Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-22
CONGRESS AT HIS BACK
Representatives and Senator's Assure
Him Of Loyalty.
SUGGESTS TWO BATTLEsHIPs
Views Expressed to Chairman of
Naval Affairs Committee of the
House Today.

feeling mighty good. Things are conn
ing his way" He is good enough poll
ucian to see it clearly and his friends
confirm his opinions of the situation Not
only is Congress soidly lined up for him.
but all parts Of the country, particularly
the west. send information that is graft
flying. Voluntary correspondents write
uniformly the same sort of Information,
and visitors from all sections talk along
the same lines.
The radical states of the west have
been brought to understand that the
president proposes to do things and talk
little about it.
The people in these states, once disposed
to criticise, are now praising the legis-
lativc program of the administration.
They are willing to give Mr. Taft credit
Tor many good qualities they for a short
while feared he did not possess. And
the President is glad to have these good
tldlngs. Although the most unconcerned
as to his political future of any man
who ever sat in the executive Offices Mr.
Taft naturally prefers smooth running for
the government machinery to obstruction
and lighting. If he had his way there
would never be pickering or discomfort.
Kansas Leaders Call.
The best indication Of. changing senti-
ment in. the west was given today by Gov.
Stubs of Kansas. who, along with Sena-
tor Bristow. leads the radical sentiment
In that state. The combination of the
two men has been strong one and up
TO few weeks ago was conniving at the
call for Theodore Roosevelt once more
to impose his shadow over the political
earth's crust. Senator Bristow has been
refused federal patronage in Kansas be-
cause his neWspapers-both those owned
by him and those following his lead
have been lambasting the President as
weak successor to Roosevelt. They are
fast changing their views. Senator Bris-
tow was at the White House today to in
troduce friend. Later Gov. Stubs APP
peared. After he had seen the President
lie said: kansas newspapers and peo-
pie very generally commend the legis-
lative propositions of the President. from
trust laws to conservation of natural re-
sources
in view of the fact that at the beginning
of this administrati ton President Taft
turned down Gov. Stubbs in relation to
federal appointment in that state. Gov.
Stubs and the Bristow faction did not
get over this for months
The President feels that the "insur-
gent" situation in the House Will not in
terfere with the party's legislative pro-
gram. He believes that the insu; gents
have come to the conclusion that they
can postpone the settlement of their
grievances. Congress as whole Is
therefore. with the administration, assur-
ing progressive legislation.
. Congratulated by Congressman.
A half dozen senator's and representa-
tives congratulated the President today
upon the manner in which things are
shaping up. One OF these was Represen-
tative Hamilton Fish. who voted against
the House organization in the matter of
the House representation on the Balm
ger-Pinchot committee Of investigation.
Mr.. Fish, a warm friend of eX-President
Roosevelt. said that President Taft had
the country with him and was every day
growing in esteem. Representative Mann
same lines. as did Representative Doug
las of Ohio. Mr.. Douglas assured the
President that the Ohio delegation was
solidly back of him on all his legislative
measures, and said that President Taft
was becoming more popular every day
In all sections of the country.
In his talk with congressman the Presi-
dent has been urging that work begin in
the direction of getting some of the pro-
posed laws passed. AS he feels his way
and finds that his most imr ortant propo-
sitions are assured of friendly treat
ment in Congress. he turns to other mat
tiers upon which he wants favora BILE
action.
Advocates Two Battleships.
The President today talked with Rep
resentative Foss Of Illinois. chairman of
the House naval affairs committee, and
with Representative Roberts of Massa-
chusetts, a. member of the same COM
mittee. To both of his visitors the Presi-
dent said that he greatly desired provi-
sion for two more battleships. He did not
think the policy of a larger and stronger
navy, so urgently and earnestly advocat-
ed by President Roosevelt, should be laid
aside, and he felt sure that the country
would INSIST upon the navy having up-to-
date lighting vessels. Chairman Eoss
himself las always. been favorable to
building enough bait 'eships annually to
There has been much talk that the neces-
sity for economy would eliminate pro-
vision for two battleships. but the Presi-
dent showed today that he considered
that economy of this kind would be false.
Position for Gen. Grosvenor.
Gen. Charles II. Grosvenor for years
in Congress from Ohio. is to be named as a
member of the Chickamauga Park battle
field commission, to fill a vacancy caused
by death. Representative Douglas of
oi'Acs WIZ OGACdtcu 4cll. 1TOSSeHOT LOT
the House, retiring him from public life,
made the request for the appointment,
and the President agreed to make it,
Gen. Grosvenor was in the battle of
Chickamauga and has always taken a
deep interest In making a park of the
battle-ground.
Senator Burrows today asked the Presi-
dent TO promote Maj. Eugene Fechet of
the Signal Corps of the army to brigadier
general so that he may retire in March
with that rank. Senator Burrows told
the President that Maj. Fechet is the only
man I'm the Signal Corps WHO began his
military career i'll the civil war and who
remains below the grade of colonel. Maj.
Fechet entered the army in 1861, and will
retire in March. The President was in
terested in the statement, and will prob
ably take action favorable to Maj. F'echet
G.. A. r. Invitation.
Edwin Ii. Holbrook, commander of the
Department of the Potomac, G. A. r..
and Israel w. Stone. past department
comma nder today invited the President
to attend the dinner of the local de-
partment to be given to Samuel r. Van
Zant, commander-in-chi of the G. A. r.,
at the Arlington Hotel. February Is. The
President said that he would try to at
tend If he could find the time and would
be delighted to do so.
President Taft will attend the Lincoln
day dinner OF the Republican Club of
New York. 1t will be held at the Wal
dorf- Astoria the evening Of February II.
The President had half q dozen invita-