The National tribune., 1909-07-01
SENATOR ROOT.
He Has Come Very Much to the Front in
Tariff Matters and Leads 10 the Ex.
else Tax.

York, is filling a very interesting role,
politically and legislatively. in Con-
gress. This week he is faring forth as
the leading orator on the excise tax.
This is with the full consent of Presi-
dent Taft, who has consented that the
excise tax should be known as his meas
ure and as an Administration measure.
It is also with the full consent of the
reactionary leaders of the Senate, who
think this a piece of wise strategy.
But the Democrats and the Western
Republicans, who make almost ma
iority of the Senate, are not altogether
pleased. The Western Republicans.
who have refused to be won over to
the excise tax are grinding their teeth
and expressing great dissatisfaction.
Senator Bristow, of Kansas. for in
stance, regards Senator Root as quite
as much of a reactionary as Senator
Aldrich. and says so.
Senator Root was Premier in the
Cabinet of President Roosevelt. and en-
joyed 4Rooseyelt's confidence. Indeed
it is well understood that Roosevelt
made Root Senator from New York,
and left him in charge of the New York
machine. 1t is almost useless reitera-
ton to explain how the Senate hated
ROOSetGIl. But tne SeIdle VI
the regular Republican organization
like Root as much as they hated Roose-
welt. Senator Root has gone along
with them on the tariff. He has not
bolted the program in any particular,
except on barley malt and one or two
minor things. Whenever his vote was
necessary the leaders of the Finance
Committee could count upon 1t.
AS a matter of fact, they brought it
oh ti,of ch he
titled as much as possible with what
they have been doing. When the Fin
ance Committee was ready to draft the
maximum and minimum provision,
soon to be discussed in the Senate. they
called in Senator Root and asked for
his judgment Several times he has
virtually sat as a member of the Fin
ance Committee. which is rather un-
usual proceeding. Time and again dur
ing the last few months the Finance
Committee Senators have taken pains
TO let it become known that Senator
Root was being consulted on important
points in their program. was, in fact.
in full accord with them, and intended
to cooperate with them.
An Advocate of the Excise Tax.
When President Taft lanched the ex-
cise-tax plan, the Senate leaders turned
again to Senator Root. They asked him
into their councils. The President did
likewise. and the New Yorker was the
only outsider from the Senate called to
the White House dinners with the
Finance Committee Republicans The
President and the Finance Committee
Joined in asking him to cooperate with
Attorney-General Wickersham in draw
ing the Taft amendment, and finally he
was selected TO make the chief speech
in behalf of the amendment
The bearing of all this on big politics
of the next year or two is exciting the
curiosity of folks at the Capitol. 1t is
not unusual to hear one say: '.Oh. If
House We should have an income tax.
Wait till he gets back," Idle as such
comment may be. 1t nevertheless voices
"a quite prevalent impression that
Roosevelt, returning from the African
hunt. may not sanction all that has
been done.
In any event 1t is just such pros
pective situation as this which the SEN
ate leaders think they are checkmating
by keeping Senator Root SO actively
Identified with their program. OF
course. President Roosevelt always
fought shy of the tariff. He preferred
TO leave the troubles that attend the re-
arrangement of schedules 10 his sue
cessor. However. should he be disposed
to criticize the Senate, the Senate Will
point him to the approving deeds of his
chief political representative in New
York, Senator Elihu Root. And more
than that, the Senate leaders will count
on Senator Root to curb Mr.. Roosevelt
If he shows any spirit az cantankerous-
ness toward the revision or toward the
excise tax. Probably no other living
man is so well able to restrain Mr..
Roosevelt as the junior New York Sem
ator. and accordingly. the wise old men
in the Senate think they have been
playing tremendously wise politics in
getting Senator Root so conspicuously
under their banner
The idea will not down that sooner
or later Mr. Roosevelt will seek again
the leadership of his party. Senators
share that view, aliko it is outlined
more or less vaguely in many Sena-
torial minds But tG return to leader
ship he would have to utilize issues over
matters of legislation and administra-
ton which Senator Root has been
championing That condition of affairs
would be barrier to the ex-President,
especially as Senator Root would almost
inevitably have to become a dissenter
in the ex-President's home State.
1t is quite probable that Mr.. Roose-
Welt will want to come to the Senate Is
months from now TO succeed Chauncey
Depew. Whether he chooses to accept
that Office or not, il is inconceivahle
in politics. and his relations with Sem
ator Root, as an associate of the coterie
of Republicans with whom, as Presi-
dent, Mr.. Roosevelt was constantly
quarreling will be matter Of impor-
tauce in general MARTY walfara