Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-07-11

ard will be named.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent
Washington, July 7.-Before he left
Washington for his home in Georgia,
Senator Clay spoke most encouraging
ly Of the prospects of the democratic
party at the coming elections. He
told me that he believed the ''let we'll
enough alone" slogan, of which Mr..
Hanna was the author. was practically
worn out and he did not believe that,
as the people came to realize that ''let
well enough alone'' meant 'let the
trusts take all they desire and let the
people have what is left" they would
continue to listeu to the platitudes in
spired by the Senator from Ohio. Sena-
tor Clay also believes that the passage
Of the ship-subsidy bill by the Senate,
notwithstanding that the measure was
SO Ubiquitous that number of the
leading republican senators felt COM
PEELED to vote against it on conscien-
tlous grounds, will result in disaster to
the republican party. Especially is
this true when taken together with the
fact that, as is we'll known, the bill
was not pushed In the House because
1t was felt that it would prove inimical
to the interests Of the party in the
fall elections, but, on the other hand,
was retained In committee from which
1t can be reported, and passed as soon
as the elections are over. In word,
the Georgia Senator does not believe
that you can fool all of the people all
of the time" or even majority of
them.
Another charge, which in the estima-
ton OF the Senator from Georgia, the
people will bring against the republican
party will be their unwillingness, or
incapacity, to legislate in the direction
urged by President Roosevelt and de-
manded by large faction of the party
itself. In his message to Congress, the
President laid especial emphasis on
the necessity for SO legislating as to
create federal supervision of trusts
and make their affairs public. In pri-
vats conversation with the leaders of
his party, he urged them to frame bill
which would make the Sherman Anti
trust law effective, but without re-
suit. The House and Senate commit
tee on Judiciary both refused to report
any such law. With great combina-
tions OF capital putting up the prices
On every thing the people are COMPEL
ed to buy, from food to fuel and cloth
ing, and the party in power refusing to
take any effective means to prevent
the hardships thus imposed on the peo-
pie, rich and poor alike. Senator Clay
predicts that the people will find moth
ing we'll enough to let alone.
Senator Vest, who, perhaps, may be
said to belong to the old school, does
not regard the fall elections with as
much hope as his colleague from Geor-
gia. Speaking on the prospects, Sat-
urday, the Little Giant from Mis-
souri," said, sit is useless to protest
against the Philippine policy now. II
the republican leaders can continue
the present boom they will carry the
fall elections and the next presidential
election. OF course they are in ALI
ance with the trust. That, no think
ing man can deny. The Sugar Trust,
for instance, was powerful enough to
defeat the House bill providing for
reciprocity with Cuba and in their
general legislation they have shown
cOnclusively the intention not to at
tack the trusts in any way. Never
theless, while the farmers and manu-.
facturers continue to receive high
prices for their products, the republi-
can party will continue to remain in
power. As to the fall elections, l am
not certain that much would be gain
ed by the democrats if they carried the
House. Sooner or later q financial
revulsion is bound to come and if it
should come while the democrats were
inIpossession of the house the politicians
would persuade the people that the
democrats we're responsible for the re-
versal of republican prosperity"
When the revulsion comes the demo-
Gratis will be reinstated, but not till
then. That is my judgment and l am
sorry II 1t differs from the opinion of
other members of my party.
Before leaving Washington the Pres
ident- authorized the issuance of a
document which is another evidence
of the willingness of the administration
to make political capital out of the
army. I refer to the general order is
sued by direction of the President and
signed by Secretary Root in which he
INDUCES in the most fulsome praise
of the army. While there is no senti-
ment among the democrats which
would deprive the army of any of the
high praise which it deserves. this
production of the Secretary of War and
OF the President is SO entirely without
precedent and so emphatically .'for
political purposes only that it is re-
garded as In the utmost bad taste. InI
this connection, it is worthy Of note
that Mr.. Root has again take occasion
to humiliate General Miles by refusing
to honor bis recommendation that
Capt. Robert G. Van VIiet be appoint
ed on the Generals staff as inspector
OF small arms practice. In refusing to |
sanction the recommendation, Secre-