The Washington herald., 1908-02-01

topsy-turvy state by special message
from the White House.
II was an unusual message, all agree
radical message that surprised even
those who thought they had been fore
warned Of it's contents.
Republicans are still cropping as to its
.purport and signihcancc.
Unless II be Grover Cleveland. prob
ably no President Of modern times has so
enragod his party in Congress by any
such special communicate. The Repub-
iicans denounce it as threatening bust
ness. just when the country was picking
up. some see no excuse for il al this
time. except it be political
Touches on Several Subjects.
The document reiterates the Presidents
views about corporations and predatory
wealth il appeals for the re-enactment
of the employers liability law along lines
laid down by the recent Supreme Court
decision. Such a recommendation was
the nucleus on which he built the mes
sage. But he dwells at length with in.
dicial decisions upon labor topics, renews
his request for restrictions in granting
injunctions, and advocates that the gov
eminent assume trade risks" and guar
antee damages to its employees. lie
warns Congress Of tie need for legisIa-
ton 10 preyeT stock gambling lie
wants the Fedet government authorized
TO assume a certain measure of control
over the physical operation Of the rail
ways He urges more rate legislation. a
modification of the sherman antitrust
law. and the legallzation Of pooling.
The latter part Of bis message is yig-
orous defense ~ his administration. He
tits at corrupt business ana corrupt poll
tics, takes up the SAINT Fe case. offers
communications 10 SUPP 1rt tha DEPART
menJ Of Justice. and defends the judges
on the Standard OF and Santa Fe cases
from their critics Incidentally he
thwscks ChanceIloe Dsy. auth,r Of The
Raid or Swollen Fortunes" These and
many more topics are treated in terse and
aggressive sentences that made Republl-
cans gasp. According 90 unofficial re-
ports reaching the Capitol, they were
much more terse and aggressive tin the
President decided 10 tone them down"
\ Noteworthy Reception.
Its reception In Senate and House was
noteworthy. Senator JEFF Davis. ~ Ar
kansas, said IL was great Democratic doc
uine. He asked 10 have 1000 copies
printed. When the Senate adjourned he
remarked that it went further than he
had ever gone. In the House Democrats
greeted the reading with cheers. These
were more or less derisive. Representa-
tive Morris Sheppard. Of Texas. who led
the Democratic demonstration, said after
ward that the cheering was aimed largely
at the platitudes in the message, but that
many Of the principles enuuciated were
in the Democratic creed, and the party
stood for them. The Democrats forced
the Republicans 70 Join in the cheering.
and by the time the reading had been
concluded, there was q fine Old-fashioned
scene Of enthusiastic pandemOnium
The President was certain Of getting a
Te-enaCtment of the employers liability
law. That was IN the cards almost as
soon as the Supreme Court nullihed the
recent statute. Last night Republican
leaders said he viii get nothing more than
that Whether the President is willing
TO flourish the lash over the legislative
branch and make il enact the laws he
asks is doubtful Opinion IS that he will
refrain. because he would not succeed If
he tried. although there are unsubstan-
tiated reports that ne viii follow this
with still other messages should Congress
not bestir itself
4 Political Document.
The general Interpretation seems 10 be
that the message is chiefly a political
document A considerable number Of
Congressman insist it is a bid for re-
nomination That is hardly 70 be cred
tied. although it put Senator Jonathan
Bourne. the second elective term" man
into ecstasies. The third term cry has
been revived Of late by certain of the
Presidents friends but this appears to
be for the same purpose that it was re-
vived vigorously two months ago Acting
IN Tafts name, some of the Presidents
foes in Congress are getting the upper
hand in the factional politics Of three or
four Western States. The losing factions
are trying to save themselves by taking
up the Roosevelt third term cry.
The President is known 10 sympathize
cordially with most of Mr. BTyan's views
on popular questions He is said 10 have
feared that Bryan is gaining greatly with
the country. and that the Republican
party has been losing because il is effect
ing no further reforms. He wanted alike
to strike at the conservative do-nothing
leaders. and to make it apparent that he
is as radical as ever, for the President
makes no cOncealment that he classes
himself as a decidedly radical man.
His tactics in bringing his message out
just before Gov. Hughes outlines his atti-
tude as a Presidential candidate was
much noted at the Capitol He makes the
governor take Il second part on the public
stage, just at the moment when il was
supposed he would have the leading role
The Presidential candidates in the Sen
ate and the House are wary Of the mes
sage, for thes- know the President is gen.
orally shrewd In politics. Congress is vir-
tually committed TO a do-nothing policy.
Some Of the President sentences ap-
piled directly Ia persons who have figured
of late in the public eye. The cowboy
mayor OF Omaha, Mr.. Dahlman. has been
denounced by the administration friends
for saying the President told him that if
ne (the President was the cause of the
panic. he was glad OF it. The mes
sage declares that IF it were true that TO
cut out TOttenness from the body polite
meant a mOmentary check 10 an un-
healthy seeming prosperity. ] should not
for one moment hesitate to put the knife
to corruption.
The Presidents message in full