The Opelousas courier., 1903-02-21
Washington, ID. C., News.
nm our Regular Correspondent

The action of the Senate, through
its Committee on Commerce, in re-
fusing to recommend the contirma-
ton of "Dr.' Crum, a negro, as
Collector of the Port of Charleston,
s. g., is regarded as Il remarkable
celebration of Lincoln's birthday by
the Republican majority. Follow
ing closely on the public utterance
of Secretary Root, that negro suf-
frage has proven u failure, the ac-
ton Of the Senate is regarded as
of peculiar significance.Th trumped
up charges that Crum proved a
traitor to General Harrison in the
Minneapolis convention were never
proved, aud the refusal Of the SEN
ate to confirm the nomination of the
President was based solely on the
appointee's color. Or, to state the
matter more correctly, OH the belief
by a majority of the committee that
the appointment Of a federal officer
obnoxious to q majority OF the peO-
pie with whom he would have to do
business was ill-advised. The point
was made that Il Collector of Gus
toms differed from postmaster in
that. even in u community largely
colored, the former would have to
transact his business wholly with
the whites, while in such a commu-
nifty the majority Of the patrons Of
the postoffice might be black. Much
has been made of the fact that Sen
ator Nelson was absent from the
committee when the vote was taken,
but the fact is known to your cor
respondent that Mr.. Nelson knew
the vote was to occur and he delib-
erately remained away, as he did
not wish to vote for Crum and yet
hesitated to vote against him. Had
his vote been necessary to insure
Crum's defeat he would have been
present and voted nay,
Great credit is being claimed for
the President and his party for the
anti, trust legislation accomplished
at this session OF Congress, and yet
to those acquainted with the inside
history of the session it is known
that the President has receded from
tie strong position he assumed the
first of the year, and has attempted
to- make the best of wholly made
quate and unsatisfactory legisla-
ton. Like the razors which were
made to sell and not to shave, the
antitrust legislation passed at the
short session Of the Fifty-seventh
Congress has been enacted for pO
litical effect and not for the control
of the trusts. The publicity pro,
visions of the Nelson amendment
are farcical and will in no way effect
the trusts already in existence
Their only possible usefulness will
be to demonstrate the unreliability
ofsome of the get-rich-quick schemes
which are being constantly exploit
ed, but when it comes to the great
combinations of capital which un
hesitatingly use their wealth to de
bauch legislators, and even make
and unmake political parties, they
will prove useless. Even the Elkins
bill, which was supported by most
of the Democrats i'll the House and
received no dissenting vote in tht
Senate, abolishes the criminal pro
visions Of the present status an(
leaves only fine as the penalty fol
infraction. The Democrats vote(
for the bill because they believed i
a step in the right direction, al
though a very short step.
Minister Bowen has brought to {
successful conclusion the negotia
tions with Germany, Great Britain
and Italy, and has secured for Vene
suela as favorable terms as could b.
expected. The greatest triumph o
Mr.. Bowers diplomacy, however
lies in the fact that he has forcet
Germany to show her hand ant
demonstrate to the world that, il
her alliance with Great Britain, sh
was actuated solely by selfish in
/ terests. Cash payments were de
manded by each of the allies, ant
] Mr.. Bowen suggested that the.
name the san they thought proper
All named cash payment Ct -29224 9224
500, including Count Won Quad1
/ fno relation to humorist NJ. Quad
who was then acting for Germany
As the prospect of peaceful SCI
Element became more definite, how
ever, Germany instructed her An
bassador to withdraw her agree
ment and demand the full amoun
I of the claim named in the ultima
tum to Venezuela. This was done
and had the other allies followe
: suit settlement would have bee
impossible, but in the interest {
peace Great Britain and Italy a6
hered to their original agreemen
and by the terms of the protoct
Ijast signed they get S27, 300 eacl
while Germany receives S347, ,00l