Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-05-02
PRESIDENT TAKES STAND
Roosevelt WIN Bring Congress
To Terms.
THREATENS TO VETO BILL
Presidents Significant Talk to Two
U. S. sentors-StiII Wants Four
Battieships.
RattIeships

Washington, d. c., April PA con-
troversy which, for bitterness of feel
ing engendered, has not been equaled
ia the Roosevelt administration, has
developed between the president and
the congress. What the result may
be, it is impossible now to foretell.
There are all sorts of possibilities in
it,amon them being an extraordinary
session of congress this summer.
The present strained situation has
grown out Of the president insisyencs
upon his naval expansion policy. He
has recommended to congress the au-
thorization at this session of four
great battleships. The question has
been under consideration practically
throughout the present session. by a
decisive vote, the house of representa-
tives decided that provision should be
made for only two battleships. In this
determination the house probably will
have the support of the senate.
Backed by the full power of the adj
ministration, however, the president is
continuing the fight for four ships.
Within a day or two, the president has
been aroused thoroughly by PROPOSE
ton to place in the naval appropria-
ton bill authorization of two battle
ships, but without an appropriation to
begin the work on them. He has told
the leaders of both branches of con-
gress fatty that, unless the bill shall
carry sufficient appropriation to start
the construction of the vessels, even
if only two should be authorized, he
will veto the bill when it reaches
him No general appropriation bill
has been vetoed by the president in
many years, and President Roosevelts
attitude has created a genuine furore
The president has been perfectly
frank in his statements to the con-
gressional leaders. He realized full
we'll the attitude many of them occu-
py towards him and is willing to make
an issue before the people If they
are looking for contest of that kind.
He is quoted as saying to two sen
ators. in the course of discussion OF
the four-battleship propositions:
"You gentlemen at the capitol seem
to be under the impression that VIII
be political nonenity after the Attn Oh
March: and that, therefore, you now
are at practical liberty to do as ---u
ulease with such recommendations as
I make. Let me tell you that you
never were more mistaken in your ine
if you harbor any such notion.
The simultaneously political signi-
fcance-of the presidents declaration
shook his callers to the very soles o.
their shoes and it quietly has been
discussed by such as have been made
acquainted with it. Did it mean tnat'
after all, the president might be NOM
mated for the presidency again ano
that the controversialists "at the cap
itol" might have to reckon with foose-
Welt for another four vars? That Is
The meaning most generally attached
to IT and it has thrown some or the
presidents opponents in congress ln'o
a cold perspiration. Frankly, they are
efra,d of him. He has the whoie io'
Of them ''buffaloed,' TO use streee
colloqualism. They know he has tne
people of the country back OF him anu
they fear for their personal poiiticai
safety.
The president may not succeed N
securing the adoption of his four
battleship proposition, but he Will get
an appropriation for the constructor
Of those vessels which congress does
authorize or there will be an extra seS-
eso,, of congress-