The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-17
Republican Methods and Acts of the Administration Ire
 Denounced
DECLARES ROOSEVELT IS
 DRUNKEN WITH POWER
Senator TiIIman Makes a Red Hot Ad- dress Which Is Filled With Charoes Against Republicans for All
 Manner of Misdeeds.

washington, March 16.-With a caution unusual for him, Senator Tir- man today read a part of his speech in the Senate in which he denounced executive encroachment on legislative power. With this apparent caution he proceed to deliver one of the most direct and denunciatory addresses ever heard in that body lie was given careful hearing. Most of the senators on both sides of the chamber were in their. places, and the galleries were filled with visitors. His speech was based on his resolution instructing the committee on finance to inquire wheth- CT national banks of New York are in the habit of furnishing permanent cap ital for speculative enterprises, etc. The resolution was adopted.
 MT. Tillman traced what he termed | swinging of the pendulum" from the regime of Andrew Jacks son, when | Congress assumed control almost to l the exclusion of the President from executive influence to the administra- tion which followed, and declared It witnessed a growth of presidential power. The dominating influence and SoHlipl Ol tlt tAtcuAlNe Dtdntll, U said over the legislative and in d less degree over the judicial branches of the government were the most marked feature of American politics at this time.
 Ut has taken said Mr Tillman, just 41 years for the pendulum to swing from one extreme to the other." Johnsons Experience.
 "In 1867, Andrew Johnson, who held
 the executive office had grown weaker and weaker in the struggle against the 1 fanatical and revolutionary forces, 1 which had gathered strength during the civil war, and immediately there after he was shorn of all semblance ot power and narrowly escaped impeach- ment. He vas brought to trial on the
 1imsy charge of having put con- struction on the law which empowered him to remove his Secretary of War and appoint another. He had swung around the circle and made speeches, none of which was in any degree more aggressive or more denunciatory of men and things than our President now delivers to applauding thousands.
 The IPBlSldllNe WdS hhhehiss insolent and tyrannical to the last de- gree in its uses and abuses of power. Vetoes were ridden by two-thirds of the votes in both houses. and the presidency was in eclipse. The Presi- dent drew his salary and lived in the White House, signed commissions, but to all intends and purposes was nonentity and exercised no influence or control whatever over legislation. and in every way the great office of Presi- dent lost prestige and all semblance Of control in public affairs. With the election of Grant, the pendulum began to swing the other way, and during the last seven years it has moved with such momentum that we have Wit messed a condition never dreamed ar by those wise framers of our constltu- ton, who declared so often that the three branches should be forever kept separate and distinct.
 Recording Machine. Now" he said, 'the House of Repre- sentatives has degeneiated into htlle more than a recording machine to oo tue will of the speaker and his lleutenanls. Freedom of debate in the old and true sense has disappeared rom that emu oA the capitol" he added.
 Tn the Senate, "servility and cowardice ore the order of the day. he declared, and while freedom of debate still exists, the shadow of the executive hangs over all and the Presidents wishes are, almost the only law"
 ..rhere is" he proceeded to say, 'somc |, show of resistance on matters arecunS the multi-m -millionaires and the great cor porations The President writes scoldins messages and makes infammatory speeches appealing to the minimizing and ignorant masses. He has the potent ln- fluence of the press at his commando ne has used the newspapers and masazines in exploiting what he calls my policies with a skill and daring that compel ad- niration. With bated breath senators de- nounce his radical ideas in private ana oppose in every possible way the meas ures which he clamors for by the pas slve resistance of non-action. NO one of the dominant party dare lift his voice in onposition or denunciation, but the executive influence is the only influence in evidence, while the Senate covers n silent resistance"
 Federal Patronage.
 The cause of this condition, declared Mir Tillman is Federal patronage.
 .arhe theory that the Senate must ad- wise and consent before laws are maoe' he said. .are of little or no moment when senators show such want Of courage and self-respect and bow submlssiveiy to orders from the White House. The mem hers of the minority party are, of course, largely ignored. Appointments in the .- south. where the democracy retains con trol, are in the hands of referees who fill their offices for the sole purpose or maintaining the political machines.
 sThe senators of the dominant party are afraid to resist the executive will lest they themselves should fail to ob- tain the patronage of their states. They have also," he declared, dread lest they had been forced into retirement. When clashes have come between the Presi- dent and senators. they have sided with the President The people, poor souls.