The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-06-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTEa.
cFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June s, 1913

grudge him his relaxation he has
enjoyed, for, though he may exert
himself to an extent that may be
deemed unnecessary, he is the Judge
of his own affairs and his own opln-
ION must be his rule of action. 1t
does not appear, | regret to say,
that the sport at Hog Island was de-
liciously exciting this time. Last
year when Mr.. Cleveland visited the
island the enraptured jenkins de-
tailed to chronicle his movements
telegraphed on one occasion that he
had brought down fifty-three snipe
at one shot" No such fishing story
has RECALLED us in the present in
stance | always had my misglv-
ings MS to those "snipe." However,
Presidents shoot as other men may
never do, and it may oe believed
that truly patriotic snipe would
hesitate to throw obstacles in such
an august pathway. But without
the smallest reference to the snipe,
the fish, or, generally, the creatures
of the water and the air, ne must
have enjoyed and renovated himself
to very great extent. Apdbpsi-
ness will now go on with aka6edss w
ergy.
"Clevt lands man Eckels," whose
appointment as comptroller of cur
rency caused so much surprise and
criticism on account of his lack of
experience, is proving more of sur
prise than was dreamed of. The
indications are that he is going to
prove a pretty good find for the ad-
minstration. 1t is evident that he
is not a politician, and if he does
not make things hum in his office 1t
will be strange. He is one of the
busiest, most direct and clean cut
little men who has been tossed into
pablo service by political evolution.
There is nothing striking about
his appearance: nothing impressive.
He is both short and slender, weigh
ing scarcely more than a hundred
pounds, and has little wizened
face free from all signs of beard or
mustache. His movements are
quick and when he looks up there is
a look of Intelligence and penetra-
ton on his face. When he speaks
there is positiveness and frank
ness in his manner that is refresh
ing. Some of the gentlemen doing
a shady banking business who had
calculated on gaming something
from his inexperience have found
him about as hard a customer to
handle as thew have struck. By his
manly, straightforward course he
has got to be the favorite of news
paper men, for he is not afflicted
with official promposity which
makes so many of the new sspuNic
servants" unapproachable.
Washington is fast eclipsing all
competitors as the literary, scien-
tific and educational center of the
country. For many years Boston
held undisputed sway as the new
Worlds Athens, but the scepter has
fallen from "the Hub" Here,
where the governmental heart beats
most strongly, are now the concrete
forces that shall in the near future
give this republic the mental and
erudlte supremacy of which trans
atlantic nations are so proud and
which is the one thing needful for
the completion of our national
character. The great churches are
establishing their central lnstitu-
tons here and propose to make
them superior in every respect to
the universities of Europe. Within
an easily measurable period Of time
searchers after the truth of all ages
will find their material and their
opportunities not at Oxford or
Heidelberg or Bonn but in Wash
ington. Naturally the magnetism
of the literary mind attracts the
artist, and before the century closes
art too will nave its American home
within the District of Columbia.
Secretary Hoke Smith this week
began the hearing of celebrated
land case which involves several
million dollars in value of the land
at issue. The struggle is between
the Northern Pacific Railroad Com.
pany and about 1900 settlers on
the lands in the State of Washing
ton. Hoke Smith is lawyer fo9i
love of his profession and finds the
JOY in a legal contest that the Vik-
ing found in battle. He seemed to
be in his element in this case and
entered into the cause with vIgor.
His principal occupation since he
left Atlanta, has been to talk poll,
tics and patronage with the office
seekers, and now that he has case
worthy of his metal he is like a war
horse that shifts the battle from afar
and longs. TO pet in If The oaoa