The Grit-advocate., 1902-08-08
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
Breezy Gossip on Various Topics
From the Nations Capita.

tdH GOllE itS>4plla4 IuLltl4lltt tdLiIt
over to Washington from New York,
one day this week, to consult with
representative OverStreet, secretary
OF the committee. Mr. BabcOck en-
presses the utmost confidence in the
outcome OF the fall elections. He fig
ures the republican majority in the
next house at least ~. and these fg-
ures make all due concessions for dem.
ocratic gains. Mr. Babcock says that
reports from almost every district are
Of most encOura giug nature. The
continued influence Of Mr.. Bryan in
democratic councils, he regards with
much satisfaction and predicts that
the action Of the Missouri democrats
in endorsing the Kansas City platform
will insure republican senator to
succeed Senator Vest. Referring to
the clamor which the democrats are
making over the fact that in certain
instances American manufacturers
are selling their products abroad at
lower prices than those charged here
Mr.. BabcOck says the facts have been
perverted for political purposes. A. a
matter of fact, the goods sold abroad
are simply the surplus. In order to
avoid shutting down their factories
and 50 throwing their men out Of en-
ployment. the manufacturers in Ger
tain lines continue tn operate their
establishments throughout the year
and then dispose Of the surplus for
what it viii bring in foreign markets
They make no profits when compelled
to compete with the products OF cheap
foreign labor hut they are willing to
continue the custom for the sake of
their employees 80 long Is they can sell
the goods al cost.
Representative Overstreet is as con-
fident Of success for his party as is MIR
Babcocs and. in fact, i inclined to be
lieve that the la.ter's estimate of the
republican majority In the next house
errs on the side of conservatism. Mr..
Overstreet says Mr. Bryan i making
republican votes every day and that
his efforts have insured the republi-
canism OF Indiana. even If it was ever
il doubt. Representative BeTtholdt.
Of Missouri who passed through Wash
ingtol this week. says there is no
doubt but that the republicans will
make sweeping gains in Missouri this
fall. The democrats stand for all that
is corrupt in Missouri state politics
ana their adherence TO the Bryan fal-
lacy has alienatei the German vote
They have lost the confidence OF the
business men Of the state whereas the
people have every confidence in Presi-
dent Roosevelt who is almost as popu-
lar among the democrats as among the
republicans
General William Crozier, chief Of
the ordnance bureau OF the war de-
partment, i> authority for the state
mept that the officers Of the depart
ment have devised an explosive shell
which will pierce the armor OF any
known battle ship. While the secret
OF this important discovery is closely
guarded, ii Is learned that the
great power Of the shell lies in the
fact that ii is 50 constructed that il
eXerts lis full penetrating power be-
fore exploding. so tnat really il, eX-
ploSive force comes a= an add tiUn4l
power Of destruction Heretofore. ii
has been impossible TO manufacture a
shell which would not explode from
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