The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-06
Will LOSE AN
Able CHAMPION
Why ROOSEVELT REGRETS Mr..
sPooNER,s RESIGNATION
HIS PROBABLE sue.
cEssoR.

Il MFh91AtNoA0ENI Ef1dEEu bsS-Np man
ever retired from public life with as
unusual regret as Mr.. spooner. Pres.
ident Roosevelt knows that as Presi.
dent Of the United States and as n
man he has lost his best friend in the
Senate. SIR. Spooner was the abtest
champion any administration has had
in the Senate for many decade. and
there Is no man who can replace him.
Mr.. Spoonar. in addition to his pro,
found knowledge as lawyer aud his
great fund OF general Information, and
his knowledge OF parliamentary law
three accomplishments that combine
to make him ready debater and a
powerful advocate, is a man OF such
engaging manner, such strong person
atty and such magnetism, that he has
held the friendship Of every man in
the Senate and the main aisle OF the
chamber that divides the parties, has
never been gulf that cut him on
from friendship. Perhaps his warm
est friend, II not his intimate chum,
has been for many years the amazing
Mr.. Tillman. For Mr.. Roosevelt per-
sonally Mr.. spooner has always felt
a warm regard and personal affec-
ton that has led him more than once
to warn the President against action
on which the Presidents heart was
set, but which Mr.. Spooner knew to
be impofitic. Mr.. Spooner has, on
some matters, differed with Mr.
Roosevelt, but unlike soma OF his col
leagues, he never left the President
in the dark as to his attitude, nor fed
false hopes to the Presidents ear
while secretly he sharpened his knife.
President Loses Champion.
The Republican Senators to-day are
dismayed, for they know that not one
of them can replace him. Mr.. Roose-
welt has many warm friends on the
Republican side, but unhappily their
affection is in most cases greater than
their tact or their discretion. Those
Senators now remaining who will be
always regarded as thesPresident's es.
pecial champions in the Senate, do
not stand in the front rank OF the
Senate leaders, whilst those Senators
who direct the management of mat
tiers in that body lack Mr.. Spooner's
legal lore and his skill in general de-
bate. The greatest constitutional law
yer on the Republican side, he was
generally put forward by the Repub-
licans to meet Messrs. Bailey and
Rayner, but with his departure the
Republicans are at loss, for skilled
as is Mr.. Knox, he has not the ability
TO successfully combat either OF those
two great students OF the constitution
and its Interpretation by the Supreme
Court Of the United States.
Though he retires voluntarily and
against the protests of his friends, Mr.,
Spooner leaves Washington with re,
gret, for the Senate has been the
scene of his most brilliant triumphs
and Washington is the circle OF his
warmest friendships. But as he frank.
fy said, the time has come that he
must put his house in order, and 1t Is
poverty, not preference, that drives
him out Of politics.
His Successor.
| Washington naturally busies itself
with the future, and while It bids fare.
well to the departing friend, 1t glanc.
es over his shoulder to sight his sue.
cessor. The Legislature of Wisconsin
Is now in session. and the fight for the
new Senator will be on at once. The
governor OF Wisconsin, Mr.. Davidson,
IL not Lafollette man. On the con.
trary. Mr.. 1afollette fought him. The
legislature Is Lafollette Legislature
in anything that Mr.. I.afollette
wants for himself. It maize him Sen.
ator, and 1t would pass any bill OF
the LafolIette type. but It is by M
means certain that tt will accept his
dictation for MIR. Spooner's successor
Mr.. Davidson Is said to be not without
ambition to come 10 Washington, and
possibly he may be elected to serve
the two years OF Mr.. Spooner's unex
plred term: but II that is done 1t viii,
be because he has made combina
ton with Representatives Esct and
, Cooper whereby he will nor be a car
dtdate for the long term in 1909. and
viii leave the, field clear TO one o.
the other OF these two gentlemen. II
Mr. Lafolette is strong enough to Sc
cure Ii he will have hiS mIlIiOnaIro