Middletown transcript., 1910-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER

WAsHrNaroE, d. O., March 26. 1910
The political situation ss viewed from
The standpoint of the national capital, is
much more interesting TO both parties
than legislation end executive matters
Just now. The election Of Mr.. Foss az .
Democrat to Congress in Massachusetts
this week BY plurality Of 564O in dis.
trict which elected Republican In 1908
BY plurality Of 14,0O0. is regarded here
and throughout the country as q most
significant indication as to popular feel
ing. OF course, political hgurers are
hard at work and will show plansibly
special causes for this remarkable political
change. But creditinG the Republicans
with ell that they may claim as causes
for this surprising result, il indicates that
the trend Of popular opinion has gone so
far that nothing but miracle or RIoee-
Velt can save the House next fall to the
party in power. Let Il be said with what.
ever emphasis can be brought to bear,
that the party in power is not response
BILE for high prices or for unsatisfactory
business conditions. Inasmuch ss the
party in power, Democratic or Republican
always claims credit for whatever good
thing happens, 1t must face the respon-
sibility for some Of she bad, even if il
should be bad crops.
IS
So great has bsen she sxcitement over
the rebuke Of Cannon in ths lower house
OF Congress that the BallinRer- Pinctot
investigation has been TO q great degree
forgotten. Mr.. PinChot, since he had
testified, has started to Europe and is
now well on his way thitheF. Il is re-
ported that he is going in answer to
cablegram from ex.President Roosevelt.
That one so near the ex-President as ex-
Forester Pinchot should be the first to
get the ear Of Mr.. Roosevelt, is subject of
considerable anxiety to the other side,
or ct least to certain individuals OF the
other side. So far, Mr.. Roosevelt has
been as silent as the Sphinx which yester
night he saw by moonlight. Another
significant fact is that during Mr.. Ga .
fields residence in the city two weeks
ago he was the guest Of Mr.. Pinchot, and
be only yesterday made an address to II
Tippecanoe Club in Cleveland. a very
temperate address, but one in which il
was plain to see shat bis sympathies we're
with the insurgents and that bis advocacy
was for q more enthusiastic support OF
Roosevelt policies than il is possible for
President Taft accomplish, handicapped
as be il by those in tine House aud the
Senate with whom be has elected to con.
sort. It is curious situation and IN.
pFeCedented In our political history that
q Belf.exiled ex President Is as this mo-
ment more potential in the political Of.
fairs of the country than the genial gentle-
man in the White House. What he may
say or do when or before he Iands here in
June is q matter Of keen soliciGuds to
regulars, insurgents, Democrats aud to
everyone interested in current politics.
-
Mr.. Garfield in his speech in Cleveland,
made severe arraignment OF those Re.
publican leaders guilty Of q policy which
he thinks IL certain to lead the party TO
defeat. He insisted that the average
American realized that present conditions
pointed TO something radically wrong.
He urged progressive action and pointed
out that when party fails to be pro-
greasiye it's usefulness has begun to wane.
at lie our duty" said Mr.. Garfield, ito !
squaTely face the situstion and to stand
up and be counted for the policies that
are in sympathy with the beet progressive
thought OF our country, and the people |
are justly calling upon Us for fulflment
Of that policy. They will not be satisfied
with inaction and make shift leg slstion."
These words, coming from Jimmie" as
Mr.. Roosevelt was wont to call this men,
Der Of his regular cabinet and Of his tennis
court or kitchen cabinet also, after close
communion as guest Of Clifford Pinchos,
than whom none Was closer to Mr.. Roose-
welt, naturally raise the question as to
who are the representatives of the Roose-
welt policies. 1t is useless to deny that
Mr.. Taft Is or was Mr.. Roosevelt's chosen
successor and political heir. Nothing
like such q selection has ever before
occurred in American history, and the
facts and she event are 80 recent that
everybody knows and realizes them. The
situation cannot bnt be embarrassing to
the .ex-President. Politician, statesman
and historian as he 10, he cannot but ap-
preciate the difficulties with which the
President has had to contend and is con.
tending. No president has ever been
more sincerely anxious 10 carry ont the
policies bequeathed to him by party plat. |
form than President Taft, and it is not |
mere fiction to place the odium offsiIurs,
il failure it must be, on his wicked sd.
viseFs.