Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-11-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON Nov. Al. 9

from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. Al, 90l.
President Roosevelt has found the COM
bined pressure of Senator Platt and Gov.
Odell more than he could resist, and as a.
result, it has been given out at the Treas
ury that Mr.. George N. Whitehead, now
Collector of Customs for Porto Rico, will
be appointed to the Appraisership of New
York in the place of Mr.. Wilbur F. Wake
man, the present incumbent. As indl-
Gated in these letters some weeks past,
Senator Platt came to Washington for the
express purpose of getting Mr.. Wakeman's
official scalp. On investigation, Colonel
Roosevelt found that Mr.. Wakeman had
sinned only by failure in subserviency to
the New York boss, and he advised the
Senator that he found no cause for remov-
ing him.
About this time Secretary Gage endorsed
Mr. Whitehead for the place and Senator
Platt joined issues with the Secretary of the
Treasury, and W.T. Je to the President, en-
dorsing him also Still the President stuck
to his colors, but Platt came to Washing
ton again, and so did Odell, and both
represented that the discipline of the New
York machine was at stake, and that 1t
was essential to the best interests OF the
organization that Wakeman be made an
example Of The matter terminated by the
President giving in as above stated.
Another test of the President S loyalty to
his former principles is involved in the
case of Commissioner Rodenburg, OF the
Civil Service Commission. 1t will be re-
called that Mr.. Rodenburg was appointed
to the Commission after the adjournment
of the last Congress, which will necessitate
the presentation of his name to the Senate,
for confirmation, at the coming session.
Mr. Rodenburg, was not a Civil Service
reformer when he was appointed by the
late President; and his appointment was
concession to the spoilsmen of the Re
publican party, who desired friend at
court. The appointment was deplored by
many Republicans at the time, who be-
lieved that however much the President
might see fit to restrict the authority of the
commission, the commission itself ought to
be kept free from anyone not in entire
sympathy with the purpose for which he
was created. Since his appointment, MIR.
Rodenburg has not demonstrated any
particular hostility, although the COM
mission has permitted some wide devia-
tions from the spirit of the law, and in
favor of the spoilsmen. Mr.. Rodenburg
has a powerful Republican faction back OF
him, and it will require the utmost. courage
for the President to signify desire for his
resignation.
Although the address Of Secretary Will
son, delivered at Dysart, Iowa, on Satur-
day, has been heralded as coming pretty
straight from the White House, it is very
weak production. 1t goes back to the old
fashioned Republican doctrine, that the
United States ought to practically build a
wall about its shores and conduct It's
International affairs along lines that the
Chinese Boxers would adopt if they could
The Secretary holds up as sort of economic
millennium the time when economically OF
otherwise the United States will produce
everything it uses in its own territory, and
appears to forget completely that only a
few months ago, the late President madt
thessame remark that 1--WE must not expect
to sell everything and buy nothing"
1t is thought here that Mr. Washburn, Of
Minneapolis, is rather coming to the sup
port of Representative Babcock, of Wiscon
sin, in his fight against the Steel Trust. Ii
recent interview, Washburn says thai
steel rails can be made and sold in this
country at $3.50 per ton, and that tina
figure would give larger percentage Of
profit than the millers can make on thei
flour; but they are sold at $28 per ton, and
that the trust pays handsome profit on ;
capital stock that is more than half water
and in order to enable the trust to do this
Congress maintains the duty of $3.50 pc
ton In conclusion, he says, eff this is no
robbery, l would like to find stronge
word to characterize it.
There are rumors afloat that the Demo
Gratis will invite Admiral Schley to heaC
their next Presidential ticket, but they arr
regarded as mere rumors by all of tn
Democrats l have met in Washington A
matter of fact, no one knows VIVA
Admiral Schley's politics are, nor if he i
in sympathy with any of the traditions o
the party beyond what may be inferred
from the fact that he is Marylander.
is even intimated that the rumors hav'
| been started to hurt Schley, as it is well
known that the insignificant little Presi
dental bee that got into Admiral Dewey
bonnet, injured him. The indications ar
that Admiral Schley has too much sense Il
even listen to the siren voice of politica
ambition.
| A prominent Democratic Senator recent.
called my attention to the fact that the OLE
law which prohibits anyone from sailing, a
an American ship, any vessel which wa
not built in the United States, is still il
vogue. He claims that were this law re
pealed most of the alleged necessity for
Ship Subsidy bill, would disappear ant
that American Commerce will resume it
normal proportions proportions whicl
bouo ahcolu4alu ofropbio1 11n1or laxU or,
acted in vain attempt to divert unearne'
profits to few Maine shipbuilders
When Rear Admiral Crowninshield re
tires from the head of the Bureau of Navi
CATION he will also retire from his Rea
Admiralty and become once more simpl
Captain. His appointment to the Euro
pean station will necessitate his promotio
to the rank of Admiral by the President
and the confirmation of his appointment
by the Senate. 1t is by no means impos
sible that he will encounter too man
friends Of Admiral Schley in the Senate, t
permit-of confirmation, in which case, h
will be compelled to take a ship in tn
squadron of some other officer to whom h
would be subordinate or to apply for hi
retirement.
A Washington correspondent tells of tn
meeting between the President and Pete
Dunno, author of the famous "Dooley" let
ters, at the National Convention in Phila
delphia. Shortly before Dunno had writ
ten his "Alone in Cuby" in which he ha
made Dooley portray Roosevelt as writin
the story of the Cuban war, as if he hal
fought it all by himself. When Colone
Roosevelt met Dunno he said ''By Godfrey
Mr.. Dunno, | would rather meet you tina
any man in this hall. You gave me tn
worst roasting ever got, and my wife ha
read it to me seventeen times when sh
thought 1 needed discipline, but it was tn
best thing you ever wrote.
E0IINn RARvS RoDv I'M pIvEp