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JANUARY 10, 1908
The Commoner,
simplicity pervaded the presidential functions.
The dinners were given after the substantial
Virginia fashion, and the guests were apt to
depart early. Aside from the monthly public
levee there was little entertaining of a public
character, and functions to which invitations
were issued by card were looked upon by the
press and, the public as purely the affairs of
the presidential family, with which the outside
world had no concern. Mr. Semple, like most
Virginians, sympathized with the confederacy.
He died soon after the close of the war, but
some years before his death he and his wife
had separated, and Mrs. Semple, after her fath
er's death, maintained herself by teaching. In
the early 'GOs, while she was teaching school
in Baltimore, Mr. W. W. Corcoran, a personal
friend of President Tyler's, Invited her to live
at the Louise home, founded by Mr. Corcoran
as a memorial to his daughter. Mrs. Semple, al
though crippled with paralysis, was mentally
alert and active. Owing to her physical condi
tion she rarely left the Louise home, and only
once, at the wedding of President Cleveland and
Miss Frances Folsoni, did she make the effort
necessary to attend a social function."
WALTER WELLMAN, Washington corres
pondent for the Chicago Record-Herald,
sees trouble for the republican party. In a disr
patch to his newspaper Mr. Wellman says: "War
on the Roosevelt administration under the guise
of various investigations is to occupy a good deal
of the attention of congress during the winter.
In this interesting, if not important, work, re
publicans are to join, more or less, while put
ting democrats forward to take the lead and do
the heavy work. There may be surprise
throughout the country at the fact that repub
licans will help discredit an administration of
their own party, and that upon the eve of a
presidential campaign. But facts are stubborn
things. There are plenty of republicans in both
branches of congress whose dislike of Roosevelt
and desire to shy a brick at him and his politi-.
cal program are keener than their desire for
party success at the polls next year. It,. must
be remembered- that the president does not lack
friends, either, and when the war comes on it
is likely to be a lively one, indeed, contributing
not a little to the gaiety of the nation. Anything
will be better than the insufferable dullness
which has pervaded the do-nothing congress up
to this time. And out of the clash of criticism
and defense the people of the country are likely
to get a good deal of information and an insight
into the truth which they may not possess at
the present moment."
WHILE THE majority of republican sena
tors and representatives will naturally
stand for the administration Mr. Wellman says
that the Roosevelt critics are actuated by mo
tives about as follows: "They do not like
Roosevelt himself. They are jealous of the
wonderful popularity the president has through
out the' country. They would like to place a
few obstacles in the path which Secretary Taft
is traveling toward the White House. And they
would like to have some fun. Among the
weapons which are to be used to 'make it lively
for the administration' are the following: The
row in the navy department leading to the resig
nation of Admiral Brownson. The Brownville
negro affair. The Philippine tariff."
DETAILING THE points of attack, Mr. Well
man says: "Of these the navy case is
by far the most interesting and likely to be
the most lively. We shall be told that President
Roosevelt violated the law in upholding Surgeon
General Rixey, that he knew he was violating
the law, and that he doesn't care a rap whether
he does or not. We shall hear a great deal
about the dictator who stands with his foot on
the neck of the' constitution, the man on horse
back, the centralized government, 'the state, it is
I.' Many democrats and a few republicans will
indulge in this sort of thing. The president will
not lack defenders, and hence the debates in the
two houses of congress, the senate especially,
are pretty sure to be interesting from week to
week as the months roll by and the qonvention
at Chicago draws nearer. It is not probable
these attacks will hurt the president's popu
larity among the people. He is prone to speak
In his own behalf, and what he has to say at
tracts far more attention than what Is said by
those who criticise him. This is a peculiar ad
Tantage the president of the United States pos
sesses, especially a popular president, who knows
how to write good, strong English. At the samo
timo it is true that a great deal of natural criti
cism is aimed at the president on the ground
of his arbitrary uso of his power and his estab
lishment of what Is called a 'personal govern
ment.' The president Is much prone to havo
his own way and to stand by and reward his
personal friends, regardless of precedents, and
sometimes by straining the law. There Is a gen
eral feeling in Washington that the president
would not have decided in favor of Surgeon Gen
eral Rixey if that gentleman had not been his
close personal friend and chum. In this con
nection the rapid rise of General Leonard Wood,
another of the president's chums, Is recalled.
Many people do not like this sort of thing. But
as long as wo have presidents with more power
than the king of England or the emperor of
Germany is able to wiold it is probable favorit
ism will continue, and it is difficult to see what
anyone can do about it."
T'-IE TAFT boom seems lately to be gathering
strength. Congressman J. Sloat Fassott of
New York, who has all along been regarded as
a Hughes man, gave out this newspaper inter
view: "It is yet too early to say anything defi
nitely about the presidential campaign. Gover
nor Hughes enjoys the respect of the Now York
people. His friends are booming him for presi
dent. None of them Is speaking authorita
tively for him. Governor Hughes Is not an ac
credited candidate, ho has not announced him
self, and until he does can not be seriously con
sidered. The west does not want a New York
man. To win you must carry Now York and
New Jersey. The republicans can win possibly
without Now York; the democrats can not pos
sibly win without New York. Whoever Is our
candidate for president when the time comes to
go Into the convention ho will have tho united
support of tho entire republican organization In
New York state. Only time will tell who that
man will be." The Elmlra, N. Y., correspondent
for the New York Herald says: "Since Repre
sentative Fassett's return from Washington It
has been reported In inner circles that he is a
convert to the Roosevelt side in tho New York
battle, is opposed to Governor Hughes and has
deserted him entirely."
T'lE TAFT boomers have evidently been mak
ing progress lately. A Washington dis
patch to the New York World says: "Frank
Hitchcock, first assistant postmaster general, and
John Capers, commisisoner of Internal revenue,
havo climbed into the front seats of the Taft
band wagon. This is not only a boost for Mr.
