Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-05-29
Morning Journal Bureau,
613 Munsex Building,



for battle cry in their fight for re-
election next fall, the house progress
sives are today planning to sweep The
odore Roosevelt into the midst OF the
terrific campaign which confronts
them. The insurgents are sure that
Roosevelt will be with them in thefg
struggle, because. they say, he was
heart and soul with their cause when
he quit Washington.
Roosevelt will no sooner reach
America next month than he will be
in communication with the insurgents.
Different progressive congressman
have already written him. and receiv-
ed replies regarding his speaking tours
on his return. number OF house
members viii be at the pier u greet
him when he lands in New York. And
not single insurgent today expresses
the least doubt that he will indorse
their program.
To Justify this confidence the pro-
gressives are today recalling a report
made to the insurgent organization
in caucus last March by the insurgent
executive committee - Congressman
Nelson of Wisconsin, Congressman
Ed. Madison of Kansas, and Congress
man Gardner of Massachusetts, who
We're charged with the mission of OBJ
tanning the Endorsement of Roosevelt
for the insurgent policies, in those
strenuous closing days of the strenu-
Gus administration The following
statements, incorporated in that re-
port, ana known for more than year
to every house insurgent, are here
made public for the first time.
ON March o, 1909, Theodore Roose-
Welt proposed to give Congressman
oh nf
executive committee, q letter indors-
ing the fight on Cannon and on the
house rules. He expressed himself as
thoroughly in sympathy with the pro-
gressivc movement particularly in
the fight against Cannon, as he said:
Cannon has been the greatest OBJ
stacle in the way OF my efforts to OBJ
tain good legislation for the people of
the country throughout the seyen
years Of my administration.
on March 4, after spending the eve
ming Of March with President-elect
Taft, he begged to be excused from
writing the letter. AS a ground for
his change Of purpose he said that
from conversations with Taft he was
afraid such a course would embarrass
his successor.
One OF the last acts of Roosevelt's
as he stood in the
presidents room in the senate wing
Of the capitol, was to take Congress-
men Gardner and Nelson by the hand,
lead them over to Taft and to plead
with the latter not to take up his
stand with Cannon. and "at least to
keep his hands off.
The story OF the Endorsement that
was never given. was outlined to the
insurgent cnucus held early in the
aIrtf all h.s
mfttee IA this way: Congressman
Nelson and Madison the eX-
ecutiye committee of the progressive
r8ucus, were. chosen to endeaVor to
obtain President RooseVelt's indorse-
ment of the insurgent attack on Mr..
Cannon and the rules projected by
the progressiVes to be made during
he special tariff session that conven-
I'd March IS, 1909. They had ar
ranged an appointment with Presi- |
lent Roosevelt for the afternoon of
March g. The eleventh hour of the /
Roosevelt administration was at hand |
md Roosevelt was moving out of the |
white House. The executive offices |
we're in confusion. Clerks rushing in (
md out Of the presidents office, and |
Roosevelt led the insurgent commit |
ee into the old cabinet room. He I
ragged chair from the cabinet |
able over into a corner and the con-
crence was on
Mr.. Nelson, as chairman OF The !
committee, outlined to the president |
he plan OF attack on Cannon and the |
ules, the object and chances Of sue
ess for the entire insurgent program,
md asked Roosevelt TO officially in
Iorse the movement.
The heavy cleaning eyeglasses un-
Iar tho r,rptAgt ip,, RnpgpNplt hrpNsg
wung round the little circle like
win searchlights Roosevelt raised
llmsclf in his chair, drew one leg
p beneath him, in his favortc dclib-
rativc attitude, claspcd his hands
chnd his head ana said; Nov, boys,
rt me think out loud" Then for
hrty minutes he proceeded to outline
lis position in the impending legisla-
i've struggle He pointed out to
imself and tho insurgents that
throughout the administration Cannon
nd the republican organization in the
ouse had opposed measure after
Measure that he had advanced and
dVocuted.
He said in the beginning he was
ersonallv i'm sympathy with the in
urgents and with what they were try
ny 10 do. He paused for a moment
hen he continued, saying that he
vas now getting out of the limehght
hat another was about TO take up the
ems, and that he might not like to
ave them taken out of his hands
le declared that it seemed to him
hat he would be encroaching on the
of his successor If he
ublicly indorsed the insurgent move
lent. that he had been dealing with
lcse things i'm his own way and that
lis successor would want to do the
anne without interference.
Throughout the interview the only
hiection Roosevelt made To a public
cclaration of his sympathy with the
rogressive movement was the fact
hat his successor might be embar
lsscd. II don't want to seem to inter-
ere / don't want 10 appear to seize
he reins from the hands of my Sic
essor" he said as he swept out his
ands in a suggestive gesture. I'm
Ike that taikative New Bedford mate,
hose captain told him What | want
rom YOU ia silence, ana d. little
[ thetNY
Roosevelt pointed out that II seem
Il hardly proper for him to take any
elton which might be construed as
ltcrfcring with his successors admin
tration. For an hour and half.
.oosevelt talked over the request of
le Insurgents. and they outlined their
arious projects Repeatedly the
resident evinced his desire to aid
ieir cause. seeking only = way To do
, that would not leave him open 10 .
charge OF interfering with Taft's adj
Iinistration