The Press., 1901-09-19
Washington Letter.
washington, September 16. 1901

of his death have caused an atmosphere
genuine sorrow, to prevade Washington.
Everywhere one sees the colors draped
with black framing pictures of the dead
president. The people In charge OF the
which fills the house In which Lincoln
died, opposite Ford's theatre, have hung
the whole front Of the house with Grape
and flags, surrounding portraits of Lincoln
and Mckinley. Yet with all this, 1t seems
hardly possible to believe that the genial
kindly-faced man will never stroll along
the streets or through the White House
grounds, greeting everyone with his ac-
customed unostentatious courtesy. WASH
ington has suffered personal bereave-
ment.
There Is some speculation inevitably as
to the possible and probable course of the
new executive. While President Roose-
velt is not SO well known here, personally,
as was Mckinley, he is a national figure,
and everyone is familiar with his eventful
career. AS the most careful observers of
public affairs agree, it is not possible to
forete1 with any certainty what he will do
In the next three years. His occupancy
of the same ticket with President Nc
Kinley Is another proof of the old trouble
that politics make strange bedfellows,
for there never were two men more un-
like. Curlously enough, however, they
held much the same views on most public
questions. Mckinley was wise, sagacious,
thoughtful he avoided making enemies
wherever possible. Roosevelt is entirely
careless on this point, and many Of his
enemies have been made, not so much by
his policy as by his way of carrying it out
He has often appeared to seek dramatic
effect, simply because he was not think
ing about effect of any kind and did not
avoid making one. He Is the youngest
man, by five years, who ever held the
office of president, being not yet forty
three; and when it Is remembered that
he was prominent In state and even In ma
tional politics at an age when most men
are scarcely beginning their careers, some
of the popular impressions Of this char
acter may be better understood. The
great responsibilities now laid upon him
will inevitably test his qualities as an ad-
ministrator, and the country will certain
ly know him far better year from now
than 1t does to-day. He Is not man to
be guided. He will do what he thinks Is
best, and 1t remains to be seen whether
those In both parties who wish to oppose
him will be able to do so effectually.
1t Is thought that there will be some
important changes In the cabinet before
very long, though their nature depends
on the plans which the new president may
have for 1904. Secretary Hay is said to
be much broken In health since the death
Of his son, and may resign at an early
date, In which case the selection of a new
secretary of state will be matter of
moment. The name Of Lodge Is suggest
ed In this connection. He, like Roose-
velt, has gone into politics under convic-
tion and for the love of it, and the two
would probably agree. Walcott Is anoth-
or of the same sort, but he comes from
lead law which is against the selection of
a secretary of state from the far west.
The name of Depew has also been men,
toned, but this would make rather too
mr. 1ci0 IN hn f0r
purposes, for"Depew Is also New York
er. Besides, Depew Is humorist, and
the joker does not always win in the
game of ohice-seeking. Secret ary Long,
while personally friend of the president,
might be forced out by the clamor of
political opponents, If the Schley-Samp-
son case develops in a way to warrant it.
Major Sylvester, chief of police of
Washington, has fathered scheme for
checking of anarchists, which may receive
considerable attention now that the coun-
try Is aroused on the subject. He sug-
gests that federal bureau of Identified
tion be established, In order to bring into
direct and helpful touch the police SER
vice of the different states and cities.
This, he thinks, will facilitate the watch
ing of anarchists and other dangerous
criminals, and be of great assistance to
the local police. Incidentally 1t might
interfere with some of the corruption In
certain municipal police departments. 1t
Is interesting to note that almost this
identical scheme was suggested to Josiah
Flynt, the well-known student of crimi-
nology, by one of the professional crimi-
nails whom he interviewed on the best way
of preventing crime. The thief had no
idea that he was not talking to one of his
own kind, and told Mr.. Flynt frankly that
some sort of federal police force would
"clean out guns" better than any other
agency he could think of. In the circum.
stances the testimony of this ''gun" seems
worth considering.
The census bulletins grouping the popu-
lation of the states by nativity, race, etc.,
have been made public, and contain some
rather interesting information on the race
question. The negro population of the
country is 11.7 per cent of the total, prac-
tically the same as In 1890, while the
white population has increased, undoubt-
edly, by several millions of immigrants.
This indicates that the negro Is not dying
out, as some statisologists have claimed,
but Is holding his own, and perhaps a
little more.
During the time when 1t was thought
that the president would recover, 1t was
found by Solicitor General Richards, who
looked up the question of the possible
punishment of Czolgosz, that by making
use of some legal technicalities, the assas-
years In prison. While ten years is the