Taft, but it is the unveiling of the monument
on the grave of the Cortelyou boom. Mr. Hitch
cock went through tho south, where federal
office holders constitute the republican party,
and corralled delegates for President Roosevelt
for a third term. These delegates were to be
delivered to Secretary Cortelyou, as it was well
known to Mr. Hitchcock that the president would
not accept a third term. The president had
come out for Secretary Taft as his successor and
would not, for a time, believe that Hitchcock
was using federal patronage against tho White
House plans. When he was convinced, already
through the efforts and arguments of Secretary
Loeb, he notified federal office holders by letter
that he did not want to hear of any further act
ivity in his behalf on their part. Mr. Capers,
who holds the eighteen delegates of South Caro
lina at his disposal, and who has a considerable
influence in other .southern states, said for pub
lication in the World that he had not heard of
such a letter and did not believe that one exist
ed. The next day he was invited to the White
House and the president in person showed tho
letter to him. Mr. Capers corrected himself be
fore the public, but he insisted to the president
that the letter was all news to him. This started
an investigation, which revealed that Mr. Cor
telyou had pigeon-holed the letter, because tho
financial stringency was taking all his attention
and he thought this could wait. The president,
then, on the urging of Mr. Cooley and Mr. Gar
field, members of the tennis cabinet, Issued his
positive retaliation of his election day state
ment that ho would not accept another term.
He also informed Postmaster General Meyer that
in the future all nominations for postmasters
would be considered as coming from him (Mr.
Meyer). This eliminated the power of Hitch
cock The treasury department closed yester
day at noon, It being a half holiday. Two hours
later Mr. Hitchcock met Mr. Capers in the lat
ter's office. When tho conference had ended,
about 3:30 o'clock, both had decided that they
9
wore for Taft. This moans tho dollvtry of dole
gates gathered by Hitchcock for Corlolyou to"
Taft. Also that tho able assistance In tho south
of Mr. Capors will bo added to tho Hitchcock
organizing ability. To Mr. Hitchcock It Is not
improbable that tho movo may moan that ho
will bo the Hanna to Taft. To Mr. Caper It
moans holding a Job, not for tho financial re
turns, as he can make more money praotlclng
law, but for the political and social standing
it gives him. To tho friends of Taft It moans
that he will havo tho advantago of having Homo
brains In his boom an advantage that has not
been manifest hitherto."
A WASHINGTON dispatch to tho Knnnnn City
Star says: "A definite movement to stop'
gambling In the natural products of the coun
try, which may develop Into a formidable move
ment against Wall Street speculation was start
ed In tho house of representatives when Repre
sentative Scott of Kain:as, the now chairman of
tho committee on agriculture introduced a bill,
to prohibit dealings in grain futures an . to Im
pose severe penalties for violations of tho pro
posed law. Tho bill Ik like that Introduced by
Representative Burloson of Texas to prohibit
gambling in cotton futures, except that it Is
aimed at grain gambling. Scott and Burleson,
although tho latter Is a domocrat and the former
a republican, are acting together. Tho commit
tee on agriculture to which both measures havo
been referred, either will combine tho two or
will roport both favorably and ask for oarly con
sideration. The alliance between tho democrat
from Texas and the republican from Kansas to
effect a great public purpose Is tho forerunner
and concrete indication of n combination already
being formed between tho south and the west
to protect their mutual Interests from tho cor-,
poration-controlled eastern men In both houses.;
The western grain men and tho southern cotton
producers are convinced that tho prices of their
products aro beaten down by the gamblers. They,
are determined that In fighting the gambling
evil they will put their causa above party con-,
sidcratlons or considerations of personal politi
cal Interest. If they find that they can stop
gambling In wheat, corn, cotton and other pro-,
ducts of the soil they believe they will open tho
way to stop gambling in stocks and bonds. This
subject Is so Intimately connected with tho finan
cial question that southern and western men aro
disposed to consider tho two together. Cotton
and grain gamblers aro greatly alarmed over,
the prospect of this legislation and are com
bining to oppose it. The cotton exchange of
New York has Issued a call to tho Chicago board
of trade and all other boards of trade In western
cities to unite in an effort to save themselves
by preventing the passage of tho several bllla
intended to wipe them all out of existence."
THE OMAHA (Neb.) World-Herald prints tho
following: "Hundreds of columns of dis
cussion of presidential politics aro printed ovary
day In the newspapers. But only occasionally
is there printed a contribution to tho subject
that actually casts light upon It. Such a con
tribution Is made by the Atlanta Georgian, and
it would do some people a whole lot of good to
read It: 'There are only two elements in this
country of ours today one dominated by tho
moneyed interests, the head of which Is com
monly called Wall Street, Standard Oil and sim
ilar sounding names, the other the common
people. All the possible candidates for tho
presidency can be easily and quickly classified
with one of these two elements. Our next presi
dent will be elected by one or the other. Mr.
Roosevelt belonged, in spirit and purpose at
least, to the common people, and It Is to be re
gretted that they lose the completion of his
fight in their behalf. Mr. Bryan belongs to
the same element, and the question to be de
cided now Is not between two great statesman
like leaders, one on the democratic side and
the other on the republican side, but between
the two great powers that vie with each other .
the power of money, which owns and controls
the millions upon millions of dollars that con
trol our railroads and the o'ther industries, and
the eighty-odd millions of people who strive in
the common walks of life from day to day for
their daily bread. Which of these shall select
the man to represent them has come to be the
issue. The question of the democratic party
and the republican party has been almost oblit
erated and merged into the greater question of
money or men.' Here, In a single paragraph, 13
the explanation of some very great 'mysteries. ".
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