The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-05-27


made by a committee of insurgents
to caucus of the house progressives
in March, 1909 The endorsement
was given the insurgents in the
strenuous closing days of Roosevelt
administration.
With this support behind them
the house progressives, with "Roose-
welt and Insurgency" as the battle
cry, are planning a terrific campaign
next fall that will sweep the former
president into the whirlpool of poll
tics.
The endorsement which forms the
groundwork of the campaign plan
ned, was given to Representative
Nelson (Wis.), Representative Gard
ner Mass AMI Representative Mad
ison (Kan.). The three representa-
tives were sent as committee by
the insurgents to Roosevelt to OBJ
tain his endorsement of the insurg-
ent policies. They appeared before
the caucus and made a report of the
result Of their mission. The report
is here made public for the first
time
On March 8, 1909, the report de-
clares, Roosevelt proposed to give
Representative Nelson, as chairman
of the insurgent committee, letter
endorsing the fight made by the pro-
gressives on Speaker Cannon and the
house rules. He expressed thorough
sympathy with the progressives, and
said: Cannon has been the great
est obstacle to efforts to secure good
legislation throughout my admins
tration."
On March 4, after having spent an
evening with Taft, Roosevelt asked
the insurgents to excuse him from
writing a formal letter incorporating
these views, on the ground that such
letter might embarrass the new ad
ministration.
Standing in the presidents room
in the senate wing Of the capitol
Roosevelt took Gardner and Nelson
by the hand, and turning to Taft
urged him to take up the insurgen
cause. That was one of Roosevelt:
last acts during his administration
the report declares.
The insurgent executive committee
gave the following outline of their
visit to the president before the In.
surgent caucus:
u Outline the Attack.
! Nelson, Gardner and Madison en-
deavored, on the afternoon of March
to secure Roosevelt's endorsement
of the insurgent attack on Speaker
Cannon and the house rules, to be
made during the special session OF
congress to revise the tariff. Roose.
welt was moving out, and the execu
tive offices were in confusion. The
former president led the committee
into the old cabinet room, where
Nelson, as chairman of the executive
committee, outlined the plan of at.
tack that had been made, defined its
object, estimated the chances of sue
cess Of the insurgent program, and
asked Roosevelt to endorse the plans
officially.
Roosevelt raised himself in his
chair, drew one leg up beneath him
} favorite deliberative attitude
! clasped his hands behind his head
and said:
Now, boys, let me think out
loud"
Cannon Against Him.
For thirty minutes he proceeded
to outline his position in the impend.
ing legislative struggle. He point.
ed out to himself and the insurgents
that throughout his administration
Speaker Cannon and certain follow.
, ers had opposed measure after meas
J ure that he had advanced and advo-
Gated He said in the beginning that
he personally favored the insurgent
cause and was in sympathy with
their aims. He said, however, that
he was now preparing to get out OF
the limelight, that another was to
take the reins and that a new pres
ident might not like to have them
taken from his hands.
Roosevelt declared it seemed he
would be encroaching on the preroga-
tives of his successor if he publicly
endorsed the insurgents. He said
he had been dealing with these
things in his own way and his sue
cessor would want to do the same
without any interference Through
out the interview the only objection
Roosevelt made to a public declar
alton of sympathy with the insurg-
ents was the fact that his successor
might be embarrassed.
He Wrote Letter.
For an hour and a half Roosevelt
talked over the questions connect
ed with the insurgent movement.
The committeeman outlined various
projects. Repeatedly Roosevelt,