Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1905 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and General Gosaip of the National Capital. Special Correspondence to The Democrat: The return of Judge Penfield of the State Department from hie more or less mysterious mission to Brazil, has caused an immense amount of speculation among those in Washington not on the inside. And in this case there are very few who are on the inside. The concensus of opinion seems to be that he was sent to South America for a more serious recreation that the inspection of consulates, which is one of the standing jokes of the Department, and it is rumored that his real mission was to took into the extent of German colonization in Brazil and see what effect if any it was likely to have on the Monroe Doctrine. Now this if it was a fact, displays a rather apprehensive attitude on the part of the administration toward German doings in South America. It is no secret that for h generation past Germany has had a covetous eye on’ South America as a possible site for German colonies. She would like to plant them there if she could and failing that, she wants all the Latin American trade she can get, which is after all only natural. T t t The Administration could have learned without going to the expense of sending Judge Penfield to Brazil that- Germany has already settled a very large number of her subjects there, that they do not take up the customs of the country and are not absorbed as they are in the United States. Also they have the bulk of the foreign trade there, with England, France and the United States coming a good way after. Of course if Germany ever feels that she is strong enough, she may try to ignore the doctrine which says the whole American continent is for Americans. Any nation will go just so far as she dares in trenching on another’s rights if it suits her convenience. International law is not an exact science yet and there is little conscience in international dealings. The Navy Department since long before Admiral Dewey’s brush with the German Admiral at Manilla has had a plan of sea campaign against Germany all plotted out and there area great many officers who would like to try it in operation just to see how it would work. But it will in all probability be a very long time before there is even the possibility of an armed clash between the two countries, and Judge Penfield's report to the State Department while it is doubtless will be interesting is not likely to be of much importance. t t t There is excellent news for the manufacturers concerned in the announcement of Secretary Shaw that he at least will not jeopardize the business interests of the country by recommending any financial legislation in his coming message. He has been “seen” by several important business delegations recently and assured them that the condition of the country was prefectly satisfactory from a financial standpoint and that so far as his advice went the President would not incorporate any financial recommendations in his coming message. The Secretary contented himself with generalities end did not say what the figures would be, but intimated that the financial showing would be a good deal better than last year. It could be that without being very much.

There will be another factor that will have to be reckoned with however, and that ia the expenditures of the Panama Canal Commieaion that will have to be met out of the Treasury till a bill ia passed authorizing the issue of bonds. The Spooner Act authorized the issue of bonds it is true but there will have to be additional legislation before they will be available us the basis of national bank circulation and unless they are made so available, it will be hopeless for the government to dispose of them even at par. + t t From one of the lessons learned in modern warfare and emphanized in the late Russo-Japanese war, Gen. Crozier, Chief Ordinance Otficer, has ordered entrenchment tools for the use of the enlisted men in the United States army. According to this order the entire army and a part of the organized state militia will be supplied, and every soldier will have a small steel shovel to carry with his other equipment. It will add something to the weight of hie luggage but not more than has been taken off ut the weight of the modern gun, and he will doubtless be willing to carry it, for it will in many

y instances save bis life. The improved rifles <?arry so far and have such penetrating power that there is scarcely any protection from them except a hole in the ground which this spade is intended to dig. ttt Mrs. Roosevelt gave her first large reception of the season to the diplomatic corps on Friday afternoon when the ladies of all the embassies were her guests The invitations, issued through the State Department, were in Mrs Roosevelt’s name only. The reception was in the “Bine Room” and Mrs. Roosevelt had the assistance of the naval and military aids assigned to the White House. These, it will be rem embered, are Lieutenants Grant and Lee, the grandson and grandnephew of the distinguished leaders on opposite sides in the Civil War. Mrs Roosevelt introduced this diplomatic reception three years ago in order that many of the newly arrived diplomats might meet her previous to the official reception of New Year’s day. There was no order of precedence observed as is the custom of New Year’s and at other state functions.