The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-05-25
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
Washington ID. c., Nav. 81 1900

Washington ID. g., May, Il 1910
President Mckinley hears a great
deal OF political talk just now from his
callers, many of whom he surprises by
his intimate knowledge of political
conditions in their states. Col w. T.
Durbin, republican candidate for Gov
ernor of Indiana, who was one of hi-
late callers, assured the President that
the republican party of that state was
III splendid condition and would carry
the state by a handsome majority.
Governor Roosevelt's visit to Wash
ington has demonstrated that he is
one of the most popular men in public
life. This was shown wherever he
went, and his popularity is by no
means confined to republican. When
he went to the Capitol he was greeted
quite as cordially by democrats as by
members OF his own party.
Democrats are saying, on the quiet,
many harsh things about Senator
Butler and Pettigrew, Who charged
responsibility for the nomination of
Towne for Vice President, by the
Sioux City Populist Convention.
Publicly they are afraid to express
opinion about Towne's nomination.
Senator Spooner has, according to
the understanding in Washington, Sc
cured the honor of presenting Presi-
dent McKinley's name to the Phila-
delphia Convention. He is we'll fitted
to do justice to the subject aud to the
occasion. Among the prominent men
who will make sppeeches seconding
the nomination will be Gov. Roosevelt.
of New York.
Representative O'Grady introduced
a delegation from Rochester, N. Y, 10
President to attend the banquet to be
given in honor of Gen. Otis, June 18th
and be told them he would consider i.
a privilege to join in honoring Gen.
Otis, whose work in the Philippine en-
titled him to the unstinted praise of
the American people, but for the fact
that he did not think any person
should be present, who, by reason of
superior ral,k, would share the honor
intended for Gen. Otis aloe.
Senator Lodge made short speech
while the Naval Appropriation bill was
being discussed by the Senate, which
Is regarded as an official notice to
Europe that this Government is pre-
pared to fight to maintain the Monroe
Doctrine, If necessary, which was sup
plemented by Senator Daniel, with a
few remarks, showing that the main
tenance of the Monroe Doctrine, is the
one important question upon which
there is no political division in the
Senate. Incidentally Mr.. Lodge serv-
ed notice on Germany that no dicker-
ing for the possession of the Danish
West Indies would be tolerated by this
government. 1t was not a lingo
speech, but plain statement of the
situation. Said Mr.. Lodge: "My rea-
son for desiring more ships and desir-
them quickly is my belief that the
safety of the y. S. depends upon the
strength of our Navy. We do not
need the Navy for the protection of
our insular possessions. The danger
lies in our great coast line and in the
defense of the Monroe Doctrine in this
hemisphere o. the relation of a
stronger Navy to the lsthmian
Canal, Mr.. Lodge said: eve are
about to enter upon the construction
of an Isthmian canal, and we must be
the naval masters of the Caribbean sea
We must have more powerful fleet
than we Nave today. The safety of
the canal depends upon the strength
of our navy. All admit that the canal
ought to be built, and the time is near
when the work will begin. If we are
to protect the canal as we'll as our own
coast, we must have navy proportion
ately strong. l hope and believe that
we shall have no war, out great fleet
is the best insurance of peace. How
ever, we would be foolish, indeed, if we
should close our eyes to the possibili-
ties of tile situation. We could never
allow the Danish Islands to pass into
any other hand than ours. Any Eu-
ropean nation which should undertake
to take possession of those Islands,
right on the road to the Canal, and to
make them great naval system sta
ton, would by that very act become
an enemy of ours. We could submit
to no such thing as that" The speech
made 3. sensation in diplomatic circles,
and was cabled in full to all of the
great European power.