The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The House of Representatives has
gotten back at the President and 10 mild
language heaped Goals of FIRE on his bead
for the structures, innuendos and insulting
Language of his annual message to Con-
gress and for what the House calls 1.-THE
evasiveness and Responsiveness. of what
they hoped would be an apology or at
least an explanation. The fact is that
the President in 'purging himself of con-
tempt" as the saying is, was if anything
more contemptuous than in the original
dose. There is talk apparently serious OF
impeachment proceedings and frequent
reference to the impeachment of Andrew
johnson the only precedent in American
history. But the two cases are utterly
without parallelisn. Roosevelt is still
the most popular man in the United
States and probably more popular today
on account of this very incident than he
was eight months ago when it took an
iterated and reiterated announcement
every morning before break fast to pre-
vent the country from nominating him
by force for a third term. The President
has not used the Secret Service malpre-
peuse for the detection of The ingoings and
outcomings of Senators and Members OF
Congress; but, as Is well known, be has
been after undesirable citizens whether
they were railroad presidents, trust mag
mates, or labor union boycotters ani
asassins. It was through the activity OF
one Of the departments under him that
the land frauds of Senator Mitchell OF
Oregon were discovered and that Mitchell
was tried and condemned. The detective
bureau received no instructions to shadow
Tillman of South Carolina and he was
not Swallowed by Government detectives
Of the detective bureau but certain in
formation regarding his alleged specu
lation in Oregon land grants were brought
to the attention of the President through
Government postofice inspectors and at
the request Of Senator Hale of Maine.
The information regarding Senator Till
man was sent direct TO him. The Presi-
dent and Senator Tillman have not for a
long time been on speaking terms and
the senator has improved every opportuni-
ty both in and out of the Senate to de.
nounce and characterize Mr.. Roosevelt in
language that was nearer Billingsgate
than parliamentary.
The antipathy, or might say, enemity
between the men has become historic.
1t began two or three years ago when
after fist fight on the Senate floor with
Senator McLaurin, the President failed to
invite Senator Tiliman 10 White House
reception to which all of the other Sen.
ators and members were invited. Senator
Tillman is man of uncultivated ability,
and he is well posted in national affairs,
and especially in the affairs of the Sem
ate committee to which be is assigned.
He is, however, rough, uncouth. and not
precisely representative ofthat legendary
flower Of chivalry, Southern gentleman.
The present administration as is well
known, has been after rascals, undesirable
citizens, and whether they were railroad
presidents. senators. or Jail birds, 1t has
been the effort to hunt them down. The
fate of Senator Mitchell of Oregon in the
land fraud cases is fresh in the memory
of every reader. There was no reason
why the Administration should not make
an effort to investigate the alleged rela-
tons Of Tiliman, or any other Senator.
OF course, be has denied any connection
with the Oregon land frauds. Senator
Mitchell, also. denied on the floor of the
Senate with tears and with vociferous
assertions of innocense. Senator Mitchell
was condemned.
Barely fifty more days of Presiden,
Roosevelts term remain, aud there is
every appearance that these remaining
days will be as strenuous as the President
could desire. and ii may be doubted II he
will find among the wild beasts OF Africa
gamer entertainment than the House and
Senate are disposed to give him before
the fourth of March. To the student OF
current history as spread before the world
in thedaily press the situation is enter.
tanning and edifying. Only few months
ago it was necessary for the President
to itesate and reiterate his declaration
made on the evening of his election that
he would not under any consideration,
have third term. The people we're de-
termined to nominate him and it was
with considerable reluctance that they
named the man Of his choice. but having
named him, elected him with great
majority. mainly. sor-in great part at least,
because he represented Roosevelt and the
Roosevelt policies. Now The newanarer