Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-12-19

~ dissatisfied with the new ex-
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! 1t looks like brick
| smokehouse on the grounds of some
good farmhouse. 1t cost $4,000. ~
| least that handsome sum was appro-
| priated for that purpose, and 1t is gen.
orally understood that the appropria'
| ton was consumed. * SO. it was
ereat waste Of public money. Ten
Thousand dollars would have been am
Ole to have erected such small, squat
| ty, ugly building az that HOW they
! managed to expend $4,000 aH such a
structure will forever remain = ,nss'
| terry to those Blo are not up in art.
The president Is iptorme1-well In
formed-on most subjects. 40 doubt
he has dabbled somewhat In Rft ~
| 20. his artistic tastes must revolt every
time he gazes upon this executive Of
Gee. The White House has been great.
| ~ improved by the changes and reno
| vations Of the vacation season and
: ~ill undoubtedly lie a more comforta-
h,o ,,o,, Tor the presidential family.
At any rate, it gives W. ~ 49,
more bedrooms, which were
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 congress was noted for what
1t did do. The Fifty-fourth will be
noted for what it did not do" His
strange and frank prediction was full
filled. Few congresses that ever as
sembled did less than the Fifty-fourth,
and none will more surely live in his
tory than the Fifty-first. 1t is his
toricaI 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. It will be remembered
that Mr.. Babcock declared some time
ago that no tariff tinkering would be
done at this short session. He adyo-
Gated and predicted an extra session
early In the spring for the purpose of
revising the tariff" but that was
while Babcock was still in Wisconsin
and before he had conferred with the
powers that be. Since he reached
Washington Brother Babceck has been
"still-very stilr' Ito borrow u phrase
from David Bennett HilD 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 q 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 OF any other land since the late Ia
mented Phheas 4. Barnum was gath
cred to his fathers. In his peregrina.
tons in the effete east every time he
has come within cannon shot of q
throne the fact has been heralded to
the world in flaming style by Barretts
press agent. who must be man of con
summate skill and fertile imagination
The death Q our minister to Japan. Mr.
Buck, gave President Roosevelt an op'
portunity to reward Mr.. John Barrett
for his great rafting performance. II
b 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 llonor. have protested against
his appointment, being unwilling to as.
sociate With Mr.. Barrett. They claim
that John did them dirt during the Jap
anese-C Chinese war. 1t is perhaps an
other case Of vaulting ambition DER.
leaping itself. The Japs are correct.
Let John hustle for living.
A Great Jurise.
The lawyers OF the United States
honored themselves in honoring Mr..
Justice John Marshall Harlan Of the
supreme court at the conclusion Of his
quarter century service upon the
bench. Judge Harlan is one of the
greatest jurists ever member of that
high court. he has rs 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 a
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 a good law
yer, for the Kentuckians will have
none other ill 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
lr. Justice Brewer said in his felicitous
(peech at the Harlan banquet. 1.-THE
constitution is his hobby" In private
life Judge Harln is one Of the most
delightful of men. He has rich vein
tf humor, which he works literally. 1t
Is pity that he cannot in the course
Of nature remain on the bench twenty
I've years more.
The Mlchener Mystery.