The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-09-28

E###MM Joseph Il. Cannon
VM for speaker, there
were enough an.
'oosS SMITH, c ements of
regulars against Uncle Joe to indicate
the direction Of the tide. Perhaps the
most significant Of them all was that
Of Judge Walter I. Smith Of Iowa.
Judge Smith has not only been one Of
the most active Cannon lieutenants,
but is perhaps the most formidable
candidate for speaker in the Repub.
lican ranks. When the Republican
caucus elected the members of the new
rules committee Smith received the
largest vote. Despite the fact that
Iowa went progressive in the recent
primaries, the insurgents we're unable
to dislodge him. Shrewd observers be-
lieve that his anti-Cannon stand will
not only help the Iowa member in the
election this fall, but will materially
aid him in gaining the good will Of the
insurgents and so assist his speaker
ship boom. All Of this does not inter-
est Champ Clark, who thinks he will
be the next speaker. Maybe he will,
but If the Republicans win you want
to keep your optic glued to Judge
Walter I. Smith.
It is something awful to be the 20.
litical correspondent of a metropolitan
paper in hot weather. The editors de-
mand just 30 many thrillers. and II
there is nothing with the thrill to it
what is the poor correspondent to do?
Either resign his Job or hit the pipe.
There is nothing else to it. Well, this
summer the price of living has been
such that the boys did not feel in the
resigning mood, so that good old polit-
1cal dope pipe has been working over
time. And such weird stories as they
have conjured in its fumes! Ever
since the New York Republican COM
mittee %joyously threw Colonel Roose-
welt overheard for temporary chairman
of the state convention the correspond
ents have been busy getting up a fight
between Roosevelt and Taft. One day
they had the colonel sending an ulti-
matum to the president, demanding
that he cut loose from Sunny jim"
Sherman, who had beaten Roosevelt
to the craftsmanship. This was prompt
~ denied at Oyster Bay, but it did not
dampen the ardor of the correspond
ents. They simply had to have a war,
and they had it-in the papers. In the
meantime the colonel and the presi-
dent have gone serenely on their re-
spective ways, talking principles and
eschewing personalities and controver-
sizes. Roosevelt is progressive and ad.
mits It; he is for uplift and says so,
but when 1t comes to fights, candida.
cies and that sort of thing be let's 9th.
ers do the talking. And these others,
Including the correspondents, have
shown themselves abundantly on the
job.
The Roosevelt tour covers a speech
on the country life movement. one on
the west. n or two IN the labor
movement. one on the Panama canal,
one or more on conservation and sew
eral others on general topics. including
my policies" There are cowboy vel.
comes. rough rider parades, conserva.
ton congresses and civic uplift. There
is a horseback ride over the plains
and the dedication OF John Brown
park. All of this sounds R~ooseveltian
and is proving even more R~ooseveltian
than 1t sounds. 1t has all the "zing"
of the good old days when he lam
basted the trusts and ripped it into the
prevaricators. Moreover. Clifford Pin
chot and James II. Garfield speak on
divers occasions with the colonel,
which ought to be interesting news to
Richard Achilles Ballinger and Uncle
Joe Cannon. Sounds a little back.
from.Elba".ish, does it noty
Vice President Sherman refuses to
reply to former Representative Marvin
e.. Hart. who accused him of suppress
ing a telegram from President Taft
requesting Sherman to consult the
wishes Of Colonel Roosevelt, an accu-
satfon afterward confirmed by the
president. Nor has the vice president
noticed the charge of State Senator
Davenport of his district, who says
that Sunny Jim" s%idetracked him be-
aus be Davenport was for the
Hughes direct primary bill. In the
meantime Senator Gore exonerates
Mr.. Sherman from completely In the
indian frauds. or rather says there is
no evidence to connect him Herewith. |
All Of which teaches us that a vice
president is not necessarily on the
shelf. but may be very much In the
news; likewise that Sherman is some. |