The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1902-06-07
Washington, ID. c., News.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June 2, 1902.

The executive committee of the
Democratic Congressional Commit
tee has held secret session in
Washington last week, at which
Chairman Ben T. Gable and JudsonI
Harmon of Cincinnati were present.
While rs information was given
out to .lhe press, [ learn from un-
doubtef1y reliableo sources that a
committee of seven was appointed
to pu'I in form the conclusion of the
comm ittee that the coming CAM
paigtq should be made 6nthe ground
thatfhe republicans are fostering
thPr2rusts and are unwilling to re-
wise the tariff along lines which will
afford relief to the consumers at the
expense of the capitalists and
trusts. The committee Of seven
will report to caucus of the demo
cratic members of the House and if
their recommendations receive the
approval of the caucus active work
will begin at once. It was deter
mind to locate the general head
quarters at Washington with Re
preventative Griggs in charge while
the Western headquarters will be
located at Chicago with Mr.. Cable
in charge.
The virtual admission of Secretary
Root and General Wood that the
latter had spent large sums for the
purchase Of wines and liquors at the
expense of the government and that
Secretary Root had authorized Gen
eral Wood to expend $4,000 per
year for liquid and other forms of
entertainments" while it is quite in
accordance with the autocratic and
extravagant methods of the admin
istration, was somewhat startling
to the members Of Congress and
may prove so to the taxpayers of
the country. Secretary Root also
admits the payment of large sums
to General Gomez in order to pur-
chase his influence with the large
constituency which he is supposed
to lead. The Secretary of War has
promised to render to Congress an
itemized statement of General
Woods expenses but there seems
little likelihood that the General
will be able to complete his accounts
before adjournment, in view of the
effect which such a statement would
be likely to have ON the Fall elec-
tions. General Wood is making
his home and headquarters on board
the transport "Kanawha," which
arrangement not only proves an
economy to the General, but also
necessarily delays the rendering of
his accounts to the War Depart
ment, and consequently to Congress.
Secretary Root evidently believes
that the public will forget all about
rumors of his and Woods extrava-
gance-also the cost of the Philip
pine war, a statement of which he
has refused to render until the next
session-and that after election the
disclosure Of the figures will cause
no injury to his party. For the
legitimate curiosity which Congress
is displaying in regard to Woods
disbursements. the administration
has to thank "Subsidy Hanna
whose first threat to make an ex-
posure because the President re-
fused to order q new trial for the
embezzler Rathbone, served to
bring Mr.. Roosevelt to terms, but
not before the newspaper men had
gotten on the track of a very racy
story, and their requests for infor.
nation resulted in the resolutions
calling on Root for the figures.
Those democrats who have enter.
tanned certain admiration for the
rugged manliness of which they
conceived the President to be pos
sessed, received a severe shock
when they heard, or read, the speech
which Mr. Roosevelt saw fit to de
liver at the National Cemetery al
Arlington on Memorial Day. No
content with attempting to vindi
!, cate the record of American sol
, diers in the Philippines, Mr.. Roose
;, velt took occasion to belittle his
dignity and indulge in the cheap
est sort of demagogism by referring
to the lynelings which have oc
cured in this country, and charg
> ing those who condemn torture ant
' other violations of the laws Of civil
Q lied warfare in the Philippine
a with condoning lynehing at home
$ Disinterring the "bloody shirt
II which he had declared at Charles
Z ton was buried for all time, he toll
o his hearers, many of them veteran
of the civil war, that the opponent
of imperialism had called Gran
n ssthe butcher and had referred t
J, them as sIincoln's lirelings." MI
# Roosevelt's whole speech was ca
!, culated to stir up the bitterest kin
A. of sectional feeling and party strif'
rs and was one of the most seriou
violations of good sense and goo
taste ever perpetrated in Decor
10 tion Day Grafton.
: Last week the House passed I'll
{ immigration bill and the Hill su
sidiary coinage bill. Represent
:, tive Newlands, speaking of the Ia
u ter, remarked to me upon the eS
dent insincerity of the republican
in passing so important measu
rs .,s with only two hours deliberate