Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-04-02


proceed conservatiyely about this
business and swat only those trusts
that are gouging the people the
hardest, there will be no republican
Congress- and no republican admin
istration after the 4th Of March 1905.
It is felt here that that is to be the
democratic battle cry in the next
campaign and is going to win.
49,
There is some amazement evinced
here by prominent men in both po-
litical parties at the summary man
ner in which the Secretary OF War
dismissed the charges filed by Estes
G. Rathbone, former Director Of
Posts in Cuba under American oc-
eupation, against Brig. Gen. Leon
ard Wood, the Governor General OF
Cuba during the same period. The
general consensus Of opinion here is
that General Wood is the pet Of the
administration and that no matter
what or by whom charges are made
against him they will receive no con
sideration at the hands Of the Presi-
dent or any member Of his Cabinet.
II will be remembered that Rath-
bone was convicted in Cuba of ex-
travagance and cmbezIement of
funds and was sent 10 prison and
that he was pardoned by a procla-
nation Of general amnesty by the
President OF the Cuban Republic.
He came here and appealed TO his
good friend Mark Hanna and sought
what he termed q vindication at the
hands Of the American people and
asked for an investigation by a Sen.
ate Committee into the methods by
which he said he was railroadcd to
prison. He claimed that he was
unfairly tried and that Governor
General Wood had 50 manipulated
matters la the courts that his con
viction was inevitable. He also
claimed that there were others equal
" guilty and that they should be
shown up ia their true coiors. lie
was refused an investigation by the
Senate Committee. The adminislra-
ton proved more potent than Sena-
tor Hanna n had no stomach for
an investigation that would ruiiie
the tinc feathers Of IFS pet, Geueral
Wood Failing before the Senate
Rathbono took his case 20 the War
Department and there GIcd his spe.
cific charges The Secretary Of War
has simply Endorsed on The back Of
them that they are without founda-
ton, that no answer from General
Wood is necessary and that no ac-
ton viii be taken 10 the matter.
EalbboUc says he will now appeal
10 lho President aud we ali know
what he will got there lie win get
swim swat 20 the neck and be- told
to get 9n the earth The people
will al agree that that is good way
to hush up scandal. but not good
way 70 punish criminals No mat.
ter how guilty lIathboue may be,
and nearly every public man here
believes him 10 be guilty Of al
charges against him, theropndoubt-
eddy are others equally guilty and
public men here are unanimous 10
the opinion that they should be
shown up and not wbitewashcd.
have personally seen q letter from
an army officer 10 distinguished
United States Senator making the
same and even worse charges against
General Wood than those made by
Rathbone In this letter the officer
said he was perfectly willing to "a
on the stand and testify under oath
70 all he charged provided he could
do so under the protection Of sen
atorial investigating committee or d
court Of inquiry Whcrethere is 50
much smoke there must be some fire
and yet nothing will be done 70 bring
the facts before the public. This
man against whom charges are made
will soon be sent TO the Philippines
as the high mogul Of those islands,
and il is even on the slate to place
him at the head Of the American
army upon the retirement Of Gener-
al Miles by jumping him over the
heads OF his seniors in raHk. There
can be no cleaning OF the Augeau
stables until democratic admins.
tlation takes the reins of govern
ment and then II will be necessary
for the people to wear clothes pins
on their noses.
Democratic Harmony" dinners arc coming
to be regarded as quite the proper means OF
bringing together the hitherto dlsoordant fac