The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
Discussion of Politics is Rule Among Members of
 the House
TARIFF REVISION WILL BE
 PUT IN THE BACKGROUND
Third Term Talk for Roosevelt Is Keeping Republicans Very Busy Right Now and Many Be-
 ieve He'll Be Named.

Washington, September 1s.-(Speciall- l Here in Washington. midway between 1 north and south, and with one foot in ] Dixeland and the other on Yankee soil one may hear almost anything he likes i in the way of politics. crops. religion. commerce or what not if he will but keep an ear-Indlan fashlon-close to the ground. Washington Is recognized as the greatest gossip center. perhaps in ths civilized world. and generally people can be found to talk interestingly on some thing the four seasons of the year.
 While the Hepburn antl-pass law has kept many congressman away from Wash ington during the past summer, never 1 tholess some drift In from time to time and keep the newspaper men figuring on presidential possibilities and other phases of present-day happenings.
 Representative Serene F. Payne of New l York, chairman of the house ways and means committee. dropped some interest ing remarks today about the democrats and Bryan, the republicans and the tar fir. and Roosevelt and the third term pro- paganda.
 "The democrats in Congress,p Mr Payne said, will De so anxious next winter to elect William J. Bryan President about fourteen times each day that 1t is un- likely much legislation will be enacted unless the republicans do it.
 "I recolleet that four years ago they spent a large part of the session before the election in electing their candidate They did the same eight and twelve years ago. Somehow the republicans got around on election day and their long speeches amounted to nothing. I doubt. however, whether they will profit by this exper- fence, and we shall probably have much talk until Congress adiourns.
 Legislation In Prospect.
 Some legislation will be had outside the appropriation bills. The Philippine tariff should and will be brought up. Minor defects in the rate law may be remedied but | do not know whether there will be any Legislation in regard to the trusts. Rebates helped trusts. and I understand that the railroads have been so well spanked that they have prom ised to be good and not grant rebates to trusts or anybody else any more.
 "As to revision of the tariff' contin- ued MT Payne, "I have not been shout 1 ing revision from the housetops. [ sec no need of 1t just now. and l hear no great demand for it. The average man s not bothefng himself about whether the tariff should be revised There is talk in favor of it in spots but l do not by any means think the demand Is general. What that demand may be next summer when the republican convention meets in another matter Mir. Bryan may bring on some new issues that may claim at tention There is the issue of govern ment ownership. which he says Is only post poned. And the initiative and refer endum may not be far behind. At any rate, l am not losing any sleep about re- publican defeat.
 Tn regard to the third term talk for NIT. Roosevelt, | take the President at his word. He said he would not take an- other nomination under any crcum- stances. Governor Hughes can have am other nomination as chief executive of the Empire state f he cares for If. If hs docs the decision of the convention will undoubtedly be unanimous in hs favor '
 Mir. Payne adroitly declined to enter into a discussion of presidential possi- bilities. with the exception of what has been said above regarding the third term idea.
 New York for Roosevelt.
 John A. Stewart of New York president of the heague of Republican Clubs. gave it as his opinion today that New York state will cast her ballot unhesita tingly for Theodore Roosevelt for President when the convention meets.
 "rhe delegation that will he elected in the primaries next March to represent the state or New York in the next national convention will be q Roosevelt delegation. By that I mean it will be controlled by the President just as for many years tho delegates were at the disposal of Senator Platt. Should Roosevelt again consent to become candidate they will vote solldly for him. for outside the financial district of the city the people of the state of New York are with the President much as they ever were. ] cannot say that he is more popular. because 1t does not seem to me that he could be more popular among the mass of thte people than he has been. However, if he is not in the race, the delegation would be favorable to some one who would carry out his po- oes.
 "It looks now if there would be sev- eral Cortelyou delegates. Some will be for Taft and some for Hughes. and still others for Cannon.
 There are 65OOO0 republican voters in the state of New York. and if I mistake not. you will find them on election day