The citizen., 1910-04-01
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eraI Topics from
the Capital.
March 2Sth, 1910.


1t would require one OF versatile. if not
OF kaleidoscope power to depict the
political situation which centers at Wash
ington, or is it at Cairo, now. With
Speaker Cannon spiked and with an over
whelming but inharmonious majority in
Congress anticipating defeat in coming
elections, and with the President as rep.
reSentatIVe of the policies of his popular
predecessor isolated in the midst Of his
predecessors friends, the situation is
unique in American politics. THE I'M
pending Roosevelt" is close to the Sphinx.
and is as silent in all matters relating to
home politics, and all eyes in America
are turned to Sheppard's Hotel in Cairo
rather than to the White House in Wash
ington. 1t is indeed curious that a private
American citizen Tor are not ex-presidents
private cltizens?) emerging from a year s
absence in Africa and at present distant
by 5000 miles of sea, should be more DO
tent than any or all statesmen in Wash
ington in the midst of a congressional
session. The inappropriate return from
klba' simile has been worn to frazzles.
There is nothing in it. Roosevelt is too
big man for the role of a selfish, am
bilious Bonaparte. His Punishment has
been seli-impoSed, strenuous tour de
luke. In two months he will set foot on
American soil refreshed in body and mind,
and by that time au courant of all that
has been done and is doing.
Friends of the Secretary of the Interior
are anxious relative to the effect which
the action of the ex President is cabling
the eX-Forester to meet him in Europe
will have on the special committee which
is conducting the Ballinger- Pinchot inves-
tigation. 1t is intimated that Mr. Ballin-
gers supporters have up to the present
time been fully convinced that the Secre-
tary of the Interior would get majority
report from the committee favorable to
himself, but now there is much apprehen-
sion as to the result They take the view
that if it is understood that Roosevelt is
in sympathy with Plnchot, the committee
will hesitate to support Ballinger by en-
dorsing his course with regard to land
reservations. Mr.. Pinchot's friends have
all along insisted that the majority of the
committee was carefully selected for the
purpose OF keeping Pinchot's friends off
OF IT, and that it contains throughout
some strong Ballinger advocates There
is not a northern or western State that is
not swarmmg with politicians standing
on tiptoe or with their ears to the ground
waiting to know the attitude of the ex-
President, waiting to hear what he will
say or see what he will do well knowing
that his popularity is SO great that it will
effect for better or worse their political
ambitions.
1t is evident that Mr.. Roosevelt will not
talk for publication about home political
of h.af hA atc A
soil, but when with a clean slate and with
undiminished popularity he returns to
this country, can he be silent? No, not
though he should be speechless and pen
less His very looks. actions, greetings
and meetings would be subject of politi-
cal controversy. Mr.. Roosevelt cannot
help acting-not as actors act, not with
stage effect, but from an inherent neces-
sty of outgiving and speaking out. AS
distinguished writer once said of him,
'He does not wear his heart on his
sleeve, but he wears his mind there" No
one needs to ask twice what Mr.. Roose-
welt thinks, and when Mr.. Roosevelt acts,
no stage smaller than a continent or a
planet will serve HIM. In the complete
isolation enjoyed by him for the last
twelve months after eight years of the
most energetic political activity ever en-
joyed or endured by an American states
man or president, with the exception
perhaps of Abraham Lincoln, it may be
assumed that his reflections in the solitude
of African veldt and forest have led to
conclusions with reference to the welfare
and the progress of his country that will
find expression sooner or later in our
national laws and politics.
The insurgents of the country, as their
enemies call them, the 'progressives, as
they call themselves, are anxious for the
return of ex-President Roosevelt. They
anticipate in him champion. They have
in black and white, in speech and mes
sage, his utterances that have been their
rallying cry.