Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-26
THE PIVOTAL CAMPAIGN ISSUE.


Two opportunities come for the ef-
fective expression of the popular will
as to national government, the ma
tional election--when a president is
chosen for term of four years and
at the same time a house Of repre-
sentatives for the first two years of
that term, and a national election in
which only a house is chosen for the
last two years of the presidential term.
We are now within six weeks of the
latter election. Two years ago, by a
majority which constituted the most
unnistakable expression ever made by
the people, Theodore Roosevelt was
elected president on a definite pro-
gram and with him republican con-
gress to assist him therein for two
years. The record, therefore. has been
made up. and it is up to the people to
say now whether they desire to check
mate him, by electing an opposition
party majority In congress, in the pro-
gram they then commissioned him to
carry out.
This issue was presented by Presi-
dent Roosevelt himself directly and
with all possible force at the threshold
of the campaign, and indeed 1t arose
out of the nature of things. For the
very essence of the purpose Of the con-
stitution is to AFFORD opportunity in
tba y,IddIa oFttha nrastdantloI ta,,,, 60,
national expression If the people de-
sire to thwart the chief executive,
either because he has proved recreant
to trust or because. having proved
faithful, they have changed their will
during the first two years of his term.
With the campaign approaching its
close the fact is thrown more and more
into bold relief that the great mass Of
the people. irrespective of party, have
In no wise changed their mind as to
the policies which they so signally en-
dorsed by President Roosevelt's cleo
ton two years ago, except 1t be that
they are even more firmly resolved
upon them now, and that they sin
cerely and enthusiastically approve his
fidelity and success in carrying out
these policies. Even partisan opposi-
ton does not dare to meet the issue.
but It's attitude from the beginning up
to this moment has been evasive and
directed not to the real business in
hand, which is choice of a congress to
sustain the president the next two
years, but to manufacture political
capital for use in the presidential elec-
ton two years hence, demonstrating
that IL would abuse power, II 1t could
get it, for the same purpose in the
meantime. It's chosen leader, who has
lately come upon the scene. has not
mended matters, but lodges the real
issue of immediate public business by
exploiting national ownership Of rail-
roads and a hodgepodge OF other i'm
practical questions, the only possible
effect Of thrusting which forward DOM
inantly in the next congress would be
to paralyze Theodore Roosevelt's lead
ership In the great practical work he
has in hand.
President Roosevelt, then, and his
program, with the whole popular
movement for which they stand. are
the issue, and IL only remains for all
who have had part in that movement.
and who in their hearts feel that It
should go on to further success and
not be either hampered or stopped by
opposition distractions. to act upon
patriotic conviction in the congress
sional election now so near at hand.