The Washington herald., 1908-05-02
SATURDAY. MAY 2. 1865
Mr. Rooseyelt seores Aeain.


The Presidential message Of Monday
last has borne fruit quickly in the
complete rout OF the reactionary forces
In the House. Speaker Cannon has capt.
uIated to the Big Stick, and the whole OF
the minimum RooseveItian programme. as
laid down in the message, now appears
reasonably certain Of adoption That pro-
gramme includes the following meas
uTes:
Amendment Of the Sherman law.
An antiiniuuction bill
financial bill
Provision for tariff investigation.
Provision for compensation to injured government
employees.
Continuation Of the waterways commission.
In addition to these measures, the
President mentioned the employers LA
bility law, already enacted and signed
though not wholly satisfactory from the
White House point of view: the estab-
lishment of a postal savings bank, which
was regarded as much to be wished. -
though il Is improbable that Mr. Roose-
velt really expects It at this session, and
ample appropriation for carrying into
effect the plans of the Interstate Com
merce Commission for the supervision OF
railway accounts, which appropriation
has just been placed In the sundry civil
bin against the opposition of the ruling
powers in the House AS to the Sherman
law amendments and the anti-injunction
bill the Speaker has promised that the
judiciary Committee morgue shall be
opened 10 permit them to come forth
alive. Mr.. Payne has introduced Il tar
iff-inQuiry resolution. and the other
Rooseveltian measures are In various
committees, whence they may be resur-
rected without much trouble. There Is
even a glimmer OF hope for the removal
of the tariff on wood pulp and print
paper. although that is not a distinctively
Rooseveltian proposition.
What is the cause of this sudden about
face on the part OF the House leaders
Probably there are number Of sub.
sidiary causes, but, undoubtedly. the
chief and compelling cause IS the fear
Of public sentiment, which is apparently
as strongly behind the President as ever
IN spite Of the business depression and
industrial reaction. Moreover. the atti-
tude Of the Speaker and few reac-
tionary leaders in blocking Legislation
demanded by the Executive and favored
by majority Of the House was wholly
untenable. The President, as frequently
happens in our form of government
sums up in his person the collective
aspirations Of the country, and Is as
representative as the House itself. The
Speaker, on the other hend, is answer
able only 10 a small constituency in Iii
nois. Members would fiad it extremely
difficult 10 explain 10 the home folk why
the one was permitted to fiout the recon-
mendatiOns OF the other; why the bust
ness Of legislation has been allowed t,
concentrate IN the hands Of a single
elective officer Of the House and why
this officer is given the privilege of pre-
venting the majority from discussing
acting upon, and voting. up or down. any
particular legislative proposition that dis
pleases him.
Presidential messages may excite the
smiles Of the cynical, but in millions OF
American homes they are read. digested
and approved With what grace will any
Congressman appear before thoughtful
American citizens with do nothing
written all over his record. when the
minds and consciences Of voters sanction
Executive recommendations? How shall
he justify himself with free seeds. pen
sion bills, and the distribution of other
varieties Of "pOrk" when weightier mat.
ters of legislation have been neglected?