The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-01-04
Reform Waves @s Panic Winds
Keep Party Navisatcrs Anxious

Through the misty pros and cons Of
administrative responsibility and Of
ambitious party Ieaderships the wealth
erwise American citizen sees Con-
science-with a big Gas the unknown
factor in the coming national cam
paign, judging from the signs Of 1907.
The great American public has begun
to think about a few things, and that's
what has kept the political pot a-boil-
ing.
One thing the year makes clear to
the most casual obseryer-the line be-
tween the old Democracy and the old
Republicanism no longer exists. 1t IS
now q question Of conservative and
radical on which both these historic
parties are being rent t~ransyersely.
The same head winds which made the
Years voyage a hard one for President
Roosevelt and his administration serv-
ed to bring the Bryan vessel into the
port Of a third Democratic nomina-
ton, now generally conceded, and yet
the leader Of the opposition presents
the unusual spectacle Of smiling ap-
proyal Of much Of the Roosevelt pro-
gramme. Theodore Roosevelt began to.
experience powerful opposition for the
first time in his own party while the
popular cry for a third term grew
louder. In his own state a new figure.
that Of Governor Hughes, was attract
ing much attention by his quiet way
of bringing the Republican organiza-
ton to his feet, appealing direct to the
people for his measures Of reform.
chief Of which was the creation of the
public service commissions for state
and city, with power to bring the util-
ityI corporations to terms.
It was on the morning Of APRIL 2
that the president woke up to find
himself on the defensive by the publi-
cation Of the Hartman letter telling
OF an alleged deal between Roosevelt
and Hartman In 1904. At once the
president published his Sherman letter
telling Of Harriman's brag that he
could buy laws and judges ad libItum,
Tor which the president had class
ed him along with Debs. Mover ana
Haywood as undesirable citizens"
This incident assumed great signih-
canoe owing to the fact that organized
labor resented the slur upon the West
ern Federation officials about to be
tried for their lives, Much was made
by the enemies Of Roosevelt Of the re-
mark in his letter to Hartman that
you and l are practical men,
In the face Of the increasing hostil-
ity OF many wealthy citizens the presi-
dent persisted in promulgating his re-
form policies, notably in his Memorial
day speech at Indianapolis, advocating
the theory Of federal control of rail-
roads under the postal clause Of the
constitution; at P%royincetown. Mass.
AUG. 20, where in laying the corner.
stone Of the Pilgrims monument he
charged Certain m~alefactors of qreat
wealth with conspirlng to depress
business In the hope Of d~lscreditlng his
policies IN the eyes Of the people. and
again In his series Of speeches at the
dedication Of the Mckinley tomb at
Canton SEPT. 80 and on his e%nsuing
southern tour.
Almost the same sentiments were
expressed BY Secretary Of War Taft IN
the series Of addresses beginning NJ
Columbus, O., AUG. 10, In which he
his stand as a candidate for the
Republican nomination as the chosen
defender Of the administration. such
was the launching Of the Taft boom
q dramatic feature being his start on
long journey around the world
IA the meantime all the antiadminis-
uation strength In Ohio had been sum-.
moned into action by the avowed cam
iidacy OF Senator Foraker. who rlories
ln his differences with the president
Furthermore, all the legal and exec
ltive machinery Of the government
was being brought Into action against /,
lne big railroad, oil, coal and other
combinations. Secrets OF the Standard
Jh company were laid bare agd its
fe.r' iHtv a ledcrAl court. aftepI I
which came the big Lands fine. Ii a ,
tenant Interview John d. Rockefeller .
'peniy attacked the administrator and
PREDICTED financial chaos as the har. ,
'est referring 10 himself as beiue /,
'hitched to the cart ia which the peo.
De ride That was in July. wen. /,
ly the middle OF August stocks were !
umhllne, and the. rest IS part Of the !
record. .
Whether Justly or unjuatly. the nd. :
illustration was blamed BY mafls !
the panic came, and besides the !
iDe Of Chancellor Day about mo RAID 4
q prosperity Roosevelt received hard !
nocks from such sources as ex,geua /
epooner and Justice Brewer. the 4
alter charging tho president with
playing peeknboo with TIE AmedE 4
a. pl9 about 10 THRU farm. Ia 4
|oFembel ne president dif older nd Il
'al employees % la from clofo
y q heN m nH.s ana af