The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-05-06
LEADERS ANGRY
At ROOSEVELT
Say Message Was Slap at
Republicans.
BIG STICK" ST|RS EN- UP
Queer Politics Being Practic-
ed at Washington Just
at Present.

Republican members in Congress pom
der over the latest production of the
President the more they are incens-
ed. They make no bones in openly
charging that 1t was an open slap at
the Republican majority in the two
houses of Congress and was given
out to aid and encourage the filibus-
teiing tactics of John S. Williams, the
minority leader in the House, and
the President had in mind the pur-
pose to inaugurate in the Senate the
same kind of tactics for my policies"
: This impression seems to be growing
Z here every hour and the bitterness
between the legislative and the execu-
tive branches of the Government is
increasing.
What is more there are a number Of
Republican members of the House who
are asserting that the course OF the
President If persisted In will defeat
their reelection to Congress, and de-
clare that all he cares for is the
nomination of Mr. Taft. no matter
!, whether the Republicans carry the
House or not.
Such a confused, divided situation
among the Republicans Is remarkable
Nothing like 1t was ever seen here be-
fore, not even in theCleveland CAM
paign for honest money. What Is to
come out Of 1t no one can tell. The
grand old party may pull itself to-
gether before the ides of November
and carry the country, but 1t certain
ly looks doubtful at this time.
To give a fair illustration how the
recalcitrant Republicans feel about the
President, asked a famous yRepub-
lican leader In theSenate why theSen-
ate suppressed the message sent to
Congress Wednesday. His reply was:
Sent to Congress, you say? HI, II
wasn't sent to Congress at all. II was
sent to the newspapers, and through
them to the people. 1t was one of
Roosevelt's old audacious political
plays not to apply TO Congress for
what he wanted, but to appeal to the
people and make himself solid with the
masses. That is what he has been
doing ever since he came here, make
himself solid with the people, not car
ing how much blame he attaches to
Congress, always aiming to put 1t In
the hole for not passing some OF his
wild and fantastic theories of govern
ment into laws. OF course we snubb-
ed his message in each house of Con-
gress. and we did 1t intentionally,
and he knows 1t. However, 1t VIII
not make any difference with him,
as he is so puffed up with the idea
thai the people. Democrats as well
as Republicans, are with him ON any
absurd proposition that he may make
that our snubs here do not make any
impression upon him."
Nobody seems to be able to give
definite reason for the message beyond
that it was intended ito stir them
up a bit" This sentiment was made
by a close friend of Mr.. Roosevelt,
who is in his confidence. II the
object was ITO stir them up Bit" It
has succeeded admirably. but not in
the way intended. The Congress lead
ers evidently are determined not to
90 beyond the legislative programme
they had mapped out after consultation
with the President, which did not
include all the measures now advoca1-
ed by Mr. Roosevelt, and the rank and
file of Republicans in the National
Legislature are in an ugly mood and
inclined to resent the constant swish
ing of the big stick" near their sew
eral heads.
One OF the things said about the
message by Republicans is that It is
a splendid Democratic campaign docu-
ment.. Another is that the President
is endeavoring to discredit the Repub-
lican Congress in the-eyes of the coun
try by recommending the enactment
OF a number of comprehensive meas
ures which he knows cannot be put
through at this session.
----------