Middletown transcript., 1903-10-24
WASHINGTON LETTER

PRESIDENT Roosevelt's interest in
Maryland politics is one OF several
circumstances which have made the cam
paign i'm that state OF national importance,
hardly second to that OF the contest in
Ohio. For some time there has been a
bitter faction struggle among the Mary
land Republicans. between the followers
OF Senator McComas and Representative
Mudd who quarreled over federal patron
age. Many Of the Republicans are deter
mined that Senator McComas shall not
be re elected and this lack Of harmony Is
liable to be Of service to the Democrats.
The leaders Of both factions have had
frequent interviews with the President
and this gave rise to Tumors that he
favored first one and then the other fac
ton. He has now made it plain that his
interest in the campaign is merely a
party one and that he is neither for nor
against any Of the Republican candidates.
He has appealed to the leaders to put
aside their factional differences and unite
| to defeat the Democrats. 1t is not known
| Just what effect the Presidents attempts
at harmonizing the party will have, but
they have much annoyed Senator Cor
man who publically criticises President
Roosevelt for interference in the state
campaign. Mr.. Germans criticisms may
be good politics, but they are not very
just as there are plenty of precedents for
the presidents interference in state poll
tics in the interest Of the party. It might
also be said that the Senator from Mary
land is himself interfering in the New
York campaign, as he is now in that
city aiding Tammany. He is one of the
most probable candidates for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President and
many Republicans feel that he is the
strongest man the Democrats can put up.
His chances for the nomination are sup
posed to be in direct proportion to the
Democratic success in his state and this
is another circumstance which makes the
MARYLAND campaign of Importance. In
addition, the race question which has
been made the issue of the campaign, is
OF special Importance to President Roose-
yelt, as he has done much to make it a
factor in present politics. He no doubt
feels that Republican victory in Mary
, land would serve as an Endorsement Of
his attitude toward the negro, and as the
state has southern sympathies, such an
indorsement would have special weight
with the Presidents northern and west.
ern critics OF his negro policy. There
fore Republican victory in Maryland
would give the President prestige as Q
party harmonizer, would be partial in
dorsement Of his attitude toward the
negro, and would lessen the power o.
} Senator German as possible competitor
: in the presidential campaign.
~
II Senator Hansbrough is preparing bill
along the general lines recommended BY
the President in his message to the las
; session Of the Fifty-seventh Congress
This measure provides that the deser
) land act shall be SO amended as to pre-
} vent the assignment Of the entryman'i
right before the expiration Of the thre'
years from the time of entry. Speaking
on the subject of land law revision, thu
Senator said recently, 'The facts do no
/, warrant a complete reversal OF the exist
ing land laws, although the modification
, which | have incorporated in my bill
regard as most important. People wht
have lived in the West, who hav'
watched the struggles of the poor bu
. energetic settlers inthatcountry contend
= ing with the fact that they cannot gary
est a money crop under eighteen month";
from the time they enter upon their land
and that in the meantime they must sup
port their families, cannot but appreciate
!. that the provision whereby settler can
i at the end OF fourteen months, borrow
! cash upon his land, make the final pay
ment and get clear title on which +
base a mortgage, is q wise one, as wis
: to-day as when it was enacted by Con
e gress. The needy settler who has live
in the community for fourteen month
), and demonstrated habits OF thrift ant
! industry, can always secure from tn
: local bankers the funds with which t
y commute his claim and enough to live o.
u Temporarily, stock his farm, buy fe,
d agricultural implements, etc, and tina
class OF man makes good citizen. Lap
preciate that there may be serious figll
in Congress hisseszion over this subject
but have reason to believe that ma
r jority will support my BILL"
THE TRANSCRIPT, $1.00 per year.