The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-30
United States Has No Reason
70 Criticise Germany's Action
in Blockade So Far.
ROOSEVELT is WORRIED
Repetition of Stories Calculated ia
lnfarno Public Opinion Are
Dangerous in the
Extrome.

AVN oli AbiS SNoNA
intense indignation the administration
is supposed TO feel over the action OF
Germany in the Venezuela case.
Reports alleged to be private have
been sent to Wall street to the effect
that Roosevelt, Root and Moody nave
been concerning together for the Dur-
pose of strengthening the army n
navy in view OF an anticipated war.
There is no truth in any OF these
stories. The president is not anxious
and his secretaries are not preparing
for a conflict with Germany, n more
than with Great Britain or France
Repetition OF these stories Is viewed
with concern by the administration, be-
cause 1t indicates a condition which Is
dangerous.
President Roosevelt is anxious that
nothing be done to inflame this coun-
try against Germany. He has not pro-
tested to Germany, and Germany has
not protested to the United States. If
Germany Should make open war upon
Venezuela, land troops, and capture
cities, this country Would not be en-
titled to intervene, n Roosevelt SO I'M
derstands the situation.
Until Germany assumes to seize ter
ritory in Venezuela the Monroe doc
trine Is not called into question.
Mrs. Harrison's Picture %Snassed.
II il6llolAS1l olllSC VI iAS D"o
of the American revolution have been
thrown into another spasm of indigna-
tfon over the treatment which the por-
trait of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison is re-
ceiying at the White House. The latest
outburst vas caused by the discovery
hat the costly painting had been
"snagged" as the result of careless
handling during its removal from the
first floor of the White House to the
basement. The discovery was made by
the wife Of a senator, who is prominent
in the organization, during an after
moor reception at which a number of
the daughters We're guests. The "Snag"
was IN one side Of the portrait and
looked as if some sharp instrument had
been jabbed through the canvas.
There has been SO much discussion OF
the matter that the portrait was re-
moved from the White House today
and sent TO the Corcoran Art Gallery,
where an attempt will be made to re-
Pair it. Tho painting Is by Huntington,
and it cost the patriotic organization
$4,000. Mrs. Harrison was the first
president general Of the society.
Trust Legislation Prospects Dim.
II an in favor Of stringent trust legis-
l~ation," said Representative Brownlow
Of Tennessee, but I do not believe the
prospects are too bright for secur-
ing it. The people Of the country do
not appreciate how few persons control
the chief food products. Less than ten
men control the bread supply of the
country, about the am number mo-
nopolize the meat products, and ten
more control the coal situation. Thus
it will be seen less h thirty men con-
troll meat, bread and the coal used to
cook tire meals Of the people of the
country.
1T is rather startling to think that
little more than Il quarter of a hundred
men control the food supply of about
so, 0o0. 900 people. This is a tremendous
power to be lodged in the hands Of a
few persons, and there should be some
legislation which will shear them of
their power. If they should take the
notion to do so, the twenty men con-
trolling the meat and bread product
could increase their prices arbitrarily
and squeeze the people. They are be-
ing squeezed pretty hard now on the
price of COAL
Morgan May Defeat Treaty.
Senator Morgan's attitude toward
the Panama canal treaty is so bitterly
hostile that his colleagues on the COM
nlittee OH foreign relations suspect he
is preparing q campaign to defeat it.
The Alabana senator who for years
was 2 chief promoter of the Mica
ragua route, thus far has found OBJ
lection to every paragraph of the Pan
ma treaty. He has intimated strongly
that 1t is unworthy OF the serious con-
sideration of the mat He is eSpe-
cially severe in his criticism of the sec
ton which ~appropriates $40, 600. 900 as
payment to Colombia and says it is ex-
orbitant. Senator Bacon Of Georgia also
is disposed to balk at certain features
of the treaty.
1t is admitted that if Senator Nor
a should make up his mind seriously
to oppose the instrument he might de-
feat it, because he is the champion
long-diStance speaker of congress-.
Dignity Suffered Severe Loss.
One of the young women attached to
a spectacular show at a local theateT
was the cause of a panic in the Raleigh
hotel. She wanted to ring for a drink,
but instead touched the button that
controls the fire alarm circuit of the
house. Instantly twenty or more great
gongs We're pealing a discordant alarm
Guests, reused from sleep, left theil
beds in a hurry n jumped into the
nails, prepared to run for their lives
Nobody took time to put on his clothes
senators and representatives and thei
families and everybody else who was
under the roof of the Raleigh Joined il
the scramble for safety.
Half an hour elapsed before thu
cause of the false alarm was located
ana then the hotel management re,
assured the frightened guests. TIL,
girl who touched the button was 81
pleased with her performance that sh,
was willing to have her escapade writ
ten up by the newspapers.
sever republican senators expec
an extra session of congress-. Senate
Spooner, who is an excellent Judge O
the Legislative situation, SAYS hat Al
extra session is practically inevitable
A Public Land Bill.
A bill If much Importance to home
steaders has been favorably reported b,
the senate committee on public lands
II provides that any or all of the land
heretofore included within ~tion
LOT reservoir purposes may, in the dis
erection of the secretary, be throw
open to entry and settlement under III
iahd laws as though such reservatio
mao never been made; provided, that
mas peen ascertained by the secretar
or the interior that such lands or no,
tlohs OF tracts, are not needed for rose,
Volr purposes, and cannot proba bIv h
USED IN the future for such purposes.