The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-02-21
POLITICS At
THE CAPITOL
(Man Special to the Advertiser,


WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The air has
been full of gossip and speculation
ever since the Presidents message was
read. One of the most insistent and
persistent theories advanced about it
is that the President is hungering and
thirsting after a third term, in spite OF
his emphatic remuneration of a few
weeks ago. That, however, can be put
down as idle. The President is not
after a third term and he would not
accept. He has not frowned upon some
mention of that, but in matter of
pure tactics as was the case last au-
tumn when some of the administration
men were encouraged TO shout for a
third term.
For instance, out in South Dakota
there has been a bitter fractional fight
between the Republicans, led respec-
lively by Senator Kittredge and Sen
ator Gamble. The latter has been the
thick and thin Roosevelt man and his
followers have been thick and thin
Roosevelt Republicans. They cleaned
the ground up with their Republican
opponents two years ago and il looked
like the defeat of Senator Kittredge for
reelection next year. But Senator Kit
tredge is a claSsmate of Secretary
Taft and a politician of great shrewd-
ness. Very early in the game he
jumped out with a great yell for Taft
and assumed charge of the Taft forces
in South Dakota. OF course the Sem
ator is fond of the Secretary and all
that but he is more intent upon his
own reelection. As Taft is the admin
istration candidate the ultra Roosevelt
people have all been trooping in behind
the Kittredge colors in South Dakota
and he is having things his own way.
He promises to be able 10 control the
state and district conventions-for Taft
of course-and thereby wins a great
advantage in his own campaign for re-
election.
The Gamble Republicans finding
themselves in such a plight, likely to
lose the machinery are at their wits
ends what to do. They therefore set
up a great cry for the denomination of
Roosevelt, because of the Presidents
great popularity among the masses.
They think they can make the people
up there believe that the President
would accept the denomination and it
all might serve their purpose could
they but retain the control in conven-
tons
Similar tactics have been followed
among the Republicans in two or three
other states of the west. The Presi-
dent does not like 10 see his best
friends downed and therefore he &C
quiesces for the time being, just as he
acquiesced in the third term cry
throughout the South late last year
in the knowledge that il helped his
friends TO keep the politicians from
dates than Taft whom he did not ap-
prove.
That is about all there is 10 the third
term cry now, Notwithstanding the
tremendous effort there seems TO be
at the Capitol 10 ascribe the special
message TO il. The Eastern politicians
have further chance TO predicate up
on such a theory a statement that the
President is not sincere.
The coming week Will probably de-
termine what effect the Presidents
message is going TO have upon Con-
gress. From all appearances Con-
gress is not going TO lcgislate
as the President asks the Senate and
House TO do. In the first place the
Republican leaders do not want TO leg
islate. They think it wiser to rest
They know that there is business de-
preston and uncertainty throughout
the country. They are very timid lest
they do something by legislation that
further encourages this uncertainty
The corporations are having a hard
time of it generally and when the time
comes next summer for passing the
hat foroeampaign funds, there will be
nothing doing if Congress this winter
has harassed the corporations further
Then it is now impracticable 70 enter
upon anything like an extensive pro-
gram of legislation. As long sessions of
Congress go the present session is
nearly half spent. Adjournment must
come some time in May, because the
National convention meets in June and
Congress would be very averse to stay
ing here till after the convention. The
committees that would have to formu-
late the legislation the President asks
=
take them a month or more to formu-
late bills. That would take the session
at least up to the end of February. BY
that time the Senate usually has just
begun in earnest upon its appropria-
ton bills, which the House has sent
over. The Senate takes about two
months TO dispose of the appropriation
bills. But those necessary measures
are very much in arrears at this ses-
sion.
In brief Congress hasn't the time
now to enter upon the Presidents leg
isiative program, even if Congress was
willing to do so. But the Republicans
90 not believe that the President sent
his special message with any serious
legislative purpose but that it was in
tended by him for politics pure and
simple. They argue that the message
is therefore likely to fall fat after the
excitement over such a political coup
has subsidized
But it leaves them in an uncom-
Portable position and it especially
leaves some of the presidential can
didates in an uncomfortable position
The radical element of the country is
with the President. II wants the leg
islation and the seats of a large num-
Der Of Republican Representatives will
be imperiled next November. unless
they can show that they did their ut
most to bring about the enactment of
tho reform laws that tho president