Middletown transcript., 1903-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER

to Washington, probably in an American
warship, and President Roosevelt will
lose no time in sending it to the Senate.
1t is expected here in about ten days, SO
the Senate will be able to consider it inn
mediately after vote is taken on the
Cuban bill. Senator Cullom, chairman
OF the Committee on Foreign Relations
expect opposition to the treaty, but he
feels certain that it will be ratified by the
required two-thirds majority. Its provi-
sions are so advantageous to the United
States and the sentiment throughout the
country is so strong for canal, that few
of the Democratic Senators will care to
delay its ratification.
~
General Rayes, the Columbian commits
sioner, and DR.. Herran, the charged
affairs took luncheon with Secretary Hay,
and discussed affairs in Columbia and on
the Isthmus. General Reyes outlined in
. general the position Of his his government,
but as he is waiting for explicit instruc-
tions, he can not submit any definite
proposals.. 1t is thought that he will
be permitted to recognize the definite
separation Of Columbia and Panama and
negotiate for some kind of compensation
for Columbia. This is of course the only
way in which he can accomplish any
thing by his mission. Panama is now an
independent state and the day that the
present treaty is ratified by the Senate,
this government guarantees this indepen-
dence, even against Columbia.
Nv
Senator Foraker, who is chairman OF
the Committee on Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico and one of the firmest sup
porters of President Roosevelt, declares
that he does not intend to abandon the
Lodge bill reducing the tariff on imports
from the Philippines. This bill is fav-
ored by many Republicans who do not
! wish to start tariff discussion before the
presidential election. Senator Foraker
says, "Why should the Republican
! party be afraid to discuss the tariff at any
time? If there is any policy of legislation |
with which the Republican party is iden-
tilted, and Unidentified, too, to the salts
faction of the American people, if cleo
ton returns can be taken as an indication,
it is the tariff. ''Let them talk tariff if
they want to. What have We to be con-
cerned about? We admit that some
schedules in the Dingley tariff act,
grained in 1897, may not be altogether
satisfactory for the conditions of 1904;
but we shall use our own discretion as
to the time and method Of changing them,
and take the responsibility before the
country for preventing the unsettling of
industrial and trade conditions. 81 be-.
lieve there ought to be free trade with
the Philippines as there is with Porto
Rico. believe the Senate will at least
pass bill reducing the rate OF tariff on
the products of the Philippine Islands en-
tertaining this country" He adds his
belief that such bill will be passed this
winter. Although Senator Foraker's
proposition has not yet been much dis
cussed, it is regarded as the statement of
one high in party councils, and makes
it probable that the Philippine tariff
will be the subject of much debate DUR
ing the winter.
~
Southern Representation in the Repub-
iican national convention will be de-
creased if the plan submitted by Gen.
Charles R. BraytoR is adopted by the !.
party. General Brayton is a member of
the Republican national committee from
Rhode Island and party leader in the
state. He has sent letter to each men,
Der OF the committee outlining his plan, !
by resolution which he
will present to that body at its meeting
here December 11th. The resolution
provides that each State and Territory
and the District of Columbia be entitled
to four delegates -at-large and one for each
10000 voters casting their ballots for the
Republican eleetor in the preceding
Presidential election. "The resolution"
says Gen. Brayton, "will so provide
that the representation of each state in
q national convention will become mat
ter Of healthy rivalry, and every section q
Of the country will share in controlling
The affairs of the party in retable propor- .
lion to the whole party strength with per-
fect and complete fairness"
~. =
The confirmation of Leonard Wood as :"
major general is regarded as assured by u
trustworthy authorities in the Senate,
the numerous sensation y
but erroneous stories to the contrary IL
which have been furnished to the press
by interested persons, enemies Of Wood 9
and OF the administration. Prominent a.
members of the Senate, both Republican
md Democratic, have come to a realiza- y
ion OF the fact that the time for the Sem !
'te to have objected to Woods promo II
ion over senior officers was when that "
was given in other words, r.
when President Mckinley made Wood B
origadier general. In the present in
tance, President Roosevelt found Wood III
1t the head of the list of brigadiers gen. ca
'rals and merely gave him the promotion II
o which his position entitled liim. max. !,
ng him major general when q vacancy ~
n that rank occurred. An important of
eature which has come out in the inyes- til
igation is that Wood requested lof the ar
Var Department that court Of inquiry a,
,e appointed to examine into the con- "
luct and that Secretary Root, after exam W
ming into all the circumstances, decided
hat the charges were not OF sufficient m
feight or sufficiently sustained to war IA
ent such an inquiry. A careful canvas :"
t the Committee on Military Affairs VI
hows that there are not likely to be OF
lore than two votes against favorable Eth
eport on Woods promotion. One of ro
iese comes from Senator Scott Of West
'irginia, whose objections to Wood have pe
ing antedated the present hearing; and IN
he other from Senator Blackburn Of arr
kentucky. who will nrohablv vota .sNa ~,