The Washington times., 1910-05-24
Declaration of Sympathy
With Their Legislative Pro-
gram Is Recalled.
FIGHT ON CANNON
HEARTILY APPROVED
Written Endorsement Only Pre-
vented BY Desire Not to
EmbarrasS Taft.


next fall. the House progressives are to-
day planning TO sweep Theodore ROose-
welt into the midst of the terrific cam
paign which cOnfronts them.
The insurgents are sure that Roose-
welt will be with them in their strug-
gle. because they say. he was heart
and soul with their cause when he quit
Washington.
Roosevelt will no sooner reach Amer
lea next month than he will be in COM
municatiOn with the insurgents. Differ
ent progressive Representatives have
already written him, and received re-
plies regarding his speaking tours on
his return. A number of House Repre-
sentatives will be at the pier TO 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 progress
sives are today recalling a report made
TO the insUrgent organization in caucus
last March by the Insurgent Executive
Committee Representatives Nelson
(Rep.. Wis.,. Madison (Rep., Kan.),, and
Gardner (Rep., Mass), who were
charged with the mission Of obtaining
the Endorsement Of Roosevelt for the
insurgent policies, in those strenuous
Closing days of the strenuous admins
tration. The following statements. in
corporated in that report, and known for
more than year TO every House in
surgent, are here made public Cor the
first time.
Written Approval Promised.
On March 3, 1909. Theodore Roosevelt
proposed to give Representative Nelson,
chairman Of the insurgent executive
committee, a letter indorsIng the fight
on Cannon and on the House rules. He
expressed himself as thoroughly in SYM
pathy with the progressive movement.
particularly in the fight against Can
non. as he said: Cannon has been the
greatest obstacle IN the way Of nv ef-
forts 10 obtain good legislation for the
people Of the country, throughout the
seven years Of my administration"
On March 4, after spending the even
ing 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 smbarrass his sue
cessor.
One Of the last acts OF Rooseveits ad- |
ministration, as ne stood in the Presi-
dents room IN the Senate wing OF the
Capitol. was TO take Representatives
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 Eat least to keep his hands
of"
Endorsement Never Given.
The story Of the Endorsement that
was never given, was outlined 70 the in
surgent caucus held early IN the tariff
session by the executive committee III
this way:
Representatives Nelson. Gardner, and
Madison, the executive committee Of
the progressive caucus, were chosen TO
endeavor TO obtain President Roosevelts
Endorsement Of the insurgent attack on
Cannon and The rules projected by the
progreSsives to be made during the spe-
cial tariff session that convened March
Is. 1909. They had arranged an appoint
1nent with President Roosevelt for the
afternoon Of March 3.
The eleventh hour Of the Roosevelt
Administration was at hand and Roose-
welt was moving out Of the White
House. The Executive offices were in
confusion Clerks were rushing in and
out OF tho Presidents office. ana RoOse-
Welt led the insurgent committee into
the old Cabinet room. He dragged 4
chair from the Cabinet table over into a
Nelson. as chairman OF the commit
tee, outlined TO the President the plan
of attack on Cannon and the rules,
tile object and chances Of success for
the entire insurgent program, and asked
Roosevelt TO officially indorsc the move
rnent.
Roosevelt Commits Himself.
The heavy cleaning eyeglasses ur-
der the projecting Roosevelt brows
swung round the little circle like twin
searcblights. Roosevelt raised himself
in his chair. drew one leg I'D beneath
him. in his favorite deliberative atti
tude. claSDed his hands behind his head
head and said:
Now. boys. let me think oft loud"
Ihen Tor thirty minutes he proceeded
10 outline his position in the finpendinS
legislative struggle He pointed out to
hlnseIt and the insurgents that
throughout his Administration Cannon
and the Republican Organization in +bo
House had opposed measure after meas
are that he had advanced. and adVo-
Gated.
He said In the beginning thar he ,-,s
personally In sympathy with the in
SurSents, and with what they We're try
ing TO do. He paused for a moment
hen he continued, saying that he was
now getting out Of the limelight, that
another was about 10 take I'D the reins.
and that he might not like to have them
taken out OF his hands. He declared
llldl IL crrllAtu u MN IlldI ne would be
encroaching on the prerogatives of his
successor If he publicly indorsed the in
SurCent movement that he had baan
dealing with these things in his own wav
and that his successor would want 10
do the same without interference
Afraid to Embarrass Successor.
Throughout the interview the only OBJ
lection Roosevelt made 70 a public
declaration Of his sympathy with the
progressive movement was the fact that
his successor might be embarrassed.
"I don't want 10 seem 10 interfere.
don't want to appear to seize the reins
from the hand of my successor he !
said as he swept out his hands in a sug-
gestive gesture, I'm like that talkative |
New Bedford mate. whose captain told !
him: What I want from you Is silence, |
and d little CT thatr
Roosevelt pointed out that ii seemed |
hardly proper for him TO take any &C
ton which might be construed as inter |
feriug with his successors administra- |
ton.
For an hour and a half. Roosevelt |
talked over the request Of the insur- |
gents, and they outlined their various /
projects. Repeatedly the President /
evinced his desire TO aid their cause. /
seeking only a way to 90 so that weuld |
not leave HIN open 70 charge OF in !