The Republican journal., 1902-03-13
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Maine Matters at the National Capital.

grlmS from Maine to the capital at wash
ington have come and gone, carrying with
them some warm remembrances of the
cordiality of their friends within the con-
fines of the District of Columbia. Many
Maine people visit here during twelfth
month sometimes in excursions and some
times individually, but not for many years
has company of Maine people been made
to feel more at home than did the members
of the Maine legislature and their friends.
To be sure they went the round of sight
seeing, as thousands of people do here
every year, but the Maine people enjoyed
numerous special privileges. They entered
the Senate galleries equipped with cards
for the reserved seats, which Senators Frye
and Hale furnished them, to look down
upon the Solons of that body. They saw
the finely appointed apartment for the vice
president of the United States, where Sena-
tor Frye now holds forth, and then they
moved over to the House side into a some
what more turbulent atmosphere, where
gallery doors once more swung open for
them, and where they not only saw the
House in session but also had pointed out
the prominent members of the floor. Monday
Gov. Burleigh and Mr.. Littlefeld headed
the procession of Maine people and march,
Roosevelt gave them one Of his characteris-
tic greetings. This is more than most
visitors to the Capital enjoy, although
parties of two and three get an audience
with the President almost daily. His rule
has been against receiving large delegations,
but he waived this point in favor of the
Maine people.
But every man of the Maine delegation in
Senate and House took it upon himself to
make things pleasant for the visitors, and
they were aided in this by the ladies of
their families. In this regard Mrs. Hale
maintained her reputation as one of the
most graceful hostesses in Washington.
The senior Senator and his wife entertain
ed the travellers at a reception from their
splendid Sixteenth street residence Satur-
day afternoon, which will be pleasant
memory to the members of the Maine legis-
lature and their friends for many years to
come. The only unfortunate occurrence
"eNo oAAS SApAShiSl loiiy "OntACI. IL W ftS
almost as though they were ON Maine soil
and amidst Maine surroundings. The gath
ering was composed almost entirely of
Maine people. Mrs. Burleigh and Mrs
Powers, who have presided over many hos
pitable affairs at Augusta which the
members of the legislature have attended,
were among the special guests of the after
noon and assisted Mrs. Hale in extending
welcome. Then the reception was a sort
of reunion for Maine people, for it gave
many natives of Maine, long resident else
where, opportunity to renew old friend
ships, for practically all the large contiE-
gent of Maine people resident in Washing
ton were invited. There are many of these,
prominent in almost every profession and
calling here. The venerable Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United States,
Hon. Melville W. Fuller, was by no means
the least enthusiastic of the guests over the
propitious occasion. There was a reminder
of the late James G. Blaine, long the idol
of Maine Republicans, in the presence of
his daughter, Mrs. Harriet Blaine Beals.
who sat at the head of the heavily laden
table in the dining room and poured coffee.
AS soon as Senator Hale heard of the
prospective visit of the Maine people he ex-
hibited the liveliest interest to give them a
good time during their stay. There was
frequent telegraphic communication with
Maine to determine the details of the trip
the names OF the party, and the time OF
their coming. Gov. Burleigh and Mr. Lit
tletield, who always work here elbow to ell
bow when the interests or the entertain.
ment of Maine people are at issue, gave prac
tically all their time for two or three days
to looking after the visitors and planning
their itinerary. They had been in Wash
ington long enough to know all the ropes
and how to make official doors open and OBJ
stacles disappear. In all this they were
bly, seconded by Gov. Powers and Mr.
Allen.
Mr.. and Mrs S. Nj. Bird of RocklanG
have been here several days, on their way t6
the South. They have been guests at the
Hamilton. Mr. Bird has been afflicted with
| a bad cold and with hoarseness, from which
he has temporarily almost lost his voice
+; Two other recent arrivals have been Gen
and Mrs. J. S. Smith of Bangor. In years
gone by they have spent two or three
months every winter in Washington. They
always stop at the Shoreham, where Gen
Smith is familiar figure, and his stories il
the snug little SIN king room have long beer
the delectation of a group of notable Wash.
ington raconteurS.
| The several Granite Cutters Unions OF
the Pine Tree State have been flooding
| Washington of late with petitions for the
re-enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Law
These are the formal petitions, signed al
the request of labor officials, mostly OF the
| Federation of Labor, who are much il
earnest to have strong law enacted by
| this Congress. The members of the Maine
delegation have presented numerous peti
| tionS of this character, all of which have
been referred respectively to the House
committee on foreign affairs and the Senate
, committee on immigration, which commit
tees are now considering different bills tt
accomplish the end desired. 1t does not ap
pear yet what kind of law will be enacted
but it has long been assured that some
| legislation was certain before this session
of Congress adjourns. Both committees
have been graphing with the question evel
since the beginning of the present year
| The four Maine votes in the house were
| recorded this week against the proposition
| to place rural free delivery carriers under d