The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-21
IS LOSING
 HIS PRESTIGE Rooseven's Popularity
 on the Decline. TAFT HAILED AS A RELIEF ROoseveIt's Reign Won't End in Blaze of Glory.
TAFT HAILED AS A RELIEF
The Closing Days of the Strenuous Pressaent's dissatisfaction Are Being Made Bittes by storm
 of crsaei.m.

Washington, Dee. so.--(special)- )- For some weeks thers has been a growth of the sentiment, "the king is dead, long live the king"
 President Roosevelt is occupying less and less of the public attention and Presldeut-elect Taft is becoming more and more the center of interest. By many of the leaders of both par ties the incoming of the Taft adminis- tration ts looked forward to with a feeling of relief
 The recent actions of the present occupant of the White House have brought down upon him a storm of criticism, and the once most popular Of Presidents Is likely to end his reign in anything but a blaze of glory.
 The antipathy between the Capitol end of Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House end, has been emphasiz- cd strongly during the last ten days. In the Presidents first message to Congress at this session he took this branch of the Government to task for limiting the appropriation for the sec- ret service. and In the course of his remarks made Q serious charge a. gainst the members of Congress. He said in part: Tt is not too much to say that this amendment has been of benefit only, and could be of benefit only. to the criminal classes" and further. the chief alignment in favor of the provision was that the Congressman did not themselves wish to be investigated by secret service men,"
 The House first appointed e commit tee to investigate these charges. look ing to 6 rebuke of the President. and now the Senate has followed suit. The resolutions were passed in both Hous- es without a dissenting vote. In the lower House. by agreement, there was a debate, but in the Senate the Presi- dent came in for some severe remarks. How the President's action is regard ed can be gathered from the following brief statements taken from the speeches of four Southern Senators: Bailey of Texas. said: T regard this as the most insulting message ever sent to any body. doubt if mayor ever sent such Q message to q corrupt city council"
 His colleague. Senator Cuiberson spoke in the same strain:
 'sThe message was deliberate, studied. and gratuitous Insult to tsa Congress bg the 1Afesidentl
 Tiliman was even moro bitter than usual. and safis
 "The Presidents message shows he that we are a lot of Bcoundrels that need Investigating. There may be men here that feel that way, but God knows do not.''
 Senator Bacon of Georgia said:
 Tt is my deliberate judgment that if the king of England had sent such message to Parliament, there would be but one thing to shield him from the loss of his crown. and that would be the appointment of regent"
 It comes from the White House that the President has had his secret service men active. and if Congress does "fehuke" him, he will send in message attacking the records and private life of individual members. and that the facts he has ready are calculated to create an unparalleled sensation. That he should take this action fin the spirit of revenge. will probably discount its effect and he is, liable to come fin for additional cri- ticism on the score that it was cer- tainly not very patriotic to have kept these facts from the public until he needed them to defend himself.
 When the Presidents message on the subject of the Panama purchase was read in the House and Senate this week the levity and amusement with which 1t was received was an indica- ton of their attitude toward the Chief Executive. Never in the history of Congress, perhaps. has Presiden-
 
 scant courtesy. Almost throughout it's whole reading 1t was greeted with scornful laughter that became roar when such term as "infamy." "Iniquity," "basest." "blaekmaii.'' ''in- famous" 'foulest," ''scurrilous," 'li- belous." lying" "wantonly" and "thlef," with which the message teem- ed. were read.
 With relations strained to a point where a break Is eminent the Con gress adjourns until after the holidays It Is needless to say that MT. Roose- welt, always sensitive to criticism, does not relish the present situation, and his friends fear a fresh outburst of indiscretions at any moment The big stick Is rapidly losing its for mer prestige and 8 few more 'indis- cretions'' and the strenuous occupant of the White House will be glad to seek the quietude Of African jungles.