The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-09
HIGH HOPES FOR DEMOCRATS.
They Hope to Take Advantage of Re.
 ~- publican Confusion

puUHcau Confusion.
 Washington Special to Baltimore Sun.
 The intense interest excited by un-
 usual political conditions renders ev- efybody in public life alert to the pos abilities of the future. The Democrats
 assembled for the session of Congress
 manifest an interest more nearly ap- preaching enthusiasm than has been noticeable among them for years. Con-
 scious of a political condition which commands serious attention, and in-
 spired with the hope that by good management this condition may lead to
 Democratic success in the Presidential
 election. earnest efforts are being put
 forth by Democrats. both in the House
 and in the Senate, to bring about har-
 mony within the party upon all i'm
 portant questions and to develop a pol
 icy upon which the party may, with
 confidence. go before the people in campaign.
 Conflicts of opinion among Demo-
 crats, Illustrating the extremes be-
 twe3n radicalism and conservatism arg manifest. and the dominating ap-
 pearance of MT. Bryan as the only
 avowed candidate for the Democratic
 nomination inspires special activity among the radicals; but MT. Bryan
 himself has become more reconciled to conservative influences, and the lead ing men of the party in Congress are endeavoring to map out a policy in which will be eliminated, as far as pos sible. extreme theories and doctrines of doubtful Democracy. Even personal enmities among Democrats in Congress are to great extent being laid aside
 in furtherance of the purpose to get
 together and secure wisdom and eoun-
 sel. The disposition of party leaders
 is to stand firmly against the admin istration policy of capitalization. to oc- cupy a Democratic attitude of consti- tutional control of trusts and corpora tions. with a strict enforcement of law. and to insist upon revision of the tariff. while avoiding questions of gov- ernment ownership of railroads. initia- tive and referendum and kindred de- partures from old-fashioned Democrat ic policy.
 The Republicans are in considerable confusion on account of the conflicting interests of the various candidates for Presidential honors, the uncertainty IS to President Roosevelt's course with reference to the Presidential nomina- | tion and the radical differences of opinion existing between the President and his party leaders in Congress. It is manifest that the prevailing Fenti-
 ment in both houses of Congress Is in sympathy with the recent utterances
 of Senator Forakerf with reference to
 what should be the policy of the Re- publican party There is an agreement between the administration and the
 stand -patters" in Congress as to the ton indefinitely, and an effort will be made to reconcile the purposes of the
 administration and of the Republican
 leaders as to financial legislation and
 8 modification and adjustment of{laws
 restraining corporations; but the task
 Is difficult, and the only hope of it's be- ing successful Is based on the assump- ton that in both these matters Mir.
 Roosevelt will yield to the judgment
 of Republicans in Congress more than
 he has been willing to yield In the
 past.
 Indications point to greater spirit
 of independence in Congress than has
 existed heretofore during Mir. Roose-
 testly a disposition to revolt against
 Rooseveltism which threatens to break
 out at the first opportunity. if before
 the opportunity occurs 1t does not be-
 come apparent that Mir Roosevelt is
 going to be the party candidate again -and must therefore be supported as
 matter of party loyalty regardless or
 sentiment. The revolt of Senator For aker has sympathetic support in many
 quarters, and the interests of the Pres identtal candldates-Mr.f Cannon. MT Fairbanks. Mir. Knox and Mir. Foraker demand course on their part and on with their own opinion rather than
 subservient to the dictatton Of the ad- ministration. The hope of success for any one of these candidates must be
 based upon opposition to the meth ods' and independence of the administration is essential to the candidacy Of anyone
 put forth by MT. Roosevelt. The in- dorsement of Secretary Taft as the ad-
 ministratlon candidate necessarily puts all others seeking Presidential honors in an attitude of opposltion| The oth- CT candidates are willing 70 let oehd = | tor Foraker occupy the foreground of | the battle in a spirit of direct antaEon- | ism to the administration while they \ merely resist, making their opposltioH tI~AA ahtrusive.