Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-02-14
Our Washington
Letter.
yYashlnrton- b. al reh. Z

arItHSAVu, ~. y. 4 10. y.
There has been such plethora Of
politics during The past week that only
the major matters can be disposed OF
hers. The principal even has been the
special message of President Roosevelt
TO Congress, which has resulted in a
great division of opinion amongst Re-
publicans and somewhat amongst
Democrats. The general tfend Of cpin-
ion is that the message is Intended 10
promote third term in case II appears
that Secretary Taft cannot secure
enough delegates to the national con-
vententien To nominate him. Some be-
lieye that held stroke VIII be al
tempted by the President, such as
''brushn between our fleet and that OF
Japan, SO as TO make shis rsnonina-
tion imperative aud SO arouse public
feeling on the yellow peril that the
political danger OF the third term
would be lost in the shuttle.
| For nay own para DO MOI agree with
these views OF ths sclilshness Of the
/ President. feel colfideut ne Il not
/ figuring on third term and is only
intent on perpetuatiYg what he pleases
TO call 'my policies The great ma
jenty of The sRepublican members Of
Congress would have received the mes
sage IN silence, but they were spurred
on to rival the repeated Democratic
demonstrations that accompanied its
reading. The Democratic members
generally do not indorse many of the
policies advocated by President Roose-
welt, but the glum looks Of many Of
their Republican friends on the other
side OF the aisle as the po ent points
were read and which as some Replb-
licsns satd, was. bound TO prolong the
panic, was Too good q chance to be
lost for lroDical cheering.
That the Presidents defiance Of
those who are opposing my "pollcies"
and was intended to everwhelm some
Of Those s'greater Republicans" who
have heretofore financed Republican
eampaigns, because they have now
declared they will no longer o SO, is
apparent from the President that:
'I'he attacks upon the administration
are principally In the interest Of
the Standard Oil Trust and If certain
notorious railroad combinations
Then TO arouse popular feeling the
President further declared: "The ex-
traordinary violence of the assaults
upon the governments policy and the
enormous sums of money spent, evi.
dence the terror the corrupt men OF
vast. wealth feel in the very marrow of
their being.n
President Roosevelt 10 fighting for
his political life against nins-tenths of
the Republican leaders who are back.
cd by ssmslefactors OF great wealth
and this message OF his was evidently
Intended to put those Republicans who
are oppos ng him on the defensive by
publicly announcing those interests
who are backing them III the fight for
control ofthe party. The President has
been SO angersd by the secret and open
opposition that he let dows the usual
bars that guard Executive uttsraDess
that would be likely to affect business
disastrously. He defiantly said: "1he
business which Is hurt by the move
ment for honesty 10 the Kind OF bust
ness which in1the long run 1t pays the
anunsrv IN bava ,,,rt ~ Fphcr, !. a xanIiad
to those critics who have been charg-
Ing that Roosevelt is responsible for
the panic. That he denied by saying:
"The actions Of the Administration
have not brought on business distress,
bat If 1t were true that to cut out rot
tsnress from the body meant a mo-
mentary check to our unhealthy seem
ing prosperity, ] should not for Que
moment hesitate to put the knife to
the corruption"
] Atthat the Republicans looked glum
rad the Democrats chesred again aud
again, ss we'll they might. For here
was the highest Republic n authority
acknowledging that Republican So
called prosperity Was unhealthy and
only seemingly prosperous. Whether
the President had 10 mid that the
tariff protected trustswere prosperous
at Tie expense of the tariff taxed ana
trust piundered people, or whetharnis
mind was running on his former
friend and practical political assoc
cate Hartman wto as mAlefactor n +
g eat wealth he now Includes with
certain notorious railroad combina
tioGs'' cannot be said with certainty,
but TO the assembled hepupiican Con-
| gressmeE it sounded like the crack OF
doom and perpetuation Of the panic
until after the election.