Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-05-18
THE PRESIDENT AS a POTHOUSE
POLITICIAN.


ator Tillman made an attack on the Presi
dent. He referred to the Long amendment
saying that he did so with the purpose Of
making an explanation. He said that Sen.
ators probably would be surprised to know
that he had been In conference with the
President. He then, contrary to his usua
practice, read statement Of his negotiations
regarding the bill as follows:
"On Saturday, March 81, was informed
by ex Senator william e. Chandler thai
President Roosevelt had sent him note
asking him TO call at the White House thai
evening; that he had obeyed the call and
had been told by the President that he de-
sired, through him. to get into communica'
ton with me, as the Senator 10 charge of the
railroad rate bill, and with Senator Bailey,
representing the Democrats Of the Senate,
for the purpose Of ascertaining whether
there could be such united action among
the friends In the Senate Of the Hepburn
bill as would make sure majority In Its
favor and against injurious amendments.
Mr.. Chandler said the President named va.
rious Republican Senators who, he thought
were true friends OF the bill, bat said thai
1t might require all the Democrats to defeat
obnoxious amendments.
Mr.. Chandler said the President had
stated that he had come to q complete dis
agreement with the senatorial lawyers who
were trying to iDjure or defeat the bill by
ingenious constitutional amendments, nam.
ing Senator Knox, in addition TO Senators
Spooner and Foraker; that the President
stated carefully and deliberately the basis
upon which he thought there should be co.
operation, viz: An agreement expressly
granting court review, but limiting 1t to
two points; ~ an inquiry whether the
commission had acted beyond Its authority
ultra wires, and (2) whether it had violated
the constitutional rights Of the carrier. Mr..
Chandler stated that the President repeated
that he had reached final decision that
the right of review should be thus limited I;
that thus far he would go and no farther !;
that this decision would be unalterable."
Proceeding, he said that Mr.. Chandler
had declared that the President had assured
him that he would be in favor Of restrlc.
ton against the issuance of ex parte injunc-
lions to meet the wishes Of Senators Tillman
and Bailey.
Alter informing Mr.. Bailey Of the pur-
port of the Chandler interview MIR. Tillman
said that on the next day he had told Mr..
Chandler that In his and Mr.. Bailey's opin-
ion there would be no difficulty In coming
to an understanding on the basis proposed
by the President.
"On the evening Of Monday Mr. Chandler
told me he had so assured the President and
asked him not 10 be disturbed by the news
paper items growing out of the talk about
Senator Longs amendment, published In
White House conference on Saturday"
He then said that he and Mr.. Chandler
had continued their conferences, and on
April c the ex-senator had gone to the
White House TO make favorable report to
the President. On April Mr.. Chandler
told him that he had conferred with Sena.
tor Allison, asking him to intervene in the
conference then In progress. and that the
Iowa Senator had agreed to do 30.
Later Mr.. Allison had seen the President.
On April IS Mr.. Chandler had advised that
he (Mr. Tillman) and Mr., Bailey see the
Attorney General. Consequently they had
met that official ON the 18th, finding them.
selves In perfect accord with him, except as
to small difference In the matter Of injunc.
ton. "There was absolute accord from the
first on the proposition that the court re-
view should be limited to the inquiry
whether the commission had exceeded its
authority or violated the carriers constltu.
tional rights" Mr.. Moody had then agreed
to supply the Senators with memorandum
of his views and had done so, land we have
the original of it," said Mr.. Tillman.
The next day, Mr.. Tillman said, he had
seen Mr. Moody and had assured him that
twenty six Democratic votes would be &c.
cured for the compromise proposed, and
had told him that 1t would be necessary to
get twenty Republican votes. ut was un
derstood that we should work together to
get the votes necessary to pass the com
promise"
The Attorney General had expressed doubt
of getting enough Republican votes to as.
sure the acceptance of the Bailey non sus-
pension proviso, but had said that he felt
sure of the Overmsn amendment. Mr..
Moody had, he said, assured him that 1t
was the fixed purpose to insist upon the
Long amendment, and he (Mr. Tillman) had
had no suspicion of change Of front until
May 4, when the President had his interview
with the assembled newspaper men.
The reading Of the statement evoked many
smiles and some laughter from Senator'S
There was especial merriment over state.
ment of assurance by the South Carolina
Senator that the President need not be
alarmed over newspaper reports. He had,
he said, told the Attorney General that there
was no danger Of the result as to the bill Il
the President should adhere to his plans
He then had the clerk read the Moody
memorandum covering the points agreed
upon as the basis of amendments.
Mr.. Tillman's time expired before he had
completed his statement, but he was per.
mltted to proceed by unanimous consent
He said that he and ex-senator Chandler
had been informed at the same time of the
President's change Of attitude. They had
gone together to Mr.. Bailey, and oil three
had repaired TO the residence OF Mr.. Moody
''the fourth conspirator," and had found him
apparently entirely innocent Of knowledge
of the change.
He admitted that he had hesitated about
entering upon the negotiation with the
President because of his "just Indignation
for q past wrong" hut he had concluded Ia
pocket his pride in the interests Of a great
cause. He also said that Senator Allison
had nrorniaed him twenty. two votea nm ths