The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-08-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington. Aug. 4, 1909.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, Aug. A, 1909.
No event In the political field has been
watched with greater interest by the party
leaders In Washington than the Iowa
state convention. The fact that Secretary
Shaw, Secretary Wilson and Director of
the Mint Roberts all had voice, person
ally or through their representatives, in
the convention added the weight of adj
ings. 1t Is further understood that 1t was
at the directly expressed wish OF the pres
ident that the tariff plank, as framed In
the Des Moines platform, was adopted.
While that plank expresses, In the most
conservative terms, sentiment In favor
of tariff revision, 1t is believed here that
such an expression coming from Iowa will
have Its effect on the national policy and
that not only In the fall campaign, but In
that of 1904, the republican party will
stand for moderate tariff revision. The
more radical, In their views, express the
belief that the short session of the fifty
seventh congress will, as result of this
action, appoint commission or a sub
committee of the ways and means COM
mittee, to sit during the summer and
draft tariff bill, to be considered during
the first session of the fifty eight con-
gress. That tariff revision will be possi-
BILE during the short session no republican
| believes. The democrats, on the other
hand, claim that If the republicans are
really in earnest, they will rush through
bill which will remove or reduce the
duties on trust-made goods, even though
they are obliged to defer more extended
consideration to the next congress.
A subject which Is attracting consider
able interest In Washington is the pro-
posed reorganization, on new and broader
lines, of the Union Veterans union.
Heretofore admission to this society has
necessitated, on the part of the candidate
for admission, that he have served at the
front during the civil war. Il Is now pro-
posed to open the membership to all col
diers and their Immediate descendants,
and possibly to members of tlsa nationaa
guard. It has been claimed that notwith-
standing the fact that e.. A.. r. admits
members of all political parties to its
ranks, 1t has been and is, to all intente
and purposes, a republican organization,
while 1t Is hoped to make of the Union
Veterans union secret society, which
shall have but single aim, and that the
espousal of the interests of the soldiers,
their wives and families. The chief pro-
rnoter Of the proposed changes Is General
r.. q. Dyrenforth, now national comman
der OF the Union Veterans union, but he
is ably assisted by s. Privatey' Dalzell,
Colonel Stratton Of the post Off departs
ment and others. h
Spaaking Of the aims ef-&he 1gJaloss j 0l.
Grams union, as he interprets them, Cen
eral Dyrenforth told your correspondent
that he desired to see the new organiza-
tion political unit for the benefit of the
veterans especially. The new organiza-
tion," said the general, will be neither
republican nor democratic, but will throw
Its weight of numbers and votes In every
national, state and municipal election in
favor of the candidate who will pledge
himself to favor the interests of the SOL
dier, his widow or orphans, and, while
some members might vote the republican
ticket In one place, others might vote the
democratic ticket In another. The single
object, the furtherance of the interest OF
the veterans, will be the aim of the Union
Veterans union.
Interest Is being awakened through
out the country In this movement, as
there Is not a village in the land that does
not contain some veteran or his relict. 1t
is proposed to test the power this organ
ization can exert In the coming election
by going into some congl essional district
where there is decided majority for the
party which has a candidate not avowedly
friendly to the old soldier, and rallyiDg its
strength in favor Of the opposing candi-
date, provided he will pledge himself to
guard the interests of the veteran and
whatever there Is left on earth belonging
to him."
In connection with the above, a state
ment which has never been made public,
but which reaches your correspondent
from sources believed to be thoroughly
reliable, Is to the effect that the president,
in his desire to make this ga young mems
administration" has issued a sub-rosa
order to the members of his cabinet to
the effect that no appointment. promotion
or reinstatement be made in the case of a
person over 55 years of age. II this be
correct, it will be seen that there is little
opportunity for the veteran of the civil
war In the employment of the govern
ment, and 1t is intimated that the object
of General Dyrenforth Is to cause the
resembling of the order referred to. 1t
was garbled form of this order OF Mr..
Roosevelt which leaked out in the treas
ury department. and resulted In the sensa-
tional statement that Secretary Shaw was
opposed to tenure of Office for any em.
ployee exceeding four years In length, q
statement Mr.. Shaw promptly denied.
A case docketed in the supreme court
this week, and one that body will soon
have to decide, is 10 some respects as i'm
portant and technical as any that ever
came before it, and one In which the whole
country will be interested. Daniel Cronin,
of Denver, Colo, asaloon-keeper, opened
wine room for women. The city passed
an ordinance prohibiting such place for
females. Cronin asked for an Injunction
restraining the city from enforcing the
ordinance. He contended that he had as
much right to sell liquor to women as to
men, and that they have as much right to
drink as men have. He also referred to
tho 70 M &ho% fam Ia ,ffro 90 r,rox,ol1nd 3n