Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-01
DISCUSSING MESSAGE
Representatives Air Views on
Document.
DEMOCRATS ARE JUBILANT
Bryan the Peerless. Roosevelt the
Fearless" Leader.
THIRD TERM TALK PLENTY
"Grand Campaign Document" Is
in New House Offices.

DISCuSSlOn OF the PreSluenl special
message to Congress yesterday and it's
possible and probable effect upon bust
ness. finance, politics and everything else
under the wide canopy of heaven was
continued by members of the House today
with unabated vigor. There was no ses-
sion of the House. but in the cloakrooms
on both sides of the chamber and in the
new office building, where many members
spent this fine weather for ducks day, the
message temporarily became the chief
topic OF conversation. supplanting for
the nonce such standard subjects as the
dampness of the plaster, the absence of
doors, the lack of steam heat and the
Democrats Jubilant.
And 1t was discussion as was discus
sion. Some conservative republican men,
bers. whose most decided qualification or
dinarily is very tore the dictionary in
half and dug into it's vitals for language
IN which to clothe their sizzling opinion
OF the message. its purpose and defects.
Some of the comments were humorous
and some were not. Some were compli-
mentary. and some were not Most of the
complimentary notices came from demo-
Gratis who frankly and publicly held a
celebration dance on the subject One
minority member strolled up to a promi-
nent republican in the corridors of the
new building today, hooked a reluctant
buttonhole over the index finger OF his
right hand and remarked:
"Peerless" and "Fearless.
Say. brother, do you know the diff.
ference between William Jennings Bryan
and Theodore Roosevelt
rs there any," returned the renubli.
can with gloomy and glowering gaze.
Sure replied the democrat "Bryar
is our peerless leader and Roosevelt is
our fearless leader
And the democrat took a seagoing hitch
in his trousers. stuck a perique cigarette
in his face and drifted away, swallowing
a cnuckle.
Third Term Talk.
In spite of President Roose-elt's two
statements that he was not, is not and
will not be a candidate for third term,
there were some republicans hanging
around the Capitol today who were suf-
ficiently skeptical and pessimistic to
think that yesterdays special MESA ge
cast something of a doubt upon the con-
tinuing efficacy of those two pronounce
ments.
1T is a grand campaign document. +"
said one of them. land nobody ever ac-
cused the President of not being a mighty
shrewd politician"
But 1t is rather a waste of time to
discuss even one of the many sugges-
tions that are put forth by both repub-
licanS and democrats as to the probable
ruling motive that inspired the sending
of the message TO Congress just at this
time.
One Opinion Lacking.
1t is somewhat regrettable, too. that no
republican has as yet been found to make
himself prominent by saying: '~The Pres
ident sent that message to Congress be-
cause he thought he should send it: be-
cause he firmly believed he ought to send
it, because he was convinced in his heart
of hearts that the suggestions he makes
should be carried into effect at once for
the sa fety and protection of the individual
and for the good of the nation as a
whole"
There may be-there undoubtedly are
members who believe all this to be true.
but they have distinguished themselves
up to the present time by keeping a pad
lock on their lips Most of the discussion
turned upon the probable effect of the
message upon the political situation, and
there is no difference of opinion concern
ing the fact that there will be an effect
Just how great it will be, however, re-
mains to be seen.