Middletown transcript., 1903-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER,
WASHINGTON, May 4th, 1908.

| every evidence points toward not only
acontinuance of present prosperous times
but substantial increase in the prosper
ity if conditions are left undisturbed
With the knowledge that the Bureau ol
Statistics is concerned only in giving out
facts and figures which bear on the pro.
ducts, commerce and finances of the
country, your correspondent called on
MIR. Austin and found that he had moi
been in any way misquoted. 1t must be
remembered that he is an expert who
has made study of conditions with
their bearing on the welfare of the
country, and that his conclusions are
based on the most careful of calculations.
''If | were the only one who had studied
the question, to arrive at these conclu-
sions," he said, 81 might feel that there
was chance for slight doubt as to the ex-
ceedingly rosy prospects. But when l
find that Secretary Wilson, through care
full studies of crops and markets, makes
Vic GotnC NC0uCtlOH5. dlu OOupiy 6uIC
that We are not tottering on the crest of
wave of prosperity before plunge into
the gulf of calamity, as some croakers are
trying to make the country believe. On
the contrary everything points to our
being simply on the rise OF long, smooth
ground-swell which will carry US to an era
ofgood times of which the present is.only
the dawn" He admitted that disturb
ing conditions might arise, but said that
his calculations to be complete had to
take cognizance of the possibilities and
even with everything considered he felt
that his predictions of long period of
good times was a safe one. 1t may be
added that the American people have a
reputation for knowing and holding to a
good thing when they have it.
~
That prosperous conditions will be con-
tinued is assured bv the interviews which
your correspondent has obtained from
prominent men from all states Of the
Union, who have visited Washington
during the spring months. The results
of his observations on the prospects OF
the next national election are that out of
total of 239 electoral votes necessary for
choice, the Democratic party with a
'tsold South" including Maryland and
Delaware, which are extreme concessions,
and giving them control OF New York
and New Jersey, an even greater conces-
sion, can count on only 2l3 votes. Re-
pubicans, without Roosevelt's own state
and the others mentioned above, are as
sured of 243 votes. This leaves Califor-
mia, with 10 votes in the doubtful column,
and does not make prepredictions OH Wy
oming, and other Western states, though
the recent demonstrations in favor of
Roosevelt in the West indicate that the
Democrats have but little hope in that
quarter. Predictions are not arguments
by any means, but after careful canvass,
present the foregoing figures for what
they are worth. They are at least con-
seryatiye.
During the past week General Miles
stale report on conditions in the Philip
pines appeared and attracted momentary
attention, and when found to contain
nothing new or Of any great significance,
comment which collapsed like pricked
toy balloon. The arguments of the bu-
reau chiefs, who had conducted more
thorough investigations than were posi-
BILE by the town-to-town tour of the Gen.
eral, made the latter's report quite rapid.
1t will be recalled that General Miles was
allowed to go to the Philippines by the
War Department as sop to his assurance
that he could at once get at the base of
troubles and put an end to disaffections,
which existed for the most part in the |
minds of the opposition to the adminis-
tration. Their cause, instead of being
by Miles report, has fallen
decidedly fiat since he has nothing to |
offer which has not been thoroughly in
vestigated before.
~
There is no "quiet" course Of Ieniency
and suppression being carried on the
Postoffice Department investigation, but
the whole situation is being gone over
disclosing irregularities
which have existed for