The Washington herald., 1908-02-03
DAVIS SEES A LIGHT
Perhaps His Speech Inspired
Presidents Message.
VIEWS NEW TO WHITE HOUSE
Everybody Seems to Have Been
Wrong About that DOcument-Per-
haps You've Noticed It's Similarity
to Senator Jeh Davis Address of
December lille Has and Admits Ii.

Senator JEFF Davis. Of Arkansas, Is
really responsible, even if he didn't do IT,
Maybe he didn't go over 10 the White
House. sit down by the Presidents side,
and dictate that special message sent 10
Congress last week
He inspired II, though, and that's GER
tainly lots more 10 be proud Of Here
the Washington correspondents, editors,
Congressman. and others familiar with
politics have been attempting TO explain
the reasons for those 10000 words Of
fatherly advice
And not one OF them was right except.
ing Senator Davis. who probably knew
from almost the first word that Mr..
Roosevelt had dived deep into the fount
Of Arkansas knowledge, as set forth in
Mr. Davis speech before the Senate on
December II, and had therein seen, as in
a mirror. the fundamentals for the mes
sage that has set the whole country
talking
Why, some foolish-minded men have
even gone so far as 70 say that the Chief
Executive probably sent the message be-
cause he still bankers for a third term.
and still others say that he desired to
offset the effects of the statements Of one
Charles E. Hughes, at present governor
Of New York. and perhaps. presently.
Presidential possibility versus Secretary
of War Taft who, by the way, is said
TO be a close friend Of Mr.. Roosevelt.
Is Really No Excuse.
eli
inkling Of truth in such plausible excuses
to conceal the real reason that any in
dustrious correspondent might have dis
covered by seeing Senator Davis. pro-
vided. Of course, ne wasn't working
for some corporation-owned metropolitan
sheet.
Accompanied by his Ioudly-sung gray
jeans-his coat was discarded in the FRAY
OF packing-a big cigar and the sense of
his own inspiration for that message.
Senator Davis yesterday revealed the
whole glad tidings to a reporter for The
Washington Herald.
Senator Davis was cam about It.
Cannes pervaded the whole room at
the Metropolitan Hotel While a porter
busted himself with packing the SEN
ator's effects for the Arkansas trip. the
Senator paced the room thoughtfully
drew small and shapely puns on the
cigar, and told this sad tale. which. if
not revealing plagiarism. at least seems
TO show that great minds do run in the
same channels. and that there is a la
mentable dearth Of different ideas.
Senator Davis felt called upon TO make
this statement 20 the reporter because it
is reported 10 have been bruited about
the Capitol and printed in The Washing
ton Herald that he may have had some
thing 70 do with writing that message.
What He Says.
Senator Davis said. Referring 10 the
statement that on the reading Of the
Presidents special message there was a
murmur in the press gallery that perhaps
Senator JEFF Davis had something to do
with writing the message. Senator Davis.
when seen on that subject, said that he
had absolutely no knowledge of the
message until IL was delivered to the
Senate, but that it was a little remark
able 70 observe that no such views as
those expressed by the President In his
special message had ever emanated from
tn White House until after his speech
of December H."
The Senator said that the reporter
might say that he-the Senator-was glad
70 know that the President adopted his
sentiment almost entirely in his special
message. The Senator expressed the be-
lief, while he drew on the cigar. that the
reporter might say that he believes that
the message marked Mr.. Roosevelt as a
man of great political courage, and far
IN advance Of his party on THE great
reform issues that the country is de-
The reporter might say-in fact, the
Senator said he hoped he would-"that
the Republicans will never follow Mr.. /
Roosevelt in these declarations" THE
President" the Senator said. has far
him in radical sentiments /
along reform lines" and the Senator |
said that the reporter might add thereto !
that the Senator will have TO take an
other hook IN his belt and come again" /
senator Davis told the reporter that he 4
might add that he was going back 10 /
Arkansas on the y.05 Pennsylvania train 4
last night-Cit was about 230 when he 1
told 10 Where he will be engaged for /
some time IN the State campaign" 4"
He hopes that his absence will not /
cause any lost strayed or stolen ads. /
% De inserted IN the paper so as TO /
ascertain his wherea bouts"
The Senator says" he told the re-
porter as soon as he returns, he will !
Vigorously push his bucket shop bill and !
lis antitrust bill TO a final issue.
Before the reporter left he asked tho
Senator If he were perturbed by the re-
lOTt that he may have helped write tbe
special message. The Senator said he
wasn't, and that he only wanted 10 take
advantage of the story to that effect. al
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