The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-01-02
HISTORY
OF 1907.
The Worlds Chief Events
and Tendencies Of a Year
Outlined In Orderly Array
For Busy Readers Who
Want to Be Well Informed.
b. EDWIN 5. POTTER.
Iditsr Universal News Ansiysb
Reform Waves s~ Panic Winds
Keep Party Nayisators Anxious

Through the misty pros and cons OF
administrative responsibility and OF
ambitious party leaderships the wealth
erwise American citizen sees Con
science with big Gas the unknown
factor In the. coming national cam
palgn, judging from the signs OF 1907.
The great American public has begun
10 think about 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-tbe line be-
tween the old Democracy and the old
Rcpublicanlsm no longer exists. II is
now a question OF conservative and
radical on which both these historic
parties are being rent transyersely.
The same head winds which made the
years voyage hard one for President
Roosevelt and his administration sery-
ed 10 bring the Bryan vessel into the
port Of a third Democratic nomina-
tlon. now generally conceded. and yet
the leader OF the opposition presents
the unusual spectacle OF smiling ap-
progal OF much of the Roosevelt pro-
\ gramme. Theodore Roosevelt began 10
experience powerful opposition for the
first time In his own party while the
popular cry for third term grew
louder In his own state new figure,
that OF Governor Hughes, was attract
Ing much attention by his quiet way
OF bringing the Republican organiza-
tion 10 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 utll-
ity corporations to terms.
1t was on the morning OF APRIL 2
that the president woke up TO find
himself on the defensive by the publ I
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 Harrimans brag that he
could buy laws and judges al libitum,
for which the president had class
ed him along with Debs. Meyer and
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 10 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 are practical men"
In the face OF the increasing hostll-
ity OF many wealthy citizens the presl-
dent persisted In promugating 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 Proyincetown, Mass,
AUG. 20, where In laying the corner
stone OF the Pilgrims monument he
charged certain maefactors of great
wealth" with conspirlng to depress
business In the hope Of discredlting 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. 30 and on his ensuing
southern tour.
Almost the same sentiments were
expressed by Secretary OF War Taft In
the series OF addresses beginning at |
Columbus. o.. AUG. 10. In which he
took his stand as q candidate for the
naurlifcan nomination ao tha .hoean
defender OF the administration. Such
was the launching of the Taft boom, I
a dramatic feature being his start ON
the long journey arund the world.
In the meantime all the antiadminis. I
tration strength In Ohio had been sum I
moned into action by the ayowed can |
didacy OF Senator Foraker, who glories I
In his differences with the president I
Furthermore, all the legal and exec.
utive machinery OF the government
was being brought into action against
the big railroad. oil, coal and other
Secrets OF the Standard |
on company were laid bars and its I
head hailed into a federal court. after
which came the big lands fine. In q
defiant interview John ID. Rockefeller I
openly attacked the administration and j
predicted financial chaos" as ne har- !
vest. referring 10 himself as being o
''hitcbed 10 the cart In which the peo- :
pie ride" That was In July. Well, a
by the middle Of August stocks were J
and the rest Is part OF the b
record. o
Whether Justly or unJustIy, the ad- Z
WIS blamed by many '
when the panic came, and besides the !
eibe OF Chancellor Day about the raid .
on prosperity" Roosevelt received hard 4
knocks from such sources as ex.Sena-
ios spooner aud Justice Brewer, the n
after charging tine president with 4
playing peekaboo with the Ameri. n
ran people" about the third term. In
November The president did order fed q
sral employees to desist from efforts v
Tor third term delegation, and after v
tne nsflnai committee net ut Wash y
Inatoa oeeenlly The country heard from ]
he White House again definitely that u
/ nomination would not be accepted. /
Ihe message 10 congress DEC was 81
/ stand pat valeticiory. u
The staying power of the. Twice De- i
'ea'ei and bis bold on the affections u
II the Democratic rank aud fle In the n
lace 81 concerted effort 10 dlscredlt d
llm by . clique Of the rich and power
'ul conservatives stiil 10 conirol OF the
party machinery made one Of the pc
iiIcal wonders of the year After his
,pca espoHsGl of the national and state |
,@pershlp ~ railroads last year che