The sun., 1908-03-18
NAY WITHHOLD new MESSAGE
ROOSEVELT AND CONGRESS LEAD
Frs GET TOGETHER
On . Plan to Put Through = Legislative
Programme for Campaign Enect-It
was 10 he q sOOthlnS Message, Any.
way. and snort Enough for All To Read


that he intends to send another special
message TO Congress insisting that some
of his measures be adopted before the
legislative session ends.
II the denial is authentic il indicates
a sudden change Of mind on Mr.. Rspee-
velt's part. Not only was the message
written, perhaps printed IN proof, but II
was the Presidents intention as late al
yesterday to transmit II 10 Congress very
soon.
That the President has changed his mind
about communicating this new production
Of his pen has caused little surprise among
those who know Of certain circumstances,
The intent Of the message was TO arouse
Congress TO enact into law the employers
liability bill, bill to amend the antitrust
act and some other measures which Mr.
Roosevelt had recommended.
Yesterday. however, the President and
Congress leaders entered into a tentative
agreement that programme Of legislation
should he arranged for the present session.
and it is supposed that in view Of this Mr..
Roosevelt decided to-day that the occasion
for transmitting the message did not exist.
Apparently the original purpose OF the
President in writing this message was 'to
build a fire under Congress ae one OF his
| closest friends expressed II, meaning by this
that he " would try to force Congress to adopt
some Of the measures which he advocated
in his sensational special message OF JAM
uary 81
But whatever the primary idea Of Mr..
Roosevelt the proposed message Is, or was
10 be, document Of comparative mild
ness The draft prepared does not TEEN
with bristlng adjectives and phrases in
tended TO emphasize the Presidents attack
on concerns and individuals 1t IS short
too-that is, short from the viewpoint Of Mr.
Roosevelt From all accounts the drafted
message is a synopsis Of the message OF
January 81, tabloid edition Of that re-
uarkable utterance. The blue pencil was
used freely, mainly on the principle, II you
see an adjective hit it,
! The draft Of tho rewritten message is
said TO be Of such character that II sont
to Congress it will cause no alarm in busi-
ness circles. 1t was intended. il is said,
to take the place Of the 1900 words OF mes
sage proper and the 5000 words OF ap-
pendioes contained In the communion
tion Of January 81.
According to one explanation made of
the Presidents decision to put his views
as to what Congress should do into as few
words as was possible with him, Mr.. Roose-
welt came to believe that his message Of
January 81 had not been effective because
| II was too long for most people to find time
to read
He concluded therefore. II / said, TO
boil down that message into such limited
space that a busy man might be able
TO read il at sitting instead Of being
obliged to take a vacation In order to do So
The legislative programme 70 show the
country that this Republican Congress IL
not a do nothing Congress- is no. likely
10 be as comprehensive az Mr, Roosevelt
has indicated that he wished His desire
o. have the antitrust law amended AZ
asto permit railroad corporations to enter
into poohrg arrangements subject 10 the
| approval Of the Interstate Commerce Com
MISSION and 10 acquire connecting lines may
I've fulfilled, hut II there is "a be any effort
on the mart of he President and those IN
Congress who sanction his radical views
10 redraft tho antitrust law entirely
| n, this session Mr. Roosevelt will lose
the support Of the Senators and Repre-
sentatives with whom he is now conferring,
and il is predicted that in that event the
proposed legislation amendatory Of the anti
trust act will fail. II will fail also, accord
ing 10 what is said in we'll informed circles.
il the President tries TO have Congress
amend the law by exempting labor unions
from the provisions concerning combina-
tons in restraint Of trade.
Up TO this time the legislation pro-
eramme upon which the President
and the Republican leaders in Congress
apparently are agreed will include
the reenactment Of the employers
liability law. modified 10 meet the obiec-
uons of the Supreme Court; the adoption
Of a resolution for an inquiry by COM
m,,tees of Congress with the object OF paw
ing the way for a'revision of the tariff in
1909. and the enactment Of financial legisla-
ton along the lines Of the Aldrich currency
bill
There is little likelihood that the pre-
Rramne will include the resnactment Of the
Erdman law for the adjustment Of disputes
between capital and labor, part OF which
was declared by the Supreme Court to be
unconstitutional Nor are any Of the other
things which the President has recon-
mended likely TO be included In the legis.
lative programme upon which he and the
Republican Congress leaders are trying tc
agree.
Congress wants to get away in two months
and even 70 carry out a united programme
II will have 10 hustle II there ts 70 be an ad'
; iournment by the middle OF May.
1he fire which the President intends 70
build under Congress Is TO be a very little
Are and will be kindled with the consent oI
Republican leaders who do not share Mr.
Rooseyelps radical views The original
Intention was 70 make the fire 40 hot that
Congress would fee from its flames into
the Roosevelt camp. The appsrent pres
, emf intention Is 10 have a nice comfortable
fre at which conservative and radica
Rooeey etites and anti-Rooseveltites vii
warm their hands and bodies and be hllec
with the spirit Of party brothery love
nRPENnTGH STATUE INDOORS