The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-09-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.



Presidents letter Of acceptance now
holds the center of the political stage
Opinion differs, of course, as to its
merits, but it is admitted by his OPP
ponents, as well as his supporters
that the President has shown that he
possesses the courage Of his convic-
tions in discussing the important
issues of the campaign. The letter
contains no lodges. 1t assumes the
responsibility for what has been done,
and argues that the work OF the adj
ministration has been such as to de-
serve a continuance in power of the
party it represents. The arguments
being, from the republican point of
view, are naturally not accepted by
the opponents Of that party, although
no one questions the adroitness with
which they are put. In these days,
when men form their opinion Of pub
lie policies from the newspaper ac-
counts OF the carrying ont of those
policies, it is doubtful whether such
documents as candidates letters of
acceptance ever change any votes.
In fact, they are not written with
that expectation; they are written as
guides for the writers and speakers of
the candidates party-furnishing the
party keynotes Of the campaign. Ii
this letter Mr. Mckinley has done
for his party what Mr.. organs I
speeches and letter of acceptance
have been doing and will do for his
party workers-furnishes them the
Information needed to keep in touch
with their leaders.
50 far a, this government is con
,ernei, the situation in China has not
changed during the past week. The
powers have been informed what we
intend to do, and we are waiting for
hem to give us some information
'bont then intentions, and they do
lot appear to be in the slightest
lurry to do it. The latest hint of
his government was to order Gen.
jhaffee to hold himself in constant
badness to leave Pekin. The Pres {
dent, accompanied by Mrs. McKin-
ey. has gone to Somerset, Pa, to see S
heir niece married, and from there ,
hey will go to Canton, unless some
hange in the situation in China +
lake' the Presidents presence in
Washington necessary. The idea a
revails in official circles that it may 1
e several weeks before it is known
neither the powers can agree upon a
hlnese programme. v
The Postoflice Department has is 81
led a fraud order against l.. ID. Bass. n
I'D Center st. n. W., Washington, l.
F. e., and the Socalled agencies con r
icted by him known as the Amer II,
an Teachers Agency, and the g
merican Civil Service College, and
rected the Postmaster at Washing
n to return all mail addressed to
lher, to the writer's, after stamp .,
6 it fraudulent" Bass has been V
trouble before for the same reason. f.
ne advertising matter of his alleged -
vii Service College, was SO worded C.
to leave the impression that he m
d big pull with the Civil Service Of
'mmSsion, which always appointed \
ose recommended by him. Swindl- vl
person under the pretense of fu
uring them positions, is pretty no
down in the scale of crime. but :,
is growing very common. The an
stal authorities can only act when =,
'oi OF the swindle is obtained, and r.,
unwillingness Of victims to ac- fr,
owledge that they have allowed AN
mselves to be robbed makes that nj,
icult and often impossible to OBJ
n. The best preventative of this II
OF svindling is the adoption of 10
ironclad rule to have no money 6n
lings with concerns which can s.,
furnish indisputable evidence tbs
k or commercial agency reference tia
esponsibility. w;I