Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-11-13

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 1903.


(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 1903.
Democratic politicians here are
pleased with the result OF the cleo
tions. While the party did not sue
coed in defeating Senator Hanna in
Ohio, it had a splendid victory in
Maryland, where President Roosevelt's
attitude on the race question formed
the principal issue and in New York
city it prevented the Republicans. un-
der the guise of Fusionists from re-.
tanning control OF the city. McClel.
lan's majority OF over $1,000 is sure to
bring the State to the Democrats next
fall. and Maryland's reputation of the
Republican party and especially Of
President Roosevelt has caused the
present Administration much alarm.
In the Senate, German will have the
prestige of having administered . Sc.
we're defeat to the party in power, and
in the House, Hearst will recall the
fact that his papers succeeded in
bringing the Democrats into line in
New York city. These men are the
champions Of the Democratic cause.
Senator German will attack the negro
policy OF the President and Represen.
tative Hearst will show the lsboring
men how little they have to expect
from the Republican party. The
"open shop" controversy is by no
means settled in the eyes Of the labor
leaders and they are very liable to turn
to MIR. Hearst to lead their opposition
to the President. Hanna will come
back to the Senate and it is believed
by many that bis victory in Ohio will
lead him to believe that he 10 destined
foi greater things. There is an omi.
nous unanimity in agreeing to Colonel
Roosevelts denomination and many
politicians. who seem 10 know, declare
that it lie all on the surface. There is
no denying the fact that the President
is popular with certain sections Of the
country, but the old party leaders
would welcome an opportunity to de-
feat him. Senators Hanna, Spooner
and Cullom and Secretary Hay have
been mentioned quietly in Republi.
cans circles as available men and il
opportunity presents itself there will
be sharp opposition to the President q,
the next Republican convention. The
Republican defeat in Maryland where
the President was an issue, may serve
rs q pretext for the opposition in bis
party. At all events the loss OF New
York and Maryland will weaken the
present administration.
Secretary Hitchcock has issued q
statement regarding the land frauds
in the Interior Department, and il
must be conceded that it is q very
skillful document in that it says prac.
tically nothing on a subject ON which
the public has right TO know all
However, it is q marked improvement
on Postmaster General Psyne's "hot
air, stump speech" comment on the
postal frauds. He says in substance
nearly q year ago strong indications oil
very serious land frauds by specula.
tors on the Pacific coast. under the
forest reserve lieu land act OF June
1897. reached the Department. An
investigation was started last January
and the work lie now going on with
great care and with all possible ex.
petition consistent with thorough.
ness" The matter is to be probed Ia
the bottom regardless Of the influen
tial character Of some of the men in.
volved. Several hundred thousand
acres are involved 10 the illegal trans.
actions, but the reports have been
"more or less exaggerated" "At the
proper time q full statement will be
made covering the results of the en-.
tire investigation, and the whole mat.
ter will be given to the public; but fol
obvious reasons it is not deemed ex.
pedient that . detailed statement oil
the facts should be given at the pres.
ent time"
Perhaps like tariff revision and finan.
cial legislation, this statement ought
to be postponed until after the Presi.
dental election. The investigation.
have taken ten months now and by
the time Another Investigation com
mission is formed, q million word re.
port handed in. When read and
annotated by the President, another
twelve months may be consumed
However there is the Secretary
authority for the statement that great
frauds exist and that influential men
are involved. Furthermore he de.
Glars that anyone who says that there
are more than several hundred thous.
and acres of land involved, is exagger.
ating.
Revolution is the arbiter OF all dis.
putes in South America countries.