Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1904 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and General Gossip of the National Capitol. Special Correspondence to The Democrat: Some surprise has been expressed at the admission of Philippine delegates by the Republican convention and their rejection by the Democratic convention. But, as Congressman Cowherd, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, says, “How could it be otherwise? Republicans claim that the Philppines have been subjugated and rightly robbed and appropriated, and are now a part of our’insular possessions, while Democrats hold that their subjugation is a crime to be repented of, and that they are entitled to their independence. In Porto Rico the case is different, because the Supreme Court has decided that Porto Rico is a part of our territory.” t t t Secretary Hay signalizes the hot weather term by boldly asking the British Ministry what they mean by violating the integrity of China by sending an armed expedition I throngh Tibet. The British government, es usual, has frankly dis- ' avowed any “ulterior purpose” and i declares that Gen. Macdonald's jarmy had made arrangements to ! retire before it had begun t~ adi vance! The killing of a few thousand Tibetans more or less was made necessary by the jealousy of Viceroy Curzon who thinks that his rights and feelings had n"t been properly considered. It will be interesting to the American public to watch the British column of invasion and observe the alacrity with which it faces about for home. Of course we must keep on terms of perfect amity with John Bull and permit him to loot Lassa if he finds it necessary to do so.

Since his arrival in this city Secretary Paul Morton has devoted almost bis entire time to acquainting himself with his new duties at the head of the naval extablish ment, and studying the details of the business requiring his personal attention. He has called on the various sdmirals and bureau chiefs at their desks and has found time in the intervals of inspection to visit Arlington, the Soldier’s Home, and some of the other departments and to make two trips down the Potomac on the yacht "Sylph,” which by an odd figure of speech is called "the President’s”. Paul seems to be a ten-der-hearted father of the floating

contingent. His first duty was to confirm the conviction of Lieut. Reginal Hogan of the Marine Corps, found guilty of scandalous conduct, of attempting to kill a negro in a fit of drunkenness and of violently resisting arrest by the police. Secretary Morton attended to the case by remitting the punishment and telling Hogan not to do so again. tt t - Clergymen here have just been scandalized by the appearance among them of Rev. William Hoffman, of Mount Pulaski, Ills , recently elected pastor of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Hagerstown, just over the Maryland line. He returned from the west with his bride, Miss Amelia Roth, whom he married at Pekin, Ills., June 29th. The young couple were shocked yesterday by a delegation from the Hagerstown congregation waiting upon them and asking them why they occupied a room together at a hotel in Pekin on Sunday night, June 26th, and were registered there as “Rev. Hoffman and wife,” three days before the marriage. The young couple explained that there was nothing wrong about it; that on the Sunday night in question Hoffman and Miss Roth went to Pekin together after service, missed the car back, and were forced to stay in Pekin all night. They explained that they went to the hotel, registered as husband and wife, occupied the same room, and “sat up the entire night and conversed.” Hoffman says he registered Miss Roth as his wife for her protection, and the meddlesome hotelkeeper adds that they occupiad one room for the same reason, for “there were lots of other rooms.” The Hagerstown church considers the explanation satisfactory. Miss Roth was secretary of the Sunday School connected with Mr. Hoffman’s Pulaski charge.

The effort to protect Texas from the ravages of the cotton boll weevil which threatens to destroy the cotton crop of that state and to sweep across the entire cotton belt if not arrested, is accompanied by many suggestions to stay the advance of the plague. Professor Cook of the Agricultural Department here has brought from Guatemala to Galveston a large number of voracious ants peculair to the fanna of Central Amerioa, whose fnnotion and pleasure it seems to be to atteck and destroy the weevil. A corps of experimenters has assembled at Victoria, Texas, where, under direction of Dr.

Cook, they will release the carnivorous ants into cages covered with mosquito netting inverted over infected cotton plants. The result of these experiments will determine whether this lively exotic is an effective antidote to the bane from which Texas has for ten years been a sufferer. Another hopeful remedy is proposed in “the cotton tree,” which, grows to the height of forty or fifty feet, multiplies very rapidly, is immune to the boll weevil and will yield from twenty to twenty-five pounds per tree, including seed. If difficulty is found in gathering the crop, the tree is easily dwarfed, so as to bring the cotton within reach. At an average yield of twenty pounds of cotton per tree, the yield would be sixteen bales to the acre. The expense of planting is no greater than that of corn, and it is able to withstand droughts during eight months of the year. It is planted only once in twentyfive ye>ars. This tree comes to ns by way of Mexico.