Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-03
ANALYSIS OF CURRENT EVENTS
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

The Vice Presidential microbe is Still
ut work in both the House and Senate
Its ravages are at times alarming. New
cases are developed every day. They are
more or less virulent. If not contagious
but none has as yet been sent to the
Emergency Hospital. The Eastern
members are the worst sufferers. With
the approach of dog days the eymp-
toms are becoming positively alarming
1t will require the utmost care to bring
all the patients through the crisis with
absolute safety.
The microbe. however, is not the only
invisible particle III Congress supposed
to be dangerous There are others of a
different nature developing symptoms
fully as distressing. They may be term
ed animated molecules. There are two
varieties of the species. and they are to
be found in the House alone. One is the
subernatorial and the other the Sena-
torial molecule. The former is now the
most rampant. The latter, however, is
beginning to attract public attention.
Both are worthy of n careful microsco-
pical examination. Some are already ef-
fete, others are active as u skipper de
frontage, and still others are dormant
as 4 chrysallis. OF all the animalculae
infesting the stream of Congressional
politics, the most unique are those ami
mated molecules. The gubernatorial va
riety made its first appearance i'll the
last Congress when William y. Stone
was elected governor of Pennsylvania,
Joseph ID. Sayers governor OF TeXae,
and Benton McMiliin governor of Ten
nessee. The first indication of its pre-
sence in the House Was when AleXan-
der NJ. Dockery, of Missouri, announc-
cd his intention of retiring from Con-
gross. On the heels of this action his
friends declared MIN a candidate for
governor, and in that character he has
been peregrinating through the State
until his success is fully assured
Not long afterward an animated gu
bernatorial molecule made its appear
ance in the Alabama delegation. Jesse
StallingS eVinced undoubted symptoms.
he must have caught it in the House.
for there is no evidence that any OF
these animated molecules have ever
been seen III the hoNse-cars. This Ala
bama molecule was dormant for some
time, but suddenly became extremely
lively. jesse appeared upon the banks
of the Tombgbee for governor The
woods We're full of candidates. He made
"a ''se- = i'i!N0iIt lSnl, iIldhlIS the Wclklll
ring in every part of the State, and at
tractng the attention of the nation.
Every country was thoroughly aroused.
and the atmosphere was filled with cio-
querce. The red eagles of Ala bama
were startled from their aeries They
SCARED lovingly over the campaign
gatherings. as though enraptured with
the Intellectual display. 1t was long
and desperate contest. stallings polled
majority of the popular vote in the
primaries. but failed to secure a ma
jorlty of the delegates to the Stste
convention. He was beaten by an np-
portionment rs unjust as that which has
held Connecticut in party lines since
the days of Lyman Beecher The fight
developed the fact that the heroes OF
the Spanish war are still on top in the
affections of the people. Every refer
ence TO their gallantry was received
with loud shouts. The mention of the
name of Dewey WAS accompanied by
prolonged cheering, while casual allu-
sions to Schley or Wheeler aroused APP
plause that fairly rent the heavens.
1t is o little singular that Jesse should
stump the state for the governorship
and lose it,, while Morgan should refuse
to stump Il for Senator, and win it. The
defeat of MIR. Stalings was due to a
combination OF the opposing candidates
the popular vote apparently shows tina,
the people of Alabama appreciate the
merits of both candidates, but the poll
ticians wanted 10 keep Morgan out OF
Congress and Jesse in Congress. Both
Morgan and Stallings gave them Jesse
IT is fair TO assume that with Morgan in
the Senate nd Jesse in the House, the
welfare of the State is assured. Jesse
was by no means downcast over the re-
cult 10 IN
ed into his committee room, pulled off
his coat, and went TO work. AS the lead
err Of the minority in the Committee on
Pensions, he found plenty to do. Work
had accumulated during his campaign
All the cases from Alabama had been
assigned to him. barring those created
by the civil war. His work took in old
Indian fighters. the widows and daugh-
ters of men Who fought in the last war
with England, the veterans Of the Mexi-
can war, and the new crop reaped In
the war with Spain, The animated gu
bernatorial moecule. had disappeared
and Jesse was again on the Congress
sional moor. musket in hand
The Alabamian. however, was not the
only suffered from this animated CUB
ernatorial molecule. Walter Reeves and
Albert ]. Hopkins. of Illinois, were
also victims Of this same peculiar Attic
ton. Indeed. Hopkins is said to be i'm.
pregnated with both the gubernatoria
and Senatorial molecule. Reeves is q
gentleman OF fine presence, keen intel
lectuality, and is credited with more
than the usual amount Of mesmeric in
fluence. HOPKINS has been in the House
fifteen years, and is one of David Il
Henderson's assistant Speakers. No one
questions his industry, integrity, anG
ability. He has a laudable ambition foi
political preferment. and, though he has
fallen from the ladder once or twice II
seeking it. he is still upon the rungs
logging heavenward. His brow is CORFU.