Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-12-18

k ulSSd dIlSllGu Will TIE new SA-
ecutive office built for his
occupancy on the White House grounds
at the end of the conservatory near
the army, navy and state building
and no wonder! It looks like brick
smokehOuse ON the grounds of some
good farmhouse. 1t cost $4,000. At
least that handsome sum was appro-
priated for that purpose, and it is gen
orally understood that the appropria-
tion was consumed. If SO, it was q
great waste of public money. Ten
thousand dollars would have been am
pie to have erected such small, squat
ty, ugly building as that. How they
managed to expend $4,000 on such a
structure will forever remain mys-
terry to those who are not up in art.
The president Is informed-well in
formed-on most subjects. No doubt
he has dabbled somewhat in art If
so, his artistic tastes must revolt every
time he gazes upon this executive Of
flee. The White House has been great
ly improved by the changes and reno
tallOl0 Va NAC foCatiOA SCdCOI anu
will undoubtedly be more comforta-
BILE home for the presidential family.
At any rate, it gives them two or three
more bedrooms, which were sadly
needed by family as large as that
of President Roosevelt.
A Do Nothing Session.
When Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed
was nominated for speaker of the
Fifty-fourth congress, in addressing
the Republican caucus, he said: "The
Fifty-first congress was noted for what
it cd do. The Fiftyfourth will be
noted for what 1t did not do His
strange and frank prediction was full
filed. Few congresses that ever as
sembled did less than the Fifty-fourth,
and none will more surely live In his
tory than the Fifty-frst. 1t Is his
torical landmark and for good or evil
largely influenced the destinies of the
republic. This congress, so far as the
short session is concerned, seems de-
termined to follow the advice contain
ed in Mr.. Reeds prediction as to the
Fifty-fourth congress. 1t has deter
mined to pass the appropriation bill,
perhaps the ship subsidy bill. and
go home. 1t will be remembered
that Mr.. Babcock declared some time
ago that no tariff tinkering would be
done at this short session. He advo-
Gated and predicted an extra session
early in the spring for the purpose of
revising the tariff but that was
while Babeock was still in Wisconsin
and before he had conferred with the
powers that be. Since he reached
Washington Brother Babcock has been
'.still-very still'' Ito borrow phrase
from David Bennett HID as to the ex-
ira session There will be none. At
least all the signs so seem to indicate.
Japan Protests.
Ever since Hon. John Barrett rated
to the Republicans he has been sloshing
about the country, seeking a reward
for his change of heart and securing in
dorsements for some high diplomatic
position. He is perhaps the most sue
cessful advertiser who has figured in
this or any other land since the late la
mented Phineas T. Barnum was gath
tions in the effete east every time he
has come within cannon shot of a
throne the fact has been heralded to
the world In flaming style by Barrett's
press agent, who must be man of con-
summate skill and fertile imagination.
The death of our minister to Japan, Mr..
Buck, gave President Roosevelt an op-
portunity to reward Mr.. John Barrett
for his great rafting performance. 1t
is given out that John is to be appoint
ed as minister to the japanese court.
No doubt John was in high feather,
but the Japs, with good taste which
does them honor, have protested against
his appointment, being unwilling to as
sociate with Mr.. Barrett. They claim
that John did them dirt during the jap
anese- Chinese war. 1t is perhaps an
other case of vaulting ambition o'er-
leaping itself. The Japs are correct
Let John hustle for living.
A Great Jurist.
The lawyers of the United States
honored themselves in honoring Mr..
Justice John Marshall Harlan of the
quarter century service upon the
bench. Judge Harlan is one of the
greatest jurists ever a member of that
high court. He has as much learning
as any Of them. He has demonstrated
that he possesses the judicial fairness
of the illustrious man for whom he is
named-John Marshall, the great chief
justice. Judge Harlan comes of
race of great lawyers. His father was
attorney general of Kentucky, as was
Judge Harlan himself, and to be attor-
ney general of Kentucky is pretty good
evidence that the man is good law
yer, for the Kentuckians will have
none other fill or hold that Office.
Judge Harlan in his young manhood
commanded the Tenth Kentucky in
fantry, one of the finest regiments in
the Union army. He is a stanch Re-
publican, but upon the bench has stood
firm in defense of the constitution. AS
Mr.. Justice Brewer said in his felicitous
speech at the Harlan banquet, "Thc
constitution is his hobby" In private
life Judge Harlan Is one Of the most
delightful OF men. He has rich vein
of humor, which he works literally. It
is a pity that he cannot in the course
of nature remain on the bench twenty
five years more.
The Michener Mystery.
One Of the most puzzling enigmas of
history is this: "Who was Junius?''
There is no enigma or mystery about
his letters. They are clear as crystal,
bitter as gall, biting as aqua fortis.
They speak for themselves. The mys-
terry attaches to the personality of the
author alone. Hon. L. 7. Michener,
now of Washington, but lately attor-
ney general of Indiana, has recently In
teryened in presidential politics by
means Of letter which creates as pro-
found mystery as attaches to the
Junius letters, but in the Michener case
there is no mystery as to the author,
for he signs his name. The mystery is
the '.why" of the performance. All the
Republican politicians are ON the qui
vive to ascertain the motive Of the let.
ter and to discover whom he repre-
sents A week ago 1t appeared that