Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-26
The Worlds Chief Events
and Tendencies Of a Year
Outlined In Orderly Array
For Busy Readers Who
Want to Be Well Informed.
Reform Waves ana Panic Winds
Keep Party Navisators Anxious
BY EDWIN 5. POTTER.
Editor Universal News Analysis.

science-.with a big CAS- the unknown
factor in the coming national cam
palgn, 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 pot aboil-
Ing.
One thing the year makes clear to
the most casual observer-the line be
tween the old Democracy and the old
Repubicanism no longer exists. 1t is
now a question of conservative and
radical on which both these historic
parties are being rent transversely.
The same head winds which made the
years voyage hard one for President
Roosevelt and his administration serv-
ed to bring the Bryan vessel into the
port of q third Democratic nonina-
lion, now generally conceded, and yet
the leader Of the opposition presents
the unusual spectacle of smiling ap-
prevail Of much OF the Roosevelt pro-
gramme. 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 Hughes, was attract
ing much attention by his quiet way
Of bringing the Republican organiza-
ton TO his feet, appealing direct to the
people for his measures of reform,
chief Of which was the creation Of the
public service commissions for state
and city, with power to bring the util-
'ty corporations to terms.
1t was on the morning of APRIL .
that the president woke up to find
himself on the defensive by the publ
ration of the Hartman letter telling
Of an alleged deal between Roosevelt
and Hartman in 1904. At once the
president published his Sherman letter
telling of Harrimans brag that he
could buy laws and judges ad libtum,
for which the president had class
ed him along with Debs Meyer and
Haywood as undesirable citizens"
This incident assumed great signiti
canoe owing TO the fact that organized
labor resented the slur 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-
lty of many wealthy citizens the presi-
tent persisted IN promugat his re-
form policies, notably in his Memorial
lay speech at Indianapolis, advocating
he 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 malefnctors of great
wealth" with conspiring to depress
business in the hope Of discrcditing his
policies in the eyes of the people, and
again in his series of speeches at the
dedication Of the Mckinley tomb at
Canton SEPT. 80 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
look his stand as a candidate for the
Republican nomination as the chosen
defender of the administration. Such
W 49, VIZ 'HH'iNhAHr, Va tlc 4dll
dramatic feature being his start on
The long journey around the world.
In the meantime all the antIadminis.
ation strength in Ohio had been sum
noned into action by the avowed can
lidacy Of Senator Foraker who glories
IN his differences with the president.
Furthermore, all the legal and exec
ative machinery Of the government
WAS being brought into action against
The big railroad, oil, coal and other
combinations. Secrets Of the Standard
Dill company were laid bare and its
bead hailed into a federal court, after
which came the big lands fine In q
efiant interview John d. Rockefeller
openly attacked the administratio and
|redicted financial chaos as the har
est, referring to himself as being
hitched to the cart in which the peo
),e ride" That was in July. We'll
y the middle OF August stocks were
lmbling, and the rest is part Of the
BUSINESS record.
Whether justly or unjustly, the ad
Illustration was blamed by many
hen the panic came, and besides III,
lbe OF Chancellor Day about the "raiC
n prosperity" Roosevelt received hare
nocks from such sources as ex-Sena
pr Spooner and Justice Brewer tn,
tier charging the president will
playing peekaboo with the Ameri
hn people" about the third term. II
ovember the president did order fed
raj employees to deslst from efforts
n third term DELEGATE ton, and afte
be national committee met at WASH
pgton recently the country heard fror
be White House again definitely tina
nomination would not be accepted
he message to congress DEC. 3 wa
stand pat valedlctory.
The staying power Of the Twice Dt
|ated and his hold on the affection
the Democratic rank and file in tn
ce of concerted effort to discredl
N by a clique Of the rich and power
conservatives still in control OF tn
lrty machinery made one OF the pt
ical wonders of the year After hi
zen espousal Of the national and stat
worship of railroads last year tn