The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-17
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. C. Dec. II, 1897
In every life there must be sorrow I
Ii not today, then tomorrow,
But of al sorrows there's no other
Like the loss OF mother.
The great sympathy felt for the
bereavement of President Mckinley
tlDged the assembling of Congre SIS
with unusual sadness, which not even
the great interest felt in the strong
message of the President could dissi-
pate. There were the usual crowds in
the galleries of both House and SEN
ate, but the sorrow expressed in the
faces of Senators and Representa- YES
Was reflected in the faces Of the visitor S
above them. There is something in
the death of ones mother that appeals
to the sympathies of others as does
the death of no other relative.
Had President Mckinley followed
the example of his immediate prede-
cessor, who rarely finished one of his
messages to Congress until the day
before Congress met, his message
would not have been ready, bat he
completed the message week ago,
and did not have that on his mind
while travelling to the bedside of his
stricken mother, from which he re-
turned TO Washington to perform the
duties incumbent upon him at the
opening of the session of Congress. As
soon as those duties were performed
he started for Canton again, to per-
form more painful duty, carrying
with him the sorrowful sympathies
of the whole country.
Three P's, patriotism, peace and
prosperity from the keynote of Presi
dent McKinley's annual message to
Congress. His treatment of the an
nexation Of Hawaii, the Cuban and
other foreign questions, including that
of commercial reciprocity, is patriotic
to the core, without the slightest trace
of jingoism, and his treatment of the
financial and other domestic questions
is that OF a man who only desires that
which will continue and increase the
prosperity the country is now begin
ming to enjoy.
In addition to getting first class
man to fill the important position of
Attorney General, President McKin-
ley's choice of Gov. John w. Griggs,
Of N. ]. to fill the vacancy in the Cab
met that will be made by the nomina-
tion of Attorney General McKenna 70
succeed Justice Field, who retired
from the U. s. Supreme Court last
week, alter havi0g served there longer
than any of his predecessors, is con-
sidered to be good political move
one that will aid materially in keep
ing New Jersey in the republican
column, and the wish is general that
Gov. Griggs will accept the rendered
portfolio.
The activity in certain quarters in
efforts to make the public believe that
| there is some doubt about the annexa-
ton OF Hawaii, indicates that some
money is being spent for the purpose
of creating ganti-annexation sentiment.
If so, it is being thrown away, as an
nexation is absolutely sure to come
before the close OF this session of Con-
| gress. Two-thirds of the Senate are
| ready at any time to vote for the ratl-
Ffication of the annexation treaty, but
| the rules of the Senate put 1T In the
power of the opponents-not more
than twenty at the outside-to delay
the vote. Should it become apparent
that this power is being used for ILL
clustering purposes, annexation Will be
secured by legislation, which Will only
need majority vote.
The more conservative element IN
| Congress is strongly in favor OF max
ing this session as short as possible.
This sentiment was voiced by Repre-
sentative Heatwole, of Mimi, when
he said; "In my opinion, this Con-
gress should get through its routine
work by May /, and adjourn. The
smallest amount of legislation will be
of the greatest benefit to the country,
and If we can finish and 60 home by
that date, good many millions OF our
countrymen will rise up and call US
blessed Speaker Reed says he sees
no excuse at present for making the
session a very long one.
Nothing of more general benent
to the morals of the country has been
done lately than the official announce
mept of the Post Office Department
that the mails would hereaftes be clos
ed 10 newspapers that print missing,
letter word contests, or any other kind
of advertising matter containing
chance or lottery schemes. Some OF
the most daring swlndling OF the age