Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1904 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and denral Gossip; of the National Capitol. Special Correspondence to The Democrat: New life hae been injected into the Democratic campaign by the recent able speech of Senator Culberson, made in New York and which prominent Democrats believe may prove the beginning of a move which will make thousands of votes for Parker and Davis. Mr. Culberson, addressing a large and enthusiastic audience, made public a letter addressed by the President to Doctor Albert Shaw, in which he declared (under date of October 10, 1903.) that he would be “delighted” were Panama an indpendent State, would be delighted if she would at that moment make herself one, and adds that only because to do so would be to instigate a revolt does he refrain from so expressing himself publicly. Mr. Culberson also read a letter from Secretary Hay informing the Columbian Charge d’Affaires, on January 21, 1003, that the “reasonable time” allowed the President for the completion of the canal negotiation had expired, and along with it an excerpt from the President’s message of January 4, 1904, saying that the question of a reasonable time had not entered into the canal negotiations.

f t t It is hoped by Democrats here that Senator Culborson’s launching of the Panama issue may result in arousing much enthusiasm between now and election day. The Senator vehemently condemned the action of the administration in recognizing the Republic of Panama and in negotiating with the new Republic a treaty for the construction of the canal, declaring that they were illegal, wrongful and discreditable acts. It is believed that the Panama issue will prove more popular than the Philippines issue to which such impetus was given by Judge Parker in his last speech at Esopus, although attacks on the administration's conduct of Philippine affairs will not be abandoned. In the opinion of a few Democrats the Philippines issue is the stronger. They urge that condemnation of the treaty with Panama must reflect on the sixteen out of thirty-three Democratic Senators who voted for the ratification of the Panama treaty. Those who oppose this view, how.ever, maintain that those Democrats who voted for ratification did so only as a matter of expediency and not, because they approved of its negotiation nor of the part played by the United States in the events leading up to the negotiation of that treaty. r t t A new force of marines has been ordered to the isthmus of Panama. The new battalion will sail for Colon about November 20. This force goes to relieve the battalion now on duty there and will remain only for a given time, when it in turn will be relieved by a new force. It is regarded as essential that a military force remain constantly on the isthmus but as this is a hardship to the men so exiled and as the climate is trying, it is the purpose of the administration to relieve those on duty thero at comparatively frequent intervals. The expense of such exchanges is, of course, considerable, but economy is not one of the virtues of the present administration.

ft t The President has Approved the formal invitation to be extended to all of those powers which participated in the previous peace conference at The Hague, to re-as-semble there as soon as possible to consider the subjects deferred, at the last session, for subsequent action. Some new subjects will doubtless be introduced and it is possible that some effective work will be accomplished. Critics of the administration are watching with interest to see what sort of a reception these invitations, extended at a time when two of the nations invited are at war. will be accorded. There is keen suspicion in some quarters that the President’s desire no longer to de-

lay this invitation is prompted by political motives and with a view to dissipatiug the charge that he is fonder of the “big stick” than of peace, and those who hold this v»ew look to see the United States snubbed for its pains. Certain officials of the administration assure the newspaper men that they have reason, however, to expect a cordial reception for the invitations extended and it is impossible to make any definite forecast as to the outcome. t t t A prominent representative of the administration has taken your correspondent to task for having referred to Russia’s receipts of

the Kinsineff petition, or rather refusal to receive it, as a snub to the President. The rather ingenious argument offered in refutation of the claim that this country was snubbed is as follows: “The President knew perfectly well that Russia would refuse to receive the Kishineff petition when he forwarded it to St. Petersburg, but he was sure that if he sent it to our Ambassador there with a polite request sor J information as to whether or not it would be received, the Russian authorities would he obliged to examine its contents before they could decline to receive it. Therefore the President had accomplished his object when the petition was returned.” Probably only an apologist for the President would offer any such explanation, or for a moment entertain the idea that Russia’s refusal to receive the petition was any less a snub to the United States because the Russian authorities were compelled first to read the contents of the petition. " f i i T T T Chairman Cowherd of the Democratic Congressional Committee, has received a letter from William J. Bryan assuring him that Indiana is now safe for Parker and Davis. Mr. Bryan says there is little or no reason for the gold Democrats to be dissatisfied. “The evidences of unity and enthusiasm among tne Democrats,” says Mr. Bryan, “are so plentiful that it seems that the only hope of Republican success lies in their ability to poll the entire doubtful vote of the state.” Mr. Bryan has recently written a magazine article expounding his views as to why young men should vote for Parker.