Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-10-28
WASHINGTONLETTER
ROBERT MILLER DISCUSSES ma.
TI0NAL POLITICS.
Sees Huge Revolt Against Policies
Of Roosevelt. A Battle Royal Pre-
diCfed for Control of Republican
Party. Corporations to Take a
Hand in the Fight.


WASHINGTON, D. g., Oct. 2O-Presi.
dent Roosevelt will find upon his return
here from his bear hunt, that revolt
against his policies will need his atten.
zion. A desperate intercine fight is i'm.
pending in the ranks Of the republican
leaders for control Of the party organiza-
ton. The presidency and congress is at
stake. Legislation in the coming con-
gress depends upon the preliminary
skirmish. The removal OF the head.
quarters Of the republican congressional
committee from New York to Washing
ton is the FIRST open step taken to notify
President Roosevelt that his anticipated
effort to dominate congress at the COM
ing session as he did at the last session
will not be tolerated by the leaders. An
evidently Inspired article in the Wash.
ington Post outlines the plans of the re.
actionary republican leaders, and states
their ultimatum to the president and
their threats to those republican con.
igressmen who are inclined to take tips
from the White House instead Of from
the speaker. Briefly stated the main
points set forth are:
The campaign for the election Of re-
publican members of congress is to be
entirely distinct from the campaign for
president, especially in collecting and
disbursing campaign funds.
The status OF those members OF con-
;gvess who side with President Roosevelt
for more radical legislation "will be
taken account Of by the congressional
committee in it's future dealing with
these same members when they become
candidates"
Corporations and trusts "that prosper
best when republican, are in power and
when republican policies prevai' are
notified they must contribute to the con-
,gvesaonal committee, and that any con.
tributions they may make to the Repub.
1ican National Committee will not count,
when favorable legislation Is asked for.
This announced policy OF the republic
can leaders to cut loose from the presi.
dent is political game for high stakes,
and the congressional players evidently
don't intend to be short OF cash if the fat
can be fried out Of the corporations. As
President Roosevelt said in dealing with
Hartman for campaign contributions.
~'we are practical men; - and these con-
gressional republicans are equally practi-
cal in their ideas Of raising corruption
fund.
1t will be interesting to democrats to
notice how the republican members OF
congress will line up on these PROPOSE
tions. How many will adhere to the
president's side and who will rally around
Speaker Cannon and the other reaction.
ary leaders. The republican members OF
the senate, of course, will be divided on
similar lines, but perhaps fortunately
for them they will not be compelled to
show their hands until the republicans
OF the house have exposed theirs.
There is one feature OF this fight that
m ay draw the democrats into it, although
ON the general principles OF letting the
enemy fight it out and then whip the
survivors, it we're better to keep aloof
from entangling alliances with either
faction, but try and force the enactment
of legislation necessary for the best in
terests OF the whole country. President
Roosevelt may seek allies in the demo-
cratic camp who, added to his own
friends in congress, would compose a
majority. But after the experience of
the democrats of the senate when the
railroad rate bill was manipulated, demo-
crsts will be very wary OF any overtures
from President Roosevelt, for fear Of
again being left in the lurch and abused |
&or their pains. g,
This puts the corporations between
che upper and the neither milestone. 1t
should result in any decent trust or cor.
porst;on magnate deciding to refuse to
be bled by either faction. II there are