The Irish standard., 1903-07-11

ing his autograph, which Father Craig
carried away with him with great de-
light. II consider" said Father CRAIG
upon leaving the executive offices
that | have seen America's two rrea1-
est men President Roosevelt and
cardinal Gibbons. dined with his
enlnence in Baltimore several DAVIS
ago"
mere Is more politics in the air in
Washington this summer than any
other usually dull season. With Con.
sress away and the executive Office
moved to Oyster Bay, Washington Or
dinarily enjoys an almost rustic peace
But this summer the city has been
1ull OF politicians. An unusual num-
Der OF senators and representatives
has been here. and the presidential
election, although over a wear Off is
on everyone's lips and presumably.
in everyone's thoughts.
The Democrats are still tlounderinp
ABOUT III an alnless sort Of way. and
no two men express the same views.
which looks bad for the party. In fact
the saying. accredited to w, C. Whit
ney, that the party is without an issue
and a leader. seems still to hold good.
But this uncertainty of the Democrats
keeps the Republicans guessing, for
many wires could be laid by them if
it were definitely known who the
Democratic candidate would be.
There is a general confidence in the
election of MIR. Roosevelt. but one
man gives the Republicans some
anxiety, and he is the only man whom
they really fear This is Senator Cor
MAN of Maryland. One prominent
western Republican politician said in
the lobby of one of the hotels some
time ago:
president Roosevelt is all right and
will make a strong, and, I believe, a
winning candidate against most any
man the Democrats can put UP. and
the next presidential election will be
an exciting affair. But if you want
to see ii great political battle, Il battle
| between giants, let the two parties
nominate Hanna and German, and
YOU will have the real thing, one of the
greatest Spectacles, in the way of Il
political contest, that has ever occurred
in American history. Roth of these
! men are near to the people and have,
Both have an unimpcachahle personal
record, and everybody knows what
they stand for. consider Senator
German the only man who can defeat
President Roosevelt if such Il thing
is at all possible"
This expresses probably the general
view of Republicans as to the Demo-
cratic nomination, as it is not the first
time that such opinions have been ex-
pressed here in recent conversations.
=
The persistent holding aloof Of the
Catholic societies of Washington from
the Federation of Catholic Societies
has in many quarters been subject Of
wondering comment. All sorts of
reasons have been given here for the
uselessness and needlessness in join
ing the federation. In conversation
with some Of our leaders l gathered
a great harvest of conflicting opinions,
and present them here for what they
are worth.
Accordingly. the greatest stumbling
block in the way Of cooperation is the
anti-political clause in the laws of the
federation. If the federation is not to
participate in consideration Of politi-
cal questions, it is held to be worse
than useless. There are indeed few
questions coming before the American
people that have not political side.
Surprising the administration took ac-
ton upon some policy injurious to
Catholic interests. If the federation
took amy notice Of it by means of a
vigorous protest, it might. especially
during political campaign, have far
reaching results, and such protest
would be considered political move.
whatever the intention might have
been. If. however, the federation
failed to express it's disapproval of the
administration, it would fail in it's
duty to the Church and to the Catho-
lie interests which it proposes to fur
Their. That this federation could be-
come vast political machine cannot
be doubted, but as such it would be
short-lived. Catholics are not willing
to engage in politics as Catholics, al
thought the necessities of some special
occasion have compelled such a step,
as for instance during the A. P. A.
excitement. Some seem to admit the
ACCESSIBILITY on the part of the fedora
ton of taking cognizance Of any policy
injurious to Catholic interests which
the administration may ut any time
adopt but not admit that such cog
nizance is tantamount to engaging in
politics, while conceding THAT for the
time being it would have political
effect.
But Washington is different in many
respects from other cities Of the
United States, and its Catholic socie-