The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-18
He Can Do So Without Jeop-
ardizlng His Own Political
Future and the Party That
Elected Him.
FAIRBANKS HIT BY THE
PANAMA CANAL CHARGES
Smith Is a Relative and Vice
President Will Not Now Get.
Ambassadorship to Eng
land.
BY Sheldon S. Cline.

BY Sheldon S. Cline.
Washington. Dec. lS,-Republican
leaders in Congress say they have no
desire to quarrel with President
Roosevelt between now and March 4.
1t is very apparent the President is
not going to run away from a quar-
rel; but, then. the President is going
out of office in less than three months
and Republicans in Congress, except
those who fell by the wayside last
November have got To keep on doing
business.
Mr. Roosevelt's friends predicted
two months ago that the President
would turn loose" this winter and
indulge in some plain speaking. The
prediction is being abundantly full
filled. Never before did official com
munications from the White House To
the Capitol SO bluntly call a spade
spade. And he has made no secret OF
guage in stock ready for use should
1uHsEtSS It's IsSudnCt.
Can Have "Say" Now.
When you come to think Of II.
there is no good reason why the
President should not now speak his
mind. He has champed at his bit. as
1t were, for several years because par
ty and other considerations made II
inadvisable for him TO employ the
language he wanted To use in dis
cussing divers men and measures. He
can have his say now without jeop-
ardizing his own political fortunes or
seriously threatening the fortunes Of
his party.
Country Enjoys Situation.
Congress makes no pretense OF lik-
ing the things that have been handed
it, but, on the whole. the country APP
pears to rather enjoy the situation.
There are those. of course. who crit
icise the President for his most re-
cent strenuosity, but the critic we
always have with us. This criticism
is not going to bother Mr.. Roosevelt
hugely. He is firmly convinced that
public opinion will back him mp, and
gress. the greater his popularity. And
it would seem that he is justified in
this belief.
Cannot Endure Criticism.
Congress, however is in no position
TO endure public criticism: certainly
not more so at this time than in the
past Senators laughed when the
presidents special Panama message
was read. They would like to pass
off all his structures. as laughing mat
ter, but they can't quite do that Sen
atorial dignity has got to defend itself.
even II defense be precarious enter
prise TO venture upon.
There isn't any matter Of doubt.
though that Congress will breathe
long sigh of relief when William H.
Taft has taken the oath and qualified
as Theodore Rooseyelts successor.
The present strenuosity Of Mr..
Roosevelt, by the way is going to be
of very material assistance 10 Mr..
Taft. Mr.. Taft is much more con-
servatiye by nature than is the pres
ent executive. but on occasions he has
demonstrated that he can strike and
strike hard. Congress. very desirous
Of a rest. isn't going To invite any
BLOWS from the incoming president
Single Head in o. c.
President Roosevelts stand In favor
of single executive head for the gov
erninent OF the District of Columbia.
has revived interest in this very i'm
portant project, but it is not believed
the presidents message 10 congress
will result in securing any action at
; the present session The time is too
short TO take up and dispose OF so COM
plicated matter. even were the two
houses so disposed. more import
ant reason IS that the matter has not
before been made the subject of presi-
Dental recommendation and congress,
with its prejudice against innovations,
always has TO be hammered al a while
before ii will undertake a thing Of this
kind
But even were conditions at the cap
itol right for the passage of a bill
changing the form of district govern
ment. there remains the obstacle that
the people of the district are them
selves divided as TO its desirability.
The present three-headed government
has just as ardent champions and the
proposed single executive plan has
earnest advocates. and both factions
would swarm to the capitol should
congress take up the matter for hear
ings before the district committees.
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