The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-30
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. d. G. !
March "a 1900. 1

ly every man will subscribe for news
paper so long'as the matter of payment
is at best but a matter for the far dis
tant future, but it is a good friend and
a true one who does not fail when pay
ment is asked. We hope that faithful
friends will not be lacking and that
while we are here attending to matters
which are far dearer to us than any
question of worldly goods can be, that
the old 4,EvIEw with the aid of it's old
time friends will come through with
flying colors.
A week has wrought wonderful
transformation in Washington. When
we reached the city seven days ago, the
streets were covered with snow, the
wind was cold and Jaw and winter was
everywhere. A few days of sunshine
have dispelled all the gloom. The
parks are green, crocuses are in bloom
and the summer is at hand.
Among the first Iowa people whom
we met were Mr.. and Mrs. Smith Me-
Pherson. Mr.. Mcpherson, although a
new member of congress, has been TAX.
ing prominent part in the workings
of the house. He was a member of the
committee to investiga e the case of
the polygam:st, Roberts, and as a
member of the com mittee of postoffices
and post roads, he has been doing i'm
portant work. AT his invitation we
spent an evening with Congressman
Loud of California, the author of the
Loud" bill relating to I'd class mail
matter. Mr. Loud impressed us as an
earnest, rugged man, a man who might
repel by his mannerisms but who GER
tainly would attract by his sincerity.
The Loud" bill has already been dis
cussed in these columns but our first
favorable impression was vastly
strengthened by our talk with its auth
or, Mr.. Mcpherson won great credit
during the debate on the bill by his re
ply to Mr.. LEM of Ohio who opposed
the bill, posing as great friend of edu.
cation, whereas the only people injured
by the bill would be the publishers OF
nickel libraries and fake newspapers.
While speaking of Mr.. Mcpherson, we
learned tonight that the Iowa delega.
tion has recommended him for the
Federal judgeship. This is a life posi-
ton and one for which Mr.. Mcpherson
is eminently qualified. We are indeed
glad that he is to receive the appoint
ment. For himself, he supported Judge
Smith of Council Bluffs and there can
be no question as to his loyalty to the
Council Bluffs candidate. Congress
man Lane cast the deciding vote in the
caucus which made Mr.. Mcpherson the
choice of the delegation. Who will
succeed him in congress is now a ques-
ton for Ninth District politicians.
We suppose Judge Storey, Judge
Smith, Judge Curtis, Senator Junkin
and Elk. Speaker Byers will all be in the
race.
One interesting thing which we
learned from Congressman Dolliver is
the fact that Iowa will have one, if not
two, additional congressman after the
next apportionment. 1t will be difficult
to make an apportionment by which
Maine and other eastern states will not
lose from one to two members. This
being the case the smaller states will
combine to defeat any measure calcula-
ted to increase the number of people to
constitute district and Iowa will be
sure of an increased representation
Mr.. Dolliver tells us that in 1896, his
majority was larger than the entire
vote in Tom Reeds district.
twas owing to Mr.. Delivers kind
ness that we were privileged to have
what was under the circumstances,
rather lengthy interview with ,Presi-
dent Mckinley. An account of our
visit to the White House we shall re-
sUrve for another letter.
Secretary Wilson is among the splen-
did representatives of Iowa's brain now
in Washington. On Monday, we visit
ed him at the Agricultural department
and later in the week met him again in
Senator Gears rooms at the Portland.
Mr.. Wilson can we'll be called the
first secretary of agriculture, !" as he
has been the first practical and scienti-
fic agriculturalist to fill the office. He
has not confined his efforts to the west
but from the rocky hills of New Eng
land to the worn out clay lands of the
Carolinas, there are thousands of farm
ers to rise up and call him blessed. In
addition to the work of his department,
he has been one of the presidents most