The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-27

Poicy increases, Nufiousity Is peihe
whetted TO razor edge BY the strange
silence of the President upon the quest
ion. ola.Washingtonians declare that
no President has been as frank. outspok.
en- and less mysterious as Mr. Roosevelt
concerning the topics and heir treat.
ment in his annual and special mess
ages to Congress. Heretofore he has
taken into his confidence on these i'm
portant matters everybody who has had
a claim upon his time or attention. His
messages, therefore, have been largely
discounted by the interests, general and
special. involved days aud weeks before
their delivery and publication. But in
the present instance President Roosevelt
is as silent as the Sphynx, and quite as
cryptic. All sorts and conditions Of men
have tried in vain to get from him
some hint, be II ever so vague, as TO
what new legislation dealing with tne
trust question in its relation to inter.
state commerce In his forthcoming mess
age to Congress. But thus far he has
favored nobody. as far as known. with
the desired information. When asked
for an expression that may indicate the
drift of his mind OF the goal OF his pur'
pose he shuts up like clam. to the
infinite embarrassment OF his inquisitor
or abruptly changes the subject.
Presumably it is understood that it Is
the privilege OF the President OF tine
United States to lead in conversation.
This is particularly true Of Mr.. Roose'
welt. He has reduced it to fine art.
Verify is he the head OF the table where.
ever he may cit. He sets the pace of
discussion. and while he does not show
the utmost pleasure when visitor dis
agrees with him, at the same time he
displays keener irritation whenever
caller agrees supinely with his every sug.
gestion. He Is man OF pugnacious
character. Nobody likes a fight better
than he. He would as lief quarrel with
a clergyman on theology as with pol
itieian on some public question OF the
moment or disputatious economic thco-
Iist on a pet hobby. Representatives
OF all shades OF opinion on every
question OF public interest have
tackled him within the past fortnight |
on his forthcoming message to Congress,
but to none OF them has he spoken a |
single word which may be fairly inter-
preted as indicating either his matured
purpose as to antitrust, railroads or
tariff legislation or the drift of
his thoughts on these subjects Where
fore, all Washington is wondering what
has come over the spirit OF his drains.
One can near all kinds of reports
here as to what the President proposes
to urge upon Congress touching the
trusts, the railroads and the tariff. As
% this you pays your money and you
.akes your choice The wise citizen
Is he who can patiently await the actual
delivery OF tine message, and then govern
himself accordingly. BY this is meant
hat what the President may recommend
will have a powerful, if not a deter
mining, influence upon Congress. The
lew body OF law-makefs is more dis
inctiyely Roosevelt Congress than any
hat has assembled under the dome Of
he Capitol. 1t is conservatively esti.
mated that quite two-thirds Of the
Iouse were elected as Roosevelt men. ir.
espective of their nominal party afiilia-
ions. Nobody understands the tremen-
Gus import OF this condition better
han the President. Whether this un-
erstanding is having what, for lack Of
better term, may be called sober
ng effect upon him, is, of course, merely {
matter of conjecture. The consensus
+ opinion here, however, is that this I
ondition has increased his sense Q
responsibility and that this in /
urn has tinged his thoughts with a
rmer conservatism than ever before
e has felt. It follows, therefore, that,
i the Judgment Of Washington, the Pre-
dent will not appear SO radical in his y
ealings with Congress this winter as j
Q heretofore has apparently been. In i
oint of fact, Washington is almost con- u
need that if things political are to Mr.. I
ooseyelt's liking he will put the breaks s
4 his forthcoming message. In other G
ords, it is generally expected here that, h
the language of Shakespeare, he twill a
% as gently as sucking doye' on s
le trust,the railroad and the tariff b