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Tlie Commoner.
MARCH 4, 1910
7
"Please, Mr. Roosevelt, Save the Republican Party"
The following dispatch la taken from the
Philadelphia Public Ledger (republican):
Washington, February 19. With Roosevelt in
the field for congress on the platform that if
elected ho will be a candidate for speaker, some
of the astute republicans think they have solved
the problem of how to hold the next house of
representatives for their party. They argue that
if Roosevelt is to be speaker the people of the
middle west, who threaten to turn the country
pver to the democrats, will relent and join in
the rush to get their candidates into congress.
Such is the scheme at the present time. While
Colonel Roosevelt has announced that ue would
not go to congress, yet he might be persuaded
'for the sake of the party and for Taft to prevent
the administration from receiving a rebuff that
would probably be used against it during the
next three years.
Mr. Cocks, who represents the First New York
district in congress, Is well known in Pennsyl
vania and is a manager of Swarthmore college.
Mr. Cocks says that while some plans were made
for Colonel Roosevelt upon his return, they did
not contemplate his going to congress, at least
to the lower branch of that body. There is a
hint that the Colonel would seek the place now
held by Mr. Depew as senator from New York.
Not knowing just what the present contest may
lead to, Mr. Cocks is going ahead with his fight
for renomlnatibn and has enlisted the services of
Representative J. Hampton Moore, of Philadel
phia', who was scheduled to make a speech in
his district tonight. If necessity should arise
Mr. Cocks will go back .to his farm and permit
Colonel Roosevelt to be nominated in his place.
This matter can not be settled until June, when
Colonel Roosevelt will arrive in this country.
Roosevelt is Essential
Every day new conditions arise that make it
plain to the leaders that some drastic and bold
measure must be resorted to in order to prevent
trouble in the fall and the loss not only of the
house of representatives, but several of the state
governments. There Are more than twenty-five
governors to be chosen, and the local fights in
the states" aggravated by national .turmoiL en
danger lithe success of- the republican ticket.
Therefore the intense desire to get Colonel
Roosevelt Into the fray. t
It seems that every time President Taft delves
into politics on his own hook he makes a mis
, take.' This has been proven the case in Ohio,
where the president has caused Wade Ellis to be
,sent from the attorney general's office to as
sume charge of the republican party in that state.
The wisdom of the move is seriously questioned.
The republicans of Ohio, who were seeking some
plan for harmonizing the different factions and
trying to regain the governorship from the demo
crats, were astounded when they learned that
Ellis was to become their boss and was empow
ered to run matters as he liked; and his au
thority came from the White House. Imagine
the president sending J. Hampton Moore or any
one else 'from Washington into Pennsylvania at
this time with orders to take charge of the re
publican 'politics of the state over the head of
Senator Penrose and the McNichol-Vare combine.
It amounts to just about that in Ohio. Boss
Cox, of Cincinnati, was not consulted, and neither
rwas Foraker. Unless they are placated, they will
join with Senator Dick and the other malcon
tents. The result will be that Judson Harmon
will be re-elected governor. Perhaps a democrat
will be chosen senator if the screws are put
too tight on the anti-Taft faction.
New York is Terrorized
But the conditions in Ohio are not one whit
worse than they are in New York state. If the
democrats were only in good shape there would
not be any question as to who would win the
governorship in the succession to Hughes. On
one side is Herbert Parsons and his men fighting
Speaker Cannon and the president: On another
Bide aTe the up-state republicans telling about
the bribes that tempted the legislators of a few
years ago. And all parties are now threatened
with a general investigation that will lift the
lid on the Albany sink of Iniquity. The demo
crats are fighting among themselves and Murphy,
the Tammany leader, and Conners, of Buffalo,
the state chairman, are not only making faces
at each other but making serious charges that
affect the integrity of some of the judges of the
highest courts of the state. Secretary Root has
come to the front and seeks to unite the repub
licans, Dut so far without success. Channcey
Depew sees his United States senatorship dangled
aloft as the prize for half a dozen men provided
they continue loyal to the party. Mr. Depew Is '
nearly out of the running, and were it not for
the Vanderbilts and the financial and railroad in
fluences that aro back of him he would be a
cipher.
Trouble for Halo
Jumping into New England, the real power
in the senate, 'Eugene Halo, of Maine, is in
trouble. The senators are afraid of Hale, bo
cause ho scolds like a wornan and seeks to run
things to suit himself and consults not even
Aldrich, Penrose or any one. Ho has carried his
scolding into the state and Judge Frederick A.
Powers, of Holton, a brother of ex-Governor
Llewellyn Powers, has taken the field against
Mr. Hale, As to Mr. Halo's ability there is no
question, but people tire of being scolded all tho
time. There aro several candidates in tho field
and they may combine and accomplish tho de
feat of Mr. Hale.
Lodge Has a Fight
' Senator Lodge may have some trouble in se
curing re-election in Massachusetts. Representa
tive Butler Ames is in the' field against him as
are several others. The contest to control tho
legislature may have an effect on the governor
ship and throw that office to the democrats.
Governor Draper is a' high tariff republican and
they are not very popular in the old Bay state.
The tariff plays as much of a part in Massachu
setts as do the state issues at times. It is be
lieved that Mr. Lodge will win, but Butler Ames,
the grandson of General Ben Butler, has some
of the fighting blood of his ancestor in his veins.
New Jersey is Doubtful
New Jersey is looked upon hero as a doubtful
state so far as tho governorship is concerned.
Tho legislature -will, no doubt, be republican,
and John Kean will be re-nominated and re
elected. That is the outlook so far ahead. Gov
ernor Fort is blamed for disrupting the party.
Ho has not satisfied tho new idea faction, nor
has he pleased the stalwarts. Ho has chased a
will of tho wisp in tho form of a senatorship
and he will leave the governorship not nearly as
popular as when he assumed office. There will
be few tears and many hard Words at the part
ing. Messrs. Loudenslager, Gardner, Wood and
Wiley will be renominated and re-elected to con
gress. Representative Hughes would make the
strongest candidate of the democrats for gov
ernor, but they do not seem to want to win,
judging by past performances. Mr. Katzenback
has many friends who would like to see him lead
the democrats, but it is doubtful if ho would
make the pledges that the leaders would require
of him.
Dupont's Chances Improve
Matters are looking better in Delaware for
Colonel Dupont. He is active in the campaign
for a return to the United States senate. His
friends declare that New Castle county will set
tle the fight, and that it will be for Dupont
without question. With what aid he can secure
from Sussex the colonel believes that it will make
the legislature republican, and that even if ex
Senator Allee does control Kent county he will
. be safe. It can be said without contradiction
that Senator Dupont has not been a close at
tendant on the sessions of tho senate until .re
cently. This has had its effect on the voters,
and thoy resent it. However, the people of
Delaware are a long-suffering bodyof humanity,
and have withstood many political s'hocks during
the past fifteen years.
President's Aid to Beveridgo
Jumping out to Indiana, the spectacular Beve
ridge has the stage. Two weeks ago he had been
bowled out completely by the senatorial clique
that seeks his downfall. All the trusts are
against Beveridge, especially the tobacco trust.
What is the fight of one is the fight of all.
Therefore, it was written that Hemenway or a
democrat should take the place of the "boy
orator." Ex-Senator Hemenway has been very
active against Beveridge and has been doing the
secret work of the senatorial combine. But to
the dismay of the senators, last week the presi
dent sent for Mr. Beveridge and handed over
to him the patronage of the state. Beveridgo
voted against the tariff bill. But what could
the president do? If he punished Beveridge ami
gave the patronage to Senator Shively, a demo
crat, there would be trouble. If he gave It to
ex-Senator Hemenway, trouble would follow, If
he gave it to Beveridge to help his own re-election
to the senate, then the chances for the con
firmations were slim and there would also be
trouble. But tho president chose the latter
courso. This movo helps Bovcridge, and if ho
saves Indiana and secures re-election, ho will
have accomplished wonders. But tho trusts aro
rich and revengeful I
EVEN TIJJ3 INDEPENDENT
Even that staid old publication, Tho Indepen
dent, is insurglng. Tho Independent says:
"Wo would not bo understood as holding that
tho recent Increase In tho cost of living- has
been duo to olthor the tariff of 1909 or to that
of 1897. Wo do not undertake to show hero
how much of that increase, In our Judgment,
has been caused by tariff duties'' It is true,
however, that a great many people, without tho
aid of exact information, aro ascribing tho pre
vailing high prices mainly to tho tariff and to
the greed of trusts. Their opinions and attitude
may well cause uneasiness In the mind of any
republican member of the house who voted for
tho present tariff and whose majority in his
district at tho last election was small.
"In the faco of political danger that can not
be Ignored, tho members of the republican ma
jority In congress should diligently strive to
enact legislation for tho public good. Thoy can
not make a better revision of tho tariff at the
present session, nor can they speedily reduce the
cost of living, but It Is within their power to
give the people now laws for an honest manage
ment of tho land service in the public Interest,
for regulation of railroad rates, and for postal
savings banks, laws which tho people want,
which tho peoplo bellovo they ought to have,
and which are clearly for tho public welfare.
If a desire to 'mend their fences' In their dis
tricts leads them to neglect this opportunity for
doing something to appease the peoplo, some, of
them -may find that they have no fences left to
bo -repaired.."
A PRAYER
Father, I scarcely dare to pray,
So clear I see, now it is done,
That I have wasted half my, day, f'
And left my work but juBt begun. .
So clear I seo things that I thought,
Were right or harmless wore a sin; '- '
-So clear I see that I have sought; '"' '--r
J ''Unconscious, selfish alms to win; '' -,'i'
' '"- ':ttt
''So clear' I seo that I have hurt .&
Souls I might have helped to save"; "','
That I have slothful been, inert,
Deaf to tho calls thy leaders gave.
. In outskirts of thy kingdom vast, .
Father, the humblest spot give me;- " '
Set me the lowliest task thou hast,
Let me repentent work for thee.
Helen Hunt Jackson.
CAN ANY ONE SUPPLYTHIS?
' F.V'D. Cosnor, Burnsville, W. Va. Will you
kindly publish in the columns of The Commoner
the poem entitled "Carolina' Jim?" I don't re
member much of it, but some of the words aro
like the following: "Carolina; Jim, he was old
and weak and blind, and the rain or shine was
all the same to him."
0
HUNGRY CHILDREN
Following is an extract from the As-
sociated Press report of house proceed-
ings:
"Five thousand children who attend
the public schools in Chicago are habitu-
' ally hungry and 10,000 others in that
city are not sufficiently nourished, ac-
cording to a letter from the superlnten-
dent of the schools of Chicago from
which Representative Henry of Texas
read excerpts in the house today.
" 'Texas,' declared Mr. Henry, reply-
ing to a recent speech in defense of the
new tariw law, delivered by Representa-
tive Boutell of Illinois, 'is prosperous in
spite of the Payne-Aldrlch bill. If that
law had anything to do with the pros-
. perity of Texas why does it not bring
'prosperity to Chicago and other great
cities of this country.,' "
To all subscribers who renew their subscrip
tions to The Commoner during tho month of
March wo will send tho American Homestead
ono year, without additional clrarge. Tho two
papers will be sent to different addresses upon
request.
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