Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-15
PERKINS PRESS BUREAU

4 washington by United states Sem
= ator Perkins will afford much COM
fort and consolation to the anti-Roose-
velt-doctrine Republicans of Cali
fornia, otherwise known as the South
ern Pacific political bureau. IL sample
production of the Perkins output may
be regarded as a criterion. Under date
of December the distinguished Cali
fornian writes:
"As to the organization of the house,
1t was at no time doubtful that Mr..
Cannon would be speaker His eminent
abilities and the manner in which he
has guided the body over which he has
so long presided practically excluded
any other choice. His firmness and
conservatism will, it is believed, be
specially needed during the coming ses-
sion."
OF Speaker Cannon's "frmness and
conservatism" in tying the muzzle
across the face of those who are unable
to detect high quality of statesman
ship in the advocacy of that noble
principle which we have come to know
as "standpatism," and who would pre-
fer to speak freely for the communities
which they represent, there can be no
doubt. That this firmness and con-
servatism will be Especially needed"
during the present session is hardly
news. For If ever the Interests" "spe-
cially needed" friend at court they
need one now,
An analysis of the zephyrlike Per-
kins letter reveals the keen interest
which some of the California delega-
tion exhibit in legislative projects
affecting the integrity Of the "inter-
ests." In referring to the recent finan-
cial stringency and it's causes the Per-
kins service furnishes the following
illumination:
Opinions differed somewhat as to the
cause of this loss of public confidence,
but it seemed to be conceded that at
least one very potent influence has
been the almost constant hammering
during the past few years by writers
of sensational character who have
carried to the extreme the ideas under
lying the prosecution by the govern
ment of corporations accused of having
violated the law" A little further on
Mr.. Perkins adds: "The people have
| had time to see that they themselves,
| through a withdrawal of confidence in
fundamentally sound institutions and
enterprises, are for the most part to
blame for the present situation, and
that renewal of the old confidence is
all that is needed to bring about the
old condition of prosperity"
From this expression of opinion we
should judge that Mr.. Perkins is ear
nestly desirous that the people shall
forget, as quickly and as painlessly as
possible, the actual causes of the loss
of confidence in what he calls 'funda-
mentally sound institutions and enter
prises," which are now so generally
recognized as being remote from what
he ascribes as the causes as to require
no detailed comment.
Mr.. Perkins INDUCES in a gentle dab
at President Roosevelt a thrust which,
in the light of the presidents pro-
nouncement of a day or two ago, has
no justification. The fact that every
where is heard the question, is Roose-
velt candidate?" appears to him to
justify "Justice Brewers famed refer
ence to a game of hide and seek in
which the president takes part" He
also expresses the opinion that the
"bold action of Senator Foraker will
weaken the chance of Secretary Taft"
in which the space between the lines
would appear to indicate that the wish
is father to the thought.
The Perkins press bureau has begun
it's activities early in the political game
this year. From this time forth we
may reasonably expect to see the COL
umns of the conservative" Republican
press of California flooded with "spe-
cial dispatches" and letters from our
own correspondent" in Washington.
The fact that with the first letters sent
out by the diligent California senator
comes an offer to send to the friendly
state editors handsome halftones of the
handsome senator, free of charge, may
tend to throw additional light upon the
why's and wherefores and moreovers of
the Perkins press bureau.
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