Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1904 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and (Jeneral Gossip of the National Capitol. Secial Correspondence to The Democrat: When the Congressional roll was called on Monday the unanimous response was “Present or accounted for.” Almost all of the members of both houses are here ready for business —or, at any rate, for talk. The Virgin of the Capitol is seen upon her lofty perch to touch her Liberty cap to her guests and make observations concerning the spectacle and the hubbub: The metal Goddess on the Dome Where morn's first sunbe im glistens, Disturbed in her exalted home Bends down her head and listens. She watches each converging track; She bears the engines humming. And shouts “I see them hurrying nack— Hurrah! The kids are coming! John Sharp who blows the Dig trombone Is climbing up the gravel. And Champ Clark with his cacophone And Joseph with his gavel. Bill Cowherd, looking rather glum, Advances towards the middle, Claude Kitchen with his kettledrum And Cushman with his fiddle. This must be Dalzell drawing near; I hear the drone of Dresser; And there's the Nutmeg financier, And There’s the Buckeye guesser. I see that Byrd is on the wing; I hear a thousand voices And my Bourke Cockran trumpeting Above the horrid noises. And there are frolicsome Depew And Lodge, who owns the Senate; Wisconsin's Fuzzy-Wuzzy, too — r I hear him toot this minute. There’s Sulzer, Hemenway, McCall, Willett, the Landis brothers, .And Hitt and Hale and Hull And Platt and Payne and others, If I’d a hypodermic tube For Uncle Sam’s protection, I'd load it up with common sense And give ’em an injection.

The goddess yawned and stret-hed, and said, "I have a vague impression 'Xba: possibly His Gracious Nibs Will call an extra session.” She drew her peplum o’er her breast, Her shawl across her shoulder, Just scratched her ankle with her toe, And sighed, “It’s getting colder." Great preparations are being made for the inauguration next March. The president has excited some hostility here by taking the whole affair into his own hands, as he did his election, turning down our most prominent local Republicans and appointing in their place his "dear friend” Col. John M. Wilson, with whom he was thrown in intimate association during his membership of the Civil Service Commission ten years ago. The appointment is

regarded ns an emphatic announcement that the inaugural ceremonies are to be mainly military. It will probably be the most showy and numerously attended inangnration of a president ever held. Already scores of state officials are here to make arrangements for regiments, companies, and civic associations which will take part. The President will co operate with his usual self-assertion to make it “a great show.” He has ordered the battalion four companies of Philippine scouts (mostly Maccabebes) who have been at the St. Jjouis Exposition, to remain in’ this country and participate in the honors to “their President.” New public buildings and tremendous local improvements are going rapidly on and the city on March 4 will be in its most attractive holiday garb.

The President’s bulletin excluding a Boston paper from hews sources is felt to have been inexpedient because about as ineffectual as the Pope’s bull against the comet. The paper will get the news just the same, perhaps more abundantly than ever, and the advertisement is worth untold sums. But its offense was a gross one; for Mr. Chester A. Snow, president of the Humane Society here, says that the President is a champion of kindness to aiimals and always gives them abundant care. The yarn that be encouraged his children to torment a turkey was a very disreputable invention concerning one who in a recent message to Congress appealed for the better protection of animals. The Turkey that it was said the Roosevelt children treated with cruelty was never seen by the children until it was served on the table. fit Washington is not proud to have been the birthplace of the woman, Nancy Patterson. The action of her admirers in writing to her sympathetic letters, sending her bouquets, four-leaf clover food and wine, and making passionate appeals to be allowed to serve her, is enough to cause doubts of the value of our judicial system. Why are such things permitted? A prominent jurist in this city proposes that prisoners shall invariably be tried by juries of their own sex, holding

that the masculine element ie what prevents the conviction of young women charged with capital offences. An alleged murderess would be more likely to have justice done her if her goo-goo eyes found themselves confronted by twelve women insensible to her physical charms. If male assassins were tried by juries of women, would they not have a far better chance to escape than at present?