Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-31
By EDWIN s. POTTER.
EDITOR Universal News Analysis.
Reform Waves IN, Panic Winds
Keep Party NaviGators Anxious

Through the misty pros and cons of
administrative responsibility and OF
ambitious party leaderships the wealth
erwise American citizen sees Con
science with a big Cas- the unknown
factor in the coming national! cam
paisn, Judging from the signs of 1907.
The great American public has begun
TO think about few things, and that's
what has kept the political pet a-boil-
ing
One thing the year makes clear to
the most casual observer-the lire be-
tween the old Democracy and the Old
Eepublicanism no longer exists. 1t is
now question of conservative and
radical ON which both these historic
parties are being rent trarSverscly.
The same head winds which made the
years voyage a hard one for President
Roosevelt and his administration secv-
ell To bring the Bryan vessel into the
port Of n third Democratic nominal
ton. now generally conceded. and yet
the leader of the opposition presents
the unusual spectacle of smiling up
prevail of much of the Roosevelt pro
gTammc. Theodore Roosevelt began to
experience powerful opposition for the
first time in his own party while the
popular cry for third term grew
louder. In his own state a new figure,
that of Governor EGghes. was attract
ing much attention by his quiet way
of bringing the Republican crSaniza-
ton to his feet, appealing direct to the
hi;
chief of which was the creation OF the
public service commissions for state
and city. with power to bring the util-
ity corporations To terms.
1t WAS on the morning OF APRIL .
that the president woi.e up to end
himself on the defensive h. the rubli-
cation of the Hartman letter telling
of an alleged deal between H"o.eyclt
and Hartman in 1864. vt once the
president published his Sherman letter
telling Of Harriman's brag that he
could buy laws and judges al libitum,
for which the president had class
cd him along with Dcbs. Meyer and
Haywood as undesirable citizens"
This incident assumed great siglif-
canoe owing to the fact that organized
labor resented the siur upon the West
ern Federation officials about to be
tried for their lives. Much was made
by the enemies OF Roosevelt OF the re-
mark in his letter to Hartman that
you and are practical men,"
In the face of the Increasing hostil-
ity of many wealthy citizens The presi-
\ dent persisted il promulgntinc his re-
form policies. notably in his Memorial
day speech at Indianapolis. advocating
the theory of federal control Of rail-
roads under the postal clause of the
constitution: at Provincetown. Mass.
AUG. 20, where in laying the corner
stone of the Pilgrims monument he
charged Certain malefaetors Of great
wealth with conspiring to depress
business in the hope of discrediting his
policies in the eyes OF tl2 people, and
again in his series of speeches at the
dedication Of the Mckinley tomb at
Canton SEPT. so and on his ensuing
southern tour.
Almost the same sentiments were
expressed by Secretary of War Taft in
the series of addresses beginning at
Columbus. o., AUG. 10. in which he
took his stand as Il candidate for the
Republican nomination as The chosen
defender of the administration. Such
was the launching of the Taft BOOM
dramatic feature being his start on
the long Journey around the world.
In the meantime all the Gntiadninis
tration strength in Ohio had been sum
moned into action by the avowel can.
didacy OF Senator Foraker. who Glories
IN his differences with the president.
Furthermore, all the legal and exec
uiive machinery of the government
was being brought into action against
the big railroad, oil. coal and other
combinations. Secrets of the STANDARD
OH company were laid bare and its
: head hailed into federal court. after
which came the big Lands fine. In Z
Ceiiant Interview John ID. Rockefeller
openly attacked the administration anC
predicted financial chaos" as tho hsr
vest, referring TO himself as being
"hitehed TO The cart in which the PEG
pie ride" That was il July. Well
by the middle of August stocks were
tumbling, and the rest is part of tn,
business record
Whether justly or uniustly. the adj
ministration was blamed By many
when the panic came. and hesflcs III,
gibe of Chancellor Day about the raid
on prosperity Roosevelt received hare
knocks from si;ch sources as ex- Seua
tor Spooner and Justice Brewer. III,
Latter charging the president witt
playing reekaboo with the Amcri
can people" about the third term. I,
November the president did order fed
eral employees to- desist from effort.
for thiid term delegati ton. and afte
the national committee met at Wash
1ngton recently the country heard froa
the White House again definitely tina
nomination would not be accepted
The message to congress DEC. ) wa
stand pat valedictory
The staying power of the Twice De
feated and his hold on the affection
OF the Democratic rank and file in tn
race of concerted effort to discredl
him by clique of the rich and power