Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1907 — WATCH THE PLAY [ARTICLE]

WATCH THE PLAY

Tbe Democratic members of tbe congress, which meets Deo. 2, will face a peculiar situation. In view of tbe presidential campaign tbe Republtcanswill play politics from the start. They will try to gain two points, which they regard as essential to their suooess at the election. In tbe first place, they will seek to win the favor of the people by offering “reform” bills of one kind and another, as President Roosevelt —playing his part —will indioate in hia message, In the next plaoe, these “reform” bills will not be passed and thus Wall street and the trusts will be placated. This part of the play is to be in the hands of Joe Cannon, speaker of the house, aided by the trust senators. That this is to be the program is shown by a Washington dispatoh to the Indianapolis Star. The dispatch says: “It has been known for some time that “Uncle Joe” intended the coming session to do litttle besides pass the approprirtion bills and mark time. He does not propose to be a party to the passage of what he calls “damphooi Roosevelt orank bills” on the eveof tbe presidential and congressional elections of next fall. He has the support in this attitude of most of the Republican leaders in the senate as well as the house. These men are thoroughly praotioal politicians and they will take no ohances of oreating further business disturbance by legislation hostile to corporations or great financial interest® of other kinds, no matter how vigorously the president may urge such legislation in his annual message to congress in December. “The bills that will be introduced to carry out the president’s ideas are to suppliment all legislation for corportion control, but will probably never be allowed to get out of the committees to which they will be referred. The leaders won’t permit debates on the disquietiug subjects if they can help it.

"This at least is their present plan, and they believe the president himself will be so anxious ’or Republican success next year that he will not dare attempt to ores their hands and compell congress to pass the supplemental corporation legislation which his recent speeches show he would ike to see enacted. “Even if the president should insist the congressional leaders will stand out against him and they expect to have the pretty substantial actions of the Republican rank and tile in both houses in their attitude of oppositian to a rolioy that would not only disturb lusiness but shut off campaign contributions to both the national committee and the congressional campaign committee.” There is hardly a doubt that this is the Republican program. Mr, Roosevelt’s bluffs are expected to hold the people while "Uncle Joe” and the others will stand by the corporations in consideration that they make their usual campaign contributions. The Democrats in congress must watch this game carefully and see to it that the Republicans are put squarely on record and that their hypocrisy is exposed so clearly that even a running man may read.