Middletown transcript., 1901-11-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

AA41 ttCkSNAA VA tJ~esA ~~-~A~~-- -r<~~i
delivered at Dysart, Iowa, on Satur-
day, is Of special significance from the
fact that before leaving for Iowa the Sec
retary had two long conferences with the
President and received from him special
suggestions about handling the subjects
of protecti IN and reciprocity. His utter
ances may, therefore. be regarded as
coming directly from the White House.
Speaking Of reciprocity Secretary Will
son said: "It was never entertained as an
expedient by which trade could be ex-
tended to, the advantage of some Of our
industries at the expense of others. 1t
would have had scant welcome in any
Republican convention had it been pro-
claimed as a measure by which new in
dustries that gave promise of supplying
the home demand should be sacrificed to
the interests of strong industries that
had long enjoyed the partiality of the
American people" Speaking of imports
he said: when, within a few years. we
keep at home half of the 1920, 600, 900
now paid for agricultural products our
home markets will have been strength
ened more than all the extension that
can be secured outside Of our jurisdiction.
The growth of our country in SO many
directions justities the conclusion that we
are developing towards a condition OF
completeness as worlds national unit.
Hail of our purchases from foreign
countries can be produced within the
states of the Union and, since our ex-
pansion into so much territory south Of
the twentieth parallel of north latitude,
it will be entirely practicable within the
lives of children now at stiioo, to produce
the other half in those islands under our
own fag.p From these utteranees it
seems safe to conclude that the President
does not anticipate any important recipro-
city legislation in the near future.
M
As predicted in former letter the
President is deeply interested in the pre-
posed irrigation of the arid lands of the
west. He sent for Colonel Elwood Mead,
the expert on the subject in the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, Thursday, and had
a long talk on the subject, instructing
Colonel Mead to prepare and hand to
him data on the subject. Colonel Mead
tells me that the Presidents experience
with irrigation on his Montana ranch
and his knowledge of the ranch business
leads him to believe that if the supply of
cattle, known as feeders, is to be kept up
and our very extensive cattle exports are
TO be maintained, some method of making
the arid lands available for pasture and
The growing OF forage must be found and
that irrigation presents the only solution
TO the problem.
*x*
Democratic predictions of split be-
tween Senator Platt and the President
have, as was to be expected, failed to
The official announcement
Of the appointment of Mr.. George N.
Whitehead to be Appraiser of the port of
New York, has been given out at the
Treasury This is in accordance with the
wishes of the New York Senator and
withthe Recommendation of the Secretary
Of the Treasury When Secretary Gage
first recommended Mr. Whitehead, SEN
ator Platt did not particularly favor the.
but a more careful exami-
nation of the situation led him, after his
return to New York, to write the Presi
dent endorsing the selection. Mr.. White
head 'seovered himself with glory" some
five years ago, when he was sent as
Special Agent to inspect the New York
office, then under Mr.. Wakeman's direc-
ton. Mr. Whitehead made numerous
recommendations for Improvements in
the management that ought to be made,
and all of them have since been adopted,
some of them met for a time
the strong opposition OF Mr.. Wakeman.
For the past three years Mr.. Whitehead
has been Collector of Customs for Porto
Rico.
Secretary Gage has resumed the pur-
chase of United States bonds OF the issues
of 190S-191S, of 1904 and of 1907. The
Secretary speaking OF his course said:
'.My reason for making the offer at this
time is that find from to-day's October
3lst) Treasury Statement that We took in |
,ash, this month, $9,SO1 ,952. more than
We paid out aud for this single day, the
excess Of receipts oyer expenditures was
II .06l ,444 The circulation of the coun-
.ry could not long stand this drain with
,ut being seriously affected.'
~
1t is reported that the entire British
Cabinet has now given its assent to the
,reaty regarding the Isthmian Canal,
which Lord Pauncefote is bringing to
his country. The treaty is SO favorable
8 American wishes that it will be ratified
and its ratification promptly
olIowed by bill providing for the con-
truction, of the canal. 1t is quite posi-
de that within year work will begin.
rhe new treaty is a source of much graft
ication to the administration, not only /
,ecause it has brought to . close,
engthy and delicate diplomatic negotia-
ioHs but because it is regarded as recog-
lizing in its provisions the equity OF the
Monroe Doctrine. With the doctrine re-
Giving such practical recognition from
treat Britain, continental ratings may |
;ontinue on paper, but they are hardly
ikely to go farther.
All recent reports fromtle Philippines
Indicate satisfactory progress. The
roops, whose terms will expire during
lie next year, win be brought home,
nd no new regiments win be sent to MI +
heir places. Secretary Root has issued
lew orders to the Taft Commission and
hereafter the proceedings Of that body
sill be conducted along the lines OF pro-
,edure followed by the Senate. All ap.
l. the form OIL ~