The Washington times., 1907-12-29
Is the Progressive Movement
Waning?


assurance of continuing the pro-
gressive movement in national
thought and legislation lay in the
reelection of Mr.. Roosevelt are
finding much to strengthen that
opinion. The President is out of
consideration. 1t is useless to as
sumo that conditions might develop
in which his nomination would be
possible. He will not be nominated.
1t is worth while to inquire how far
his withdrawal has influenced po-
Htical tendencies.
President Roosevelt assumed the
executive office in 1901. There have
been six sessions of Congress since
his accession; the seventh is now in
progress; the eighth and last of his
administration viii begin in Decem-
ber, 1905. How many of these ses-
sions have made noteworthy con-
tribution to the sum of progressive
laws? How many have done any
thing toward crystallizing the
Roosevelt policies into statutes?
1t is hardly unfair to say that
just one session Of the six thus far
held has done anything Of real i'm
port. That was the first session Of
the Fifty-ninth Congress-the rate
law session. The session now in
progress is certain to accomplish
little. Nobody expects it TO be ef-
fective. The short ses sion that win
open a year hence viii have the ex-
perience usual to the last session of
an administration. 1t viii pass the
appropriation bills and adjourn.
So that when Theodore Roosevelt
lays down his authority after al
most eight years of hard work and
of determined effort TO force his
ideas upon Congress he viii have TO
his credit just one session of note
worthy accomplishment. True, he
viii be able to claim in addition to
this shat he has aroused public Opin-
ion 10 a determined demand for
more good work. He viii have COM
mitted his party to much that was
once despised as pOpulism, then re-
pudiated as Bryan Democracy, and
finally popularized as Roosevelt Re
publicanism. But how near viii he
have come in reality to
Reforming the tariff?
Writing an income tax into the
law?
Passing an inheritance tax meas
ure?
Developing an administrative sys-
ten under which the peoples con-
troI of interstate carriers viii be
effective?
Bringing the great trusts square
" under Government control?
Stopping overcapitslization?
Reforming and modernizing a
money system that constitutes one
of the greatest reproaches to the
intelligence Of this country?
Stopping the waste and promoting
the effective conservatism of natural
resources?
Settling the limits of Federal and
State power over commerce and its
/ Observation-Disclosures?
To this list might be indefinitely
| added of things to which Theodore
Roosevelt has forced the attention
of the nation. He has cut out for
us our issues; he has pointed the
way the country wants to travel;
he has done all he could do to help
make progress along the road. And
at the end of eight sessions of Con-
gress, eight years of administra-
ton, this determined, vigorous, tire
less, fearless Executive will have ac-
complished so little that, compared
with what is left undone, it cannot
but appear Insignificant.
VIII another take up the work
where he leaves it, and press it to
accomplishment? 1t is not likely.
The opposition will have a green
hand to deal with, not a veteran at
the game. It viii have business un-
certainty on its side. 1t viii have
whatever advantage it may gain in
the deals incident to the national
campaign.
Far more likely, the progressive