country about this iron mau. He is
clay and very common clay at that.
There was a movement of establishment
on the floor and in the galleries at these
words, but later when Senator Tillman
read his detailed revelation of executive
instability, if not dOuble-dealing, and
its humilating result, it was plain that
the Texas Senator had not gone further
than the facts warranted. He said:
Notwithstanding a just Indignation
for past wrong, | pOcketed my pride,
and in the interests of great cause en-
tered into negotiations with the Presi-
dent If he had stood fast we wonld
have won out. Mr.. Chandler
said the President had stated that he
had come to a complete disagreement
with the senatorial lawy ers. who were
trying TO injure or defeat the bill by in
genious constitutional methods, naming
Senator Knox in addition to Senators
SpoOner and Foraker. AS for
his treatment of me | shall say nothing"
lie closed by asking whether or not
the President should be entitled to the
glory of the legislation which was con-
ceived in democratic convention. He
would leave the answer to the people of
4he country.