New-York tribune., 1906-08-21
THE president oy CONGRESS.

President RoOsevelt's letter to Representative
Watson is a tribute of peculiar worth to the
wisdom, industry and general efficiency of the
present Congress. as displayed in the session Of
last winter and spring. AS such it will be gen
orally regarded as well deserved. In reviewing
the record Of the Congressional session we have
hitherto called attention long list of valuable
achievements, and ii does not seem too mucl
in view of them, TO say, as does the President
that mot In our time has any Congress done so
well in so many fields of endeavOr." The mere
recapitulation of those achievements is in itself
one OF the strongest of arguments for the re-
election of a Republican majority to the House
this fall, and the President doubtless intended it
as such To change the leadership and Organiza-
ton OF the House would, as he fOrcibly reminds
us, bring confusion upon those who have been
successfully engaged in the steady working out
''of a great and comprehensive scheme for the
''betterment of our social. Industrial and civic
conditions"
But the Presidents letter goes much further
than that. 1t discusses I'm a characteristically
frank and vigorous manner the future policies
OF Congress- and the chief tasks which it will
hereafter undertake in the extension and COM
pletion of the works already begun. 1t was not
inappropriate 10 give the Isthmian Canal first
place because Of the sinister and prOtean antag-
onism 20 that gvork which is continually being
manifested in one way another. and which.
with change Of control of the House. might
become effective for the indefinite delay of that
mighty and urgent enterprise. The present Con
gress has shown itself fully appreciative of the
quality Of the One-day encyclopedias and inter
ested prOpagandists who are so diligently dis
covering mares nests at Panama, and its firm
and judciOus policy toward them needs TO be
continued The work OF regulating corporations
Is also TO be maintained difficult as il essentially
is. The President sees clearly how much ex-
tremists In each direction. radical on the one
side and reactionary on the other, play into each
others hands and thus hamper effective progress
II is easy 20 act the demagogue, with unchecked
and irresponsible railings, or the mere Obstruc
tionist, blind 10 existing conditions and needs
But il Is not easy TO pursue the rational course.
such as Congress and the President have resO-
lutey followed, and reason and national welfare
strongly demand that when such a pursuit has
been successfully begun it shall not be halted
Just for the foolish purpose OF making a
change"
We are not sure that any portion OF the
Presidents letter will be more eagerly sought
end more earnestly discussed than that relating
20 the tariff, subject upon which some have Inn
agIDed dissensions 20 exist between the President
and the Republican leaders in Congress. His
treatment OF IL will give little comfort 20 those
who have INDUCED such imaginatiOns, nor will it
give other than encouragement and satisfaction
20 those who are striving loyalty 70 main:ain the
traditional Republican policy. What Mr. Roose-
Welt says is in exact accord with the policy urged
by his lamented predecessor in that memorable
last speech before his assassination. He stands,
IS Congress stands and as The whole Republican
party stands, "unsquivocally FOR a protective
tariff" But Whenever any rate or schedule be-
comes disadvnntageous 10 US as a nation. il be-
comes Ct subject OF opportune revision. That is
simply to say that the tariff is made for the
national welfare, end not the nation for The