Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1904 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and General Gossip of the National Capitol. Special Correspondence to The Democrat: Congressman Cowherd, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee, has returned from his visit to the national headquarters at New York in a much more cheerful frame of mind than when he went. I asked him yesterday what message he had for the Democrats of the country and he said “Tell ’em things is doing!” I am not certain how much money he got from the Sheehan end of the outfit, but he evidently got either a good deal of money or magnificent promises. He showed me a list of fifty-two Congressional districts now held by Republicans, a large majority of which he expects to carry on November 8. Of course I shall not give the enemy important information by writing them, but they are in every sizeable northern state, even lowa and Minnesota. He is also busily engaged in making a list of available orators who are ready to jump into the ring. Mr. Cowherd thinks it quite as important to capture Congress as to elect Judge Parker, if only one should prove possible, for a Democratic Congress could so block the wheels of the imperial chariot that its running gear would be very badly damaged Republicans hope to carry Maryland, but the bud of hope has not blossomed into expectation. Democrats believe that the large independent vote of Baltimore will be for the Democratic national ticket and that it will be large enough to save the state. It goes without saying that Senator Gorman, to aid his cousin, exSenator Davis, if for no other reason, will do all in his power. His colleague. Senator elect Rainer, is going on the stump not only to coverall important towns in Maryland, bat those of West Virginia. He will make the President’s abase of Admiral Schley a part of his arraignment of the administration and he is one of the most eloquent of platform orators. t t t Fall service has been inaugurated this week over the fine new steel railroad bridge across the Potomac. It has been three years in building and cost $750,000. It is half a mile long and stands twenty-one feet in the clear above mean low tide—twice as high as the old bridge. Its companion, the new highway bridge, is being rapidly pushed forward and is its equal in excellence. The electric cars of the Alexandria and Mount Vernon railroad will continue to cross on the old Long Bridge until the completion of the new highway bridge. t t t The construction of the First Street tunnel running due north and south through which all trains will henceforth enter the city and the Union Station from the southern end, is being vigorously and rapidly pushed, A mighty shovel is digging its way into Capitol Hill, and is now almost at the edge of the Park. But by the employment of the moet ingenious modern machinery for excavation purposes only 900 men

are needed, and they are carrying the tnnnel forward at a rate of about 75 feet a week. All the motive power ia eleotrioitv. It mixes the oonorete, propels the shovels, runs the trains and swings the derricks. Masonry work is kept about 600 feet behind the excavating shovel. In three weeks the company will be boring underground along the edge of First Street between the Capitol and the Congressonal Library. It will be about thirty feet below the surface. t t t Senator Bailey of Texas passed through this city a day or two ago, on his return from the East. When asked why he did not take a more pronounced position on the tariff question in his speech at Brooklyn, New York, he said it was no use to talk about impossibilities. The situation of the Government is such that a large revenue must be raised. But he would have the tax fall upon the protected class which is better able to bear it, and would relieve the wage earners who are the main consumers. He is for a sane and sensible revision of the tariff, whatever that may mean, but as Hamlet said to bis mother “Oh! reform it altogether.” While the Republicans are constantly telling the public that a high tariff is necessary to keep up the wages of the working men to a certain standard in this country, they neglect to put a high tariff on immigration, but allow millions of muscular laborers to flock in from Europe who are glad to work at any price. The truth is the trusts and the protected manufacturers want cheap labor, and they care little for the na-tive-born American, or his needs. As soon as the laboring men get this truth through their heads they will vote the Democratic ticket, and put a stop to free trade in labor. T t t It is remarked that Mr. Roosevelt had little to say about national economy in his Oyster Bay speech of acceptance. It is a cardinal virtue, however, and applies to nations as well as men. The truth is while he has been President the national expenditures have increased to more than $2,600, 000,000 —an excess of $211,000,000 over the expenditures during term of President McKinley. At this rate the nation will be driven into bankruptcy, or the tax-payers will revolt. t t t Indiana continues to remain an uncertain state, and is giving much concern to the Republicans, although President Roosevelt professes to be indifferent to the situation. t t t If the last Republican Congress had cared anything about the common people, those who work in the fields, and travel on the country roads, it would have made handsome provision for the good roads project. But when it comes down to a concrete case of actually passing a law in favor of the working men, or the farmers, the Republicans always halt, and shuffle, and do nothing. In France they do things better. That conntry has 130,000 miles of macadam roads, which are kept in the best condition at a yearly cost of abont 48 cents to each inhabitant. There should be half a million miles of such roads in America.