Middletown transcript., 1903-11-21

VI iorclns senator Smoot 10 give up his
seat, and many people believe that the
mere investigation of his eligibility is an
unworthy concession to the united bigo.
try OF the country.
~
President Roosevelt has sent to the
Senate the nomination of Brigadier-G Gen
eral Leonard Wood to be major general,
and the question of his confirmation has
given the Generals enemies the long
looked for opportunity to attempt to
check his career of rapid advancement.
The nomination was referred to the COM
mittee on Military Affairs which will
hold a public sitting to hear all the pro-
tests against making him major general.
If he is confirmed, he will become head
of the army in 1908 and can remain such
until his retirement in 1924, thus pre-
venting a long list of older officers, who
are his interiors in rank, from ever hold
ing the position. Many officers in the
army declare that as Wood was merely
an army surgeon before the War with
Spain, his rapid rise was due to political
influence and is unjust to older officers.
Senator Teller stating he has no personal
interest in the matter, has come forth
as the protector of these officers and
demands that the nomination be held up
until the Generals military record can
be examined. The most bitter opponent
of fGeneral Wood is Major Estes NJ. Rath-
borne, formerly director of posts in Cuba,
and who are convicted of defrauding the
government. Wood did all he could to
bring Rathborne to justice. The Major
declares his innocence, and says he was
prosecuted for political reasons. He has
firm supporter in Senator Hanna, who |
is opposed to Woods appointment. Rath-
borne makes serious charges against the
general but it is generally doubted that |
he can sustain them. The Senate will |
probably confirm the nomination.
~
DR.. w. D. Crum the colored man who
was named Collector of Customs at Char
lesion, S. c.. as recess appointment
has been named again among tie nomi.
nations sent to the Senate. Although
the Senate failed on two former occasions
to take action in the case, it is believed
that the nomination will be confirmed
This time. Senator Tillman threatens to
filibuster, but he can do nothing more
.han bring about a general debate on the
race question, and cause party vote on
,he nomination. Representative Crum-
packer has introduced his resolution in
N the House, which provides for COM
nittee to examine into the suffrage con:
litions of the various states. His pur,
pose is to decrease the representation in
Congress of those SoutherB-states which
nave disfranchised the negroes. He does
lot expect the measure to be voted on,
,ut desires to keep the question alive. I,
/
Il am much gratified to receive the
etters whereby you are accredited to
he government of the United States in {
he capacity of Envoy Extraordinary
md Minister Plenipotentiary of the Re-
'ublic of Panama." said President Roose- )
'elt to NJ. Bunau-Varilla as this repre-. (,
entative of the infant Republic of Pam {
ma was presented to him in the White
House by Secretary Hay. In the words
# the new minister, the President thns
Omitted ''into the family of nations the
weakest and the last-born of the Repub-
ic of the new world" Panama is now 4
sovereign state in the eyes of our gov {
and it will not be long before
We take up negotiations with it, for the {
onstuction of the canal. Columbian II
roops are said to be hurrying to the
sthmus TO punish the ''traitors," but |.
'ur government will not permit them to :
and at either Panama or Colon, and t
nay Inform the Columbian government /
hat any hostilities even in the remotest L
ieiinity Of the Panama Railroad wifi not
'e permitted by this government. This
would make the suppression OF the reyo-
ution very difficult, if not absolutely /
impossible. In fact friends OF the new c
Republic can be now certain that ;ts