The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-04
ROOSEVELT ST|RS IRE OF LEADERS BY DECLARATION Democrats Think His Words Vulnerable and Lacking
 Their Usual Force WILLING TO FIGHT
 BEFORE THE PEOPLE Roosevelt Silent Eight Years On Tariff and Administration Be-
 came Famous for Forma-
 ton of Trusts
By c. E. STEWART

N Washington June s.-(Special )--Colonel Roosevelts parting challenge to the ad- sministration. as he took ship for Spain, which served, also. as the opening gun
 10 ms own political campaign, Is the one topic of conversation in Washington. where the Mexican situation is beginning to lose interest. in the absence of real
 action. Politics. and speculation as to the congressional elections this fall are taking the center of the stage, and to !. the colonel must be given the credit of | rousing the interest of all parties. Fl But the colonel is not going to be all F lowed to fire his broadside and get away II with it. The democrats will be up and |s at him-both in the House and the Senate this week, and the Congressional Record H will be burdened with thunder for the N consumption of the folks back home which II must have its effect in the November k election.
 N The democrats declare the Roosevelt is \ by his record exceedingly vulnerable on II his two main propositions-the tariff and |' the trusts. It is pointed out that the H colonels record on the tariff is notori- \ ously weak-in fact nil. Never in his presidential career did he take bold n stand the tariff, and in his progress Fl sive platform in his campaign for the third term, his platform declarations are characterized by the democrats as -'straddle of the tariff issue" They hold that it does not behoove him at this late day to find fault with those who did have the courage to deal with the question, and the party in power which has cor rected conditions and brought about re- forms.
 Colonel Roosevelt's connection with New II Haven deals, which are well known to N the public, win also be analysed by the democrats and will come in for some criticism. It Is also pointed out that the colonel has outdone himself in nerve to criticize the administration for it's failure to handle the trust situation in \ viwe of the fact that during his seven Il years in office, there were more trusts Fl organized in the United States than in any like period in the history of the country, If not in fact all the rest of the time put together.
 -Insures Trust Legislation However, the colonel's broadside, it is I declared, will have the effect of assur- ing completion of the trust legislative programme at this session, which it was believed in congressional circles, would have otherwise ended by hte House pass 1 vng the bills over to the Senate. It is
 
 not to put the antitrust bills on the statute books as a complete answer to Roosevelt.
 With reference to the tariff bill, Repre- sentative Palmer pointed out that not only is Colonel Roosevelt in no position to criticize any ones record on the tariff, but further by doing he will put his progressive followers in the House in very bad hole, inasmuch as practically all of them voted for large majority of the schedules contained in the Under wood bill
 Representative Underwood Is not in Washington and no comment could be obtained from him on the Roosevelt stat- ment. Senator Simmons, joint author |l with MT. Underwood of the tariff meas lure, would make no formal statement, And simply said that he believed it did hot require an answer. He intimated that he thought the colonels utterances rather fnnocuous and hardly up to his usual standard in such matters ''The charges made against the administration are merely repetitions of those made by the republicans from time to time," said the senator, and most of them answer them selves. The democratic party has reduced the cost on many articles that enter into the daily life of the American citizen, as could be shown by the market quota tions.' He mentioned sugar and wool Ad- hitting that his party had not yet leg lSlateu on truStS, senator summons point ed out that Roosevelt fdmself was more responsible than any other person that I 1t was necessary for them to do so, and M expressed the opinion that they ought to Ate given credit for lot of patient effort ' h that direction which sooner or later \ would bear fruit.
 In Line With Republican Party Both democrats and republicans regard Roosevelt's statement as indicating ten ~1--.. I cies. He has attacked in a general way those things that the republicans have been attacking. With this common crit i icism of the administration 1t is believed II in some quarters that the followers of Roosevelt and the republicans will find themselves cooperating politically. There are many on both sides working hard for coalition. But Victor Murdoch, the bull moose q leader in the House of Representatives, \ Indignantly denies that Colonel Roose- |tWeft Is flirting" with the republicans. 'T am not authorized to speak for Colonel Roosevelt" said the Kansan. ''but I feel sure that he never has for a moment thought of deserting either the progr essive standard or the principles 1t represents. should be surprised if
 Mir. Roosevelt did not win some repub- ucans over to these principles. I cannot Imagine the colonel heading the repub- .lican ticket in 1916. although expect 8to see him at the top of the progressive 0 ticket that year. I do not believe he would even think of the amalgamation lof the two parties. and I am sure that IT am opposed to It. f Senator. Poindexter believes that Roose- welt may be the rep..piican as well as | Ethe progressive nominee in 1918. T think it quite. plain from Colonel fRoosevelt's statement that he is think l fing only of the progressive party" said I fthe senator. But that is not saying that | y.he will not try to get republican supp Nport. should think that he or any Bother candidate will take al they can V8et.' " What hand the colonel will take in |1the South Dakota primaries which occur l xnow in a few weeks. will be watched |3with interest. At these primaries 1t will | |Ibe decided whether or not to put a pro- 3gressive ticket in the state. According |
 ko Senator Sterling, the colonel's popu-
 arityl in that state has sonewhat waned |
 T doubt that Roosevelt Is as strong in |
 South Dakota row as in 1912." said tho |
 Aenator.
 Selma to Hold Chautauqua
 Selma, June 3-(Special. )-rhe Selma |
 ,ha I, fs t1ot1a will hoain hare Esridav and