Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
From our Regular Correspondent,

portant question discussed by every
democrat who comes to Washington il
the personality of the next presidential
candidate Of course numerous can
didates are mentioned and each posi-
BILE candidate has his friends, but it is
impossible to secure a general con
census of opinion on the subject. Many,
indeed, of the most influential demo
Gratis regard it an entirely too early to
select candidate, in support of which
proposition they say that a boom start
ed too early invariably results in defeat
of the candidate for whom it is started.
Judge Parker of New York, Senator
German and Senator Stone of Mis-
souri,, all have their friends, but there
are many who believe the candidate will
be dark horse as yet nnmention-
ed.
Speaking of the nominee, Senator
Daniel said today, 1T is entirely too
soon for the democrats to settle upon
one man. A year and a half consti
tutes long time in American politics
and many things may happen between
now and the convention to alter the
whole aspect of affairs The next Con-
gress will discuss the live issues of the
day and the attitude of the two parties
will then be clearly defined. Tariff
/ will 70 hi I'M RI tn q
campaign. The merchants and manu-
facturers as well as the farmers and the
consumers are interested and having
the tariff judiciously revised. Such a
revision should be made and the demo
cratic party should appreciate that
such a revision should be made on
lines which will not carry ruin to any
industry. 1t is, however, conc eded
that American goods are sold cheaper
in many foreign countries than at
home and it is obvious that we are
building up foreign countries at the
expense of our own consumers. This
must be -remedied.
| From the standpoint of the consum-
err, the Northern Securities decision is
great victory. 1t clearly defines the
limits to which corporation engaged
in interstate commerce may go and af-
firms the contention that all combina
| tlons which not only do. but which
have it in their power to restrict COM
petition are contrary to law. The
next important question is whether the
Attorney General can bring himself
to take advantage of this decision and
deal summarily with other trusts
which are as clearly violatOrs of the
law as is the Northern Securities Com
pany. The Pennsylvania Railway. for
| instance, comes under this category.
1t is operating the Baltimore and Ohio
railway so as to prevent competition,
in fact, only in name are they two
companies. In the opinion of many
| able democrats, the Attorney General
has succeeded IN demonstrating bis
power not only to secure convictions
but to expedite cases and there will be
ample opportunity for him to prove
within the next year whether even
good anti trust law can be trusted to a
republican administration to enforce.
So far reaching is the Sherman anti
trust law as construed by the Circuit
CourG Of Appeals that Mr.. Knox can
remedy at least half of the evils OF
which the consumers have complained
within the past few years. The other
half can only be reached by tariff revi-
sion.
The last WALL of the politicians re-
garding the PostOffice Department in
vestigations, which the President per-
sists in continuing is that the dis
closures will hurt the party. Mr..
Roosevelt says frankly that nothing
could hurt the party worse than to
whitewash the existing condition OF
affairs. He is, of course, making many
enemies among the politicians of his
party, but he is wise enough to appre-
ciate that the people will approve of a
thorough probing of the scandals and.
incidentally, he will have an opportu,
nifty TO appoint some. good Roosevelt
men when be has turned the rascalf
OUT
The success Of Carter Harrison anf
Tom johnson in the mayorality cleo
tions of their respective cities is s
lsource of great qualification to all goot
democrats in Washington. In thu
former instance the result is partic 4
larIy pleasing as it shows that the re
publicans of Illinois stand ready to re
pudiate the rule of the notOriou
"Billy'' Lorimer The Presidents dc
tion ID insisting ia having Mayor Il III
rison take part in his reception was il
, itself reputation of LOrimer and th
election was second and more deci
: sive one. Illinois democrats are nov
, led to hope that the Lorlmer domina.
ton will throw Illinois into the demo
cratic column at the next election.
3 The election of Mayor J Johnson pre-
!, cipiJates decidedly interesting situl
ton in OHIO. 1t is, perhaps, in IN
fact that Senator Hanna despite hi
energetic work, failed to sway bis o~
s city that the majority of the democrat
find the greatest satisfaction. The
MIR. johnson has espoussd caus
1 which is likely to prove popular every
where, namely the 3 cent railway faf
D idea. Mr.. johnson is himself larg
stakeholder in one of the Cieyeiau
railway companies, but that has no
prevented his throwing his entire u
fiuennce in favor of reduced tari
8 for the city railways.