The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-02-13
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

FROM our Regular Correspondents
Washington, d. G., Feb. 10, 1908,
Enthusiasm characterized the
discussion of President Roosevelts
recent message on the floor Of the
house of Representatives last week,
and at no time was the applause
greater than when Representative
Hepburn, of Iowa, delivered a
strong eulogy of the President.
From the Democratic side came en-
thusiastic commendation and sell
dom has such a tribute been paid
to a Republican President by a
Democrat as that spoken by Repre-
sentative Bourke Cochran. During
the course of his speech he took oc-
cason to say some nice things
about Mr.. Bryan which evoked
such applause from the Democrats
that it was quite awhile before he
could proceed. eff Mr.. Bryan
represents the determination to pro.
secute malefactors for their crimes,
and if a rigorous enforcement of
the law should result in congesting
the criminal courts" said Mr.,
Cochran, then the plunderers of
millions will be given precedence
in the pathway to prison over the
pilferers of pennies"
ma*
Later in the week the Democrat
ic leader, Mr.. Williams, made
speech on the message along lines
previously indicated to him by Mr..
Bryan. He declared that railroad
rate legislation originated with the
Democrats; said that the Democrats
must take issue with the President
on his recommendation that the
railroads he granted the power to
pool, and with the Presidents ar
gument that it was useless to at
tempt to punish "the men, the
flesh, the blessings" who violate
the law in the name of corporate
authority. He further insisted that
the Democrats could not agree with
the President on the proposition to
compel all corporations doing an
interstate business to take out a
Federal license. Commenting on
the omissions in the message, Mr..
Williams emphasized the lack of
definite tariff revision recommended
tions, saying, with the exception
of a little insignificant utterance
about putting works of art, wood
pulp and paper on the free list, he
has never raised his voice against
the very poison that lies at the very
heart Of your entire system"
T4*
There is no little anxiety in
Democratic circles in Washington
over the reports which have reach
ed here from the West to the effect
that William r. Hearst is perfect
ing an organization and proposed
to hold a Hearst League conven-
ton, probably in Indianapolis, be-
tween the Republican and Demo-
cratic national conventions. 1t is
asserted that Mr.. Hearst has secur-
ed the services of Charles A. Walsh,
ormer Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee, and that Mr..
Walsh has employed a number of
able lieutenants who are assisting
him in the work of organizing the
Hearst machine, or party. No de,
finite information can be secured
IS TO the purpose Of the Hearst
movement. Does Mr.. Hearst ex-
pect to form a third party and
nominate himself for the Presi-
dency? Does he expect to develop
a strength which will enable him
TO dictate terms to the Democratic
party? Will his movement detract
seriously from the Democratic vote?
These and host OF other questions
are being asked by anxious Demo
Gratis who cannot fathom the pur-
poses of the great editor r-politician.
It had been supposed that because
Of his extensive newspaper proper
les Mr.. Hearst would not dare to
oppose Mr.. Bryan and that may be
the case, but his present purpose is