Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-23
R00SEVELT'S CHANCES
NOT LIKELY TO BE RENoMI.
MATED, IT IS SAID.
How It Lies With Taft-His Pros.
poets and the Presidents In
huence-The Rate Bill.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

the Chicago News, says of the presidential
situation:
There has never been time in American
political history when a President could
not renominate himself. Perhaps the
most striking illustration Of the power of
the man in authority to secure his own
nomination against the will of his party
was that of Benjamin Harrison when re-
nominated at the Minneapolis convention
by the power Of executive patronage. The
disaster which followed Mr.. Harrison's
nomination is known of all men.
If there is to be a denomination of Mr..
Roosevelt. which is improbable it will not
be by the methods which forced Harrison
upon an unwilling electorate. More prob
ably the nomination may be imposed upon
him by enthusiastic but ill-advised friends.
But it is also true. historically, that the
only time a President has been able to
force upon his party the nomination of
one of his official family was when An
drew Jackson compelled his party to take
Martin Van Buren, as its candidate. Mar
tin Van Buren, was elected, but the demo-
cratic party for long years thereafter did
not recover from the popular resentment
against executive interference with poll
tics
Perhaps the people are not now quite so
squeamsh on this point. Possibly the per-
sonal popularity of Mr.. Taft, who now
SldIuS dS tne TeSlUudTy leSdlee OI the
Roosevelt administration, may overcome
the general feeling that the business of
President is to preside over the country,
and not to boss his party. The history of
the next two years will have to show this.
Gen. Hancock and Secretary Taft.
The late Charles A. Dana said of Gen.
Hancock when he was nominated fof the
presidency, that he was a good man weigh
ing 24O pounds. However Mr.. Tafts vir-
tues may compare with those of the de-
feated democratic candidate in 1880, his
weight compares most favorably.
Gen. Hancock was charged in that cam
paign with being a citizen of no state,
which technically was true, as he was an
army officer voting nowhere, although he
had fought CALAMITY at many points,
notably at Gettysburg. He was charged,
candidate for office before the people: with
always having been supported by a kindly
government; with having always lived in
comfort at the public expense.
These charges had their effect on the
voters. Every one of them, with very
slight changes. can be applied to the Presi-
dents heir apparent. Secretary Taft.
Mr.. Taft has q political domicile, namely,
Ohio But it Is not believed that the re-
publican party of that state is in favor
of his nomination. Two days ago it was
said that Senator Foraker had determined
to support him for the nomination. Senator
Foraker denied that statement today In
newspaper. and denied it to me personally.
II said nothing of the Sort said he, land
friend of his 1 learned that Foraker's posi-
ton was that the Ohio delegation should
vote as unit, and If the caucus showed
a ma jority in favor of Taft, the VOC would
be given to him. But the friend said that
there was so little chance of such re-
suit that Mr.. Foraker might well afford to
make so seemingly fair concession.
Taft as a Tax Eater.
Secretary Taft has never been a candi-
date for office before the people. His first
office was an appointive one in Ohio in 1881
when he was twenty-four years old. He
has held public office ever since with the
exception of four years between SO and
1900. 1t was a curious fact that until
President Mckinley, whose antagonism to
Foraker was notorious, appointed him
president of the Philippine commission, all
of his public honors had been conferred
upon him either by direct appointment or
the influence of Foraker, now his rival.
No man has received SO much from the
United States treasury by the kindly gifts
of a friendly administration as Secretary
Taft. The salary of the Secretary of War
is not extortionate. but the greater part of
Secretary Taft's time for the last three
years has been spent in travelling to the
ends of the world at public expense. This
week he will start on new trip on 1.-The
Presidents yacht Sylph, for Panama,
Cuba and Porto Rico. Warships have
taken him to the Philippines. to Japan and
to South American countries. When 1T Is
possible to discover any way of escaping
the routine work of the War Department.
Taft finds it, and a President who pets him
approves it. 1t is probable that the dis
tances travelled by this now avowed candi-
date for the presidency at public cost would
exceed that of all the cabinet officers from
Lincoln's administration to Roosevelt's.
And it is worth while remembering that
however moderate the salary of a cabinet
officer when travelling on business of the
nation all his expenses are paid.
The Administration and the Senate.
There Is an old axiom that by mans
friends shall you know him.
Who are President Roosevelts friends in
the United States Senate? Senator Lodge
henchman. Spooner, Knox, Allison, Bur-
rows, Carter Dolliver Galinger and Hey
burn and many others are in the presiden-
tfal retinue.
When the railway rate bill was being con-
sidered how did these men vote on the vari--
obs proposed amendments to that mea sure?
1t was by their efforts and votes that the
Bailey and Culberson amendments forbid
ding unlimited injunctions against the rate
orders of the interstate commerce commits
sion were defeated.
By their efforts and votes Senator La Fol-
lette's three proposals, first, to determine
the valuation of the railroads as basis of
rate making; second, to increase the legal
liabilities of railroads for injuries to their
employees, and third. to prevent judge
having stock in and privileges from rail-
roads from issuing an injunction against
the rate schedules of the commission, were
all killed.
During the assassination of these meas
ures the President practically stood by and
the murder committed. A word from
him might have saved these amendments.
AS proof of what the President could have
done had he been so inclined take the his
tory of Senator La Folette's railway hours
bill. This measure seemed destined to the
fate of the other proposals of Senator La
Toilette. The Presidents friends, as usual,
were belligerent. Suddenly public pressure
was brought to bear, through the efforts
of the railroad employees. The administra-
ton .wavered. A conference was arranged
between the President and Senator La Fol-
lette. The word was given and the Presi-
dents friends allowed the bill, at the elev-
enth hour, to become law.
If this could be done why could not the
other measures have been saved? A true
radical in the White House with control
over Lodge, Spooner and Knox might have
done much But as by his friends We shall
know him." so by what he permits his
friends and lieutenants to do you may
judge his true views.