The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20
ROOSEVELT MAY
 BE TIE ISSUE
h Fight for Members in the s Next House.
RA1NEY's CLEVER WORK
rr<..dent Taft Steers Clear of Naval Row-Had Troubles Enough in o she Tnsurgent Flight iz
 the House

Theodore Roosevelt, 1t is believed. is to be the issue in the coming fight for poiit- acai supremacy in the House of Repre- summation of which all of the republican sumation of which all Of the republican leaders, from President Taft down the scale, desire. Every means will be taken to aid the effort to have the former President the center figure in the fall election for members of the House.
 The prediction programme as out lined by a republican chieftain, is said to be substantially this; Colonel Roose- welt is to be informed of all Of the troubles besetting the republican House organization, the insurgent movement .painst Speaker Cannon the difficulties that have beset the first year of the Taft administration through the high host of rood. the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy. etc.
 Then. when the returning hunter leands amidst the applause and glad acclaim of the nation in New York harbor, he is to be armed only with pleasant word and a sget-together-boys' command to the regulars and insurgents. Providing that his friendly advice is not taken 1t is said the big stick is to be brought from it's vault at Oyster Bay, carefully polished up and with it's spikes sharpened the former occupant of the White House will 20 into battle to see that his sue cessor, who has his full indorsement. has a substantial majority in the next Con- gress.
 Representative Currier of New Hanp- shire, the chairman of the republican caucus in discussing 'T. R.. as the is- sue, expressed contempt for the demo- crats He Is dissatisfied with the minor fty action in not pressing Representative Rainey ot Illinois as a democratic mem her of the Ballnger-Pinchot investiga- lion committed .For once in their life. though he said, ''the democrats did not do the right thing, as they often do to help along the republicans. If they had insisted upon the Illinois member 1t would have been just the chance We are looking for, Representative Rainey has criticised Colonel Roosevelt and then, too he fathered the charges against the President and the Panama canal con- struction that were exploded in the pres idential election of a year ago. With the minority insisting upon Rainey and ap- pealing to the people to punish the re- publican majority for ignoring the dem ocratic slate, the republicans would have immediately answered that they were against any man who was an enemy of Theodore Roosevelt. In my opinion the former President is the biggest man in the country today. He is 8 man whom many democrats as well as republicans, including the insurgents. will get behind. With Roosevelt in the coming fight--and 1t is good politics for the republicans to get him in-you can rest assured the next House of Representatives will have substantial republican majority
 
 It was Representative Rainey who pre- vented democrats from making an issue out of the republican action in refusing to permit him to sit as a member of the Ballinger-Pinchot committee. Repre- sentative Champ Clark, the minority leader had named a committee of seven to draw up a statement to the people dealing with the case. At caucus that followed and before the committee could frame it's statement Representative Rainey told his colleagues they would play into the republicans hands by press ing the matter. He pointed out the Roosevelt end to the controversy, and predicted that the republicans would bring to the front everything he had ever said in criticism of the former Pres 1dent and of the Roosevelt policies if the minority did not drop the fight His soft pedal advice was taken and the commit fee appointed to communicate with the
 
 ucan leaders heard of the action that night it Is said there was a universal .'d- it." with the added comment that the minority was showing brain work which did not presage good for the ma- 5ority.
 President Taft steered clear of the naval row, as it was said he believed he had enough troubles on his hands with the insurgent fight in the House without taking a public stand in the congressional squabble that has been going on over Secretary Meyers pro- posed reorganization of the navy.
 The revival of the old line and staff controversy has divided the navy de- partrnent into opposing factions with vic tory hanging into the balance for either side Rear Admiral Capps, chief con xtructor of the navy. who is the main- stay of the staff officers in the contrp- versy fled from Washington upon the advice of his physician to recuperate from an illness.
 Secretary Meyer is playing a close hand and has not indicated up to the present time just what he proposes to do fo Rear Admirals Capps and Rogers, who precipitated the conflict by their testimony before the House committee on naval affairs They cast reflections mon the wisdom of Secretary Meyers plan of reorganization. AS Secretary Meyer holds that his plan, having been approved by President Taft, is an ad- ,ninistration measure. if is likely that both Capps and Rogers may be called to account for their opposition to It, if they are not dropped altogether.
 Such course could be easily followed bv Secretary Meyer as it is evident that fhe two staff officers are out of sympa- fhv with his Ideas of naval administra- tion. Congress- however, is disposed to take another view of the situation and is inclined to sympathize with the two of- flcers who are fighting against the line officer predominating in the naval es- tablishment trouble. The members of the naval affairs committee of both the Sen ate and House rather lean to the New berry scheme of naval organization. which was put into practice during the closing days of the Roosevelt adminis- tration. By this scheme the staff offl- cers held the preponderance of author ity in the administration of navy yards. As a result of this there was constant friction with line officers, who were also detailed for duty at the navy yards
 Secretary Meyers first task was to call various boards and gather informa- tiou concerning the organization of gov ernment and commercial ship building wards. with view of putting into effect n plan of his own. This was outlined by inc board headed by Rear Admiral Swift which was in session for the entire sum- 1ner at Boston. He put the plan into eff feet December l. removing the stan of ficers. particularly the constructors, from the positions of authority they hold at