Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-02-15
PEOPLE BELIEVE IN HIM
Roosevelt Has Body Of People at
His Back.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY BILL
And Financial Measure Only General
Legislation Enacted in Congress
This Session.

This Session.
Washington, D. G., Feb 1l.--Not-
withstaadlng The fiery message Of the
president, il which he deat particu-
lary with the proposed new employ
ers' liability legislation and generally
with several other important legisla
tive subjects, Il is wholly improbable
that the congress viii do much more
at the present session than was out
lined early III December.
Members o. the house and the sen.
ate--the leaders Of these bodies
have decided that they win undertake
tftle in the way Of general legisla-
ton this winter and it Is unlikely they
can be prodded even by the Presi-
dent into doing that which they do
not want to dc.
President Roosevelt has occupied
a pecgliar position with reference to
The congress ever since he entered
he White House His position is un-
ique, perhaps. in the history Of Amer
tcan politics. With both branches of
the congress controlled by a large re-
publican majority. the Pres dent has
had 10 fight for everything in the
form Of legislation he desired. The
reason for this anomolcus situation
is patent 10 all who are cogizant of
the facts.
The leaJcrs Of congress never at
any time have been thoroughly friend
" to MIR. Roosevelt. He has had at all
times some enthusiastic supporters in
both the house and tho senate: but
fhe republican majority of both bod
ies. as a whole has been looking for
years Tor an opportunity to block the
carrying into effect of his idea9. II
has moi haen wholly a matter OF re-
sentiment bu, for the most art, a
genuine difference of opinion. 1t has
become tr1te to say that the President
has obtained much OF the leglsletion
he wanted enacted by Cracking his
whip over the heads of congress"
This does not express fairly the 5it',a-
ton. Tho oresident has imbued the
people With the idea that he stands
for their interests against aggression
from 2nv quarter The people lie
lleye him to be honest and sincere
and mghtfallE. too He. therefore, has
had the bod e. the people 1T his back
in the contests he has hadwith thccon
gress and. the members have been
forced by public opinion to acqriesce
in his Views and do what he vented
done
Now the situation is somewhat diff
serent, Many Of the most astute poll,1
2icians in congress regard change
OF administration as likely and they
are looking to the future. They arc
Just as much opposed to the President
and many Of his policies as ever and
they sec Nh opportunity now to make
their opposition effective.
As one result of this fe5lins, en-
gress Will enact no general legislation
at this session, except, probn'ply, a.
financial measure, and new en-
ployers' liability bill The fnancial
measure very likely will DO built
along the lines on the Aldrich meas
ure although that is not entirely sat
asfactory TO a considerable majority
81 the members. There is no prospect
however, for the presentation of any
other measure that will commend gen
eral support The house is wrestling
with a bin but no general agreement
rs in sight. Members of the house
are anxious t. go back to their con-
stituencies and say nat a financial
relief measure has been passed. Some
of them win he defeated if thy are
unable TO say that. Consequently, the
Aidrich measure appears to stand a
better chance Of favorable considera-
lion than any other bill likely to be
offered.
It is agreed ON both sides OF both
chambers that an employers liability
bin shall ba enacted into law md it
probably viii be substantially the
measure offered by Senator Knor>
THUS far and no further" declared
the congress leaders. and that ia about
Che situation.