The National tribune., 1911-02-09
AN ELECTRIC POL.
The White House the Center of
Live Wires Now. --r.


The White House is the positive cleo
trio pole in the current of Federal activ-
ity as the end of the session nears.
The President has more business on
his hands just now than he has had at
any other time since he was inaugu-
rated. There is business that crowds
in upon him, and also business which
he originates himself.
There are multiuIdes of Congressman
who are after something. Unless there
should be an extra session of Congress-
the Senate will not meet again for nine
months This brings the patronage
question right up to the front. An
other condition has like influence.
That is the fact that so many Repub-
lican Senators and Representatives are
soon to quit office and want to have
matters OF appointment to Office dis
posed of.
Some of them, of course, are seeking
offices for themselves. They and their
friends come early and often to keep
in touch with the prospects and to urge
that the eager ones be not overlooked.
And yet, while these seekers after place
as a consolation for defeat at the polls
or in the primaries are numerous, they
are by no means as numerous as those
who want no Office and are asking no
office. The seekers take up a deal of
the Presidents time, but the fact re-
mains that most of the Senators and
Representatives who will be on the ex-
list after March are content to pro-
Fz1s,- h. fsIrx bits
accustomed occupations once more.
lame Ducks
The President, however, is taking
care" of some of these people, that are
irreverently called lame ducks" He
has just appointed to a lucrative Fed
eral office as Surveyor of the Port in
the Customs Service at San Francisco
Representative Duncan E. McKinlay.
who was in the Maine campaign last
year and in almost every other State
campaign all the way across the coun-
try He Travelled to the Philippines
with Mr.. Taft's party, when the latter
was Secretary Of War, and the Presi-
dent depended upon him much in po-
litical way to sound conditions in many
States during the early months of the
campaign. "t
There is always grist of cases of
Postmasters that Senators and Repre-
sentatiVeS want to take up with the
President personally, rather than with
the Postmaster General. Many a visi-
tor to the White House these days is
on an errand of that character. Unless
the nominations are agreed upon before
March, a trip to Washington in the
Spring or Summer may be necessary.
The President balks at patronage work.
but none the less is interested to have
these matters out of the way, as far
as possible, before Congress adjourns.
A thousand and one other matters.
however, are pressing for his attention
these turbulent February days Fore
most are matters of legislation. Some
are matters of legislation where Sena-
tors and Representatives come to enlist
his aid and others are matters of leg
islation where he is trying to enlist the
active and aggressive cooperation of
Senators and Representatives. First of
all is his Canadian reciprocity agree
ment. 1t is the one big thing that the
President wants of Congress in the
shape of an enactment that will ratify
the work Secretary Knox accomplished
with the Canadian Ministers. The Pres
ident is pounding away on that day by
day, calling men into conference as to
methods and to obtain recruits.
Canadian Reciprocity.
In many ways he is doing his utmost
to persuade the Senate to ratify that
agreement before this Congress ad-
journs. He is encouraging public SEN
timent for the treaty and is planning
to get away from Washington in a
few days for a little trip, during which
he will take occasion to make a speech
or two before audiences in the Middle
West in behalf of the agreement. He
has already fought a battle for the
Tariff Commission, SO that it has passed
the House and been favorably reported
out of the Senate Committee on
Finance. Apparently he has carried
the battle for that measure about as
far as he can.
And in the midst of all his work the
President is compelled to give no little
attention to politics. In a political way
this is an important time for him. He
is trying to keep in touch with the po-
litical leaders in the States, having
given much attention of late to New
York and Indiana. Ex-Vice President
Fairbanks has recently been on another
visit to the White House, and is gem
orally believed to be giving no little at
tention to the Presidents interests in
the Middle West. In the course of
few days Mr.. Fairbanks will come to
Washington again. He is known to be
watching party developments in several
States beyond the Allegheny Mountains
and the President has confidence in his
political acumen.
The President is very anxious for this
Congress to round out it's last days with
creditable record. He will be ready
to dwell upon what it has done, as
something to the advantage of the Re-
publican Party and also to the advan-
tage of his Administration. 1t will be
the last opportunity afforded him dur
ing his present term, because Congress
soon passes under the control OF the
opposite political party.