Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-04-03
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON. March &c. 1903


tFrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, March &c, 1903.
In view of the uncertainty OF an ear
est, concerted effort on the part of the
Democrats to effect revision of the
tariff next session, the views of one OF
che Democratic leaders OF the Senate
are especially interesting. Senator
Bacon, speaking on this important
subject, said 1t is mistake to sup.
pose that the Democrats will attempt,
even if they have the power, to destroy
the tariff system at one fell swoop. On
the contrary, they would be content
with removing few bricks from the
top OF the tariff wall. The trust legis-
lation of the past session amounts to
nothing, and the trust and the tariff
questions are so interviewer that one
cannot be considered without the
other. The trusts have succeeded in
destroying all competition in their
own line of industry, that is, all do.
mestic competition. The tariff saves
them from all foreign competition and
the result is that the people are com.
PEELED to pay for the very necessaries
OF life whatever prices the trusts may
demand. Publicity amounts to moth
ing as n remedy. Witness the United
States Steel Corporation. Its capital
stock, dividends, ETC., have been given
the widest publicity and the only eff
feet, II there is any, is to make an in
creased demand for steel-trust stock.
Some good has resulted from the anti.
trust agitation, however. The De-
partment Of Justice has renewed its
efforts to stamp out the trust evils, has
acquired greater energy, at least, be.
cause OF the wide manifestation of
popular opposition to the trusts. The
real demand Of the country is for
such reduction Of the tariff as will de-
stroy the power of the trusts to charge
exOrbitant prices and will not at the
same time injure the legitimate indus.
tries of the country" Asked as to
the probable Democratic candidate,
Senator Bacon said he would not care
to discuss individuals, but the nomi-
nee must be acceptable to New York
and other States from which it was
expected to get support. With regard
to the dissension in Democratic ranks,
Mr.. Bacon said that it was folly to
quarrel over past events. In his judg-
meut, the increased production OF gold
had obviated the necessity of the free
silver issue but it was unwise even to
discuss the causes and the rights of
past contentious. The important
point now was to meet existing condi-
tions with the. proper remedies and
candidate.
Senator Carmack of Tennessee is
less reserved with regard to the Presi.
Dental candidate. He frankly says
that the only available candidate now
in sight is Judge Parker of New York.
In making this assertion Mr.. Carmack
stipulates that there can be no candi-
date who did not support the Chicago
and Kansas City platform aud that no
can be successful who can.
not command the vote of New York
State. In his judgment Judge Parker
could do the latter and he did sup
port the Democratic platforms in the
two past campaigns. "This," said
Mr.. Carmack," is merely q matter of
party policy. but an important one,
and it has become all the more i'm.
portant since some of the people have
been urging the nomination of man
who has not supported the party in the
last two campaigns"
Mr.. Camack's reference to . man
who did not support the party was
clearly aimed at ex-Presiient Cleve-
land, whose proposed western trip is
the occasion Of curiosity, and to some
extent OF anxiety, on the part of many
Democrats. Mr.. Cleveland, on the
invitation of his old friend ex.Gover-
nor Francis, of Missouri, will partici.
pate in the dedicatory exercises of the
st. Louis Exposition and will there
speak from the same platform as Pres
ldent Roosevelt. 1t is intimated that
il his reception at st. Louis is suffi.
ciently cordial, he will extend his trip
further west and invade the very heart
Of the country which gave to Mr.. Bry-
an his strongest support. In the judy
ment of those Democrats who can be
seen in Washington there is no posi-.
bility Of Mr.. Cleveland's regaining the
favor Of the party, and his statement
that he is not out OF politics is "ridic-
ulous," nevertheless it is known that
he has some staunch friends and it is
hoped that he will not run the risk
Of creating dissension in the party
Senator Stone of Missouri takes
hopeful view of the situation. He
says that he is convinced that Mr..
Bryan has no desire for the nomina-
ton himself, although he would not
Of course desire to see the policy for
which he stood repudiated by the nom:
ination OF anyone who openly opposed
it. On the other hand, in Senator
Stones opinion, there are many men
in the Democratic party who would
make excellent Presidential timber
and it is "poor business" for the Dem.
ocrats to engage in the elimination OF
men regarded as having. in the past,
erred in loyalty to the platform. Mr..
Stone also says that any attempt to
eliminate" Mr.. Bryan would be at.
tended with disaster. 1t is freely
limited in Washington that Mr.. Stone
would himself be a receptive candidate,
but that proposition he pretends to
regard as joke.
A most unsavory condition of at.
fairs has developed in the Postoffice
Department and one that is likely to
bring grave discredit on the Re-
publican party. The affairs began
with the investigation of the Get
Rich-Quick" schemes and their rela-
tions with the legal division of the
The work OF the secret
service men brought to light a scandal
of huge proportions and many of the
officials are involved. Postmaster Gen.
eral Payne, who is always loath to
make enemies has left tho citv oftar