Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-09-16

ana one OF MS aDleSt opponents.
Look out for these two young
giants in the next Congress.
It has been the opinion of the
majority of mankind that there
was very little difference between
tweedledum and tweedledee, but it
seems there is considerable differ
ence so far as this republican adj
ministration is concerned. For
instance: Several months ago
divers military and naval officers
stationed in Porto Rico were charg-
ed with smuggling-nos only
charged with it. but caught with
the goods, to use the slang of the
day. The officers themselves did
not deny it. The United States
district attorney for Porto Rico, at
the request of the collector of Gus
toms, instituted prosecutions
against the official smugglers. The
case was perfectly plain and the
result would have been in no
doubt had the case gone to trial.
1t did not go To trial, however.
Peremptory orders came from the
Department of Justice at Wash
ington to discontinue the prosecu-
tons, and when the federal Judge
at San Juan undertook to appoint
special prosecutor to take charge
of the cases he too was warned off
and told il would he better for his
official scalp not TO get too busy.
The whole affair was dropped.
But things seem TO be different
over in our Philippine possessions.
At least, the cable brings the
intelligence that Captain Harry b.
Chamberlain has been tried by the
court of customs and sentenced to
pay a fine Of $500 for smuggling,
though the articles Struggled were
addressed TO prominent military
officers and their families" resi-
dent at Manila There was no
hulabaloo at Washington. No
orders went out 10 smother" the
case against Captain Chamberlin.
He takes his medicine.
1t would be interesting TO know
why this difference 'twixt Porto
Rican tweedledum and Philippine
tweedledee. At a venture it might
be surmised that there are no SEN
atorial sons-in-law in the smuggling
business at Manila.
The republican leaders are all at
sea and absolutely unable Ia agree
on what legislation is necessary by
the coming Congress. President
Roosevelt demands that the Cuban
reciprocity treaty must first be
attended to. and says he will call
an extra session of Congress for
that purpose. The republican
leaders in the Senate are all oppos-
ed 10 reciprocity legislation, and
Senators Aldrich, Plat, Depew.
Hanna, Quay and Spooner have all
advised him not to call an extra
session this fall, and they are all
opposed to his policy. There is a
like division of sentiment on the
necessity for financial legislation,
and even those who desire change
in the law are hopeleSsly divided
on the scope of the alterations
that should be made. On the trust
question the President has declared
for publicity, but he is powerful
slow in putting it into operation.
and majority of the republican
leaders are for letting well enough
alone, so antitrust legislation will
be ut a standstill. There are a re-
spectacle minority of the party in
power who believe in some sort of
tariff changes, and who are being
pressed by their constituents to
that end, but they will not meet
| with any success, unless they work
in harmony with the democrats,
which they Will not do. and the
most of them are talking only tC
fool the voters OF the country.
The republican politicians are also
ut loggerheads over the Panama
canal question. Many of the lead,
ers are controlled by the transcon
5 tinental railroads of the country
: and really do not want any canal
, while others favor the Nicaragua
: route, and in consequence Their,
: has been nothing done, and won
be during the next session.
; One thing they always unit,
: upon, and that is the old flag anC
an appropriation official graf
and plenty of loot for themSelve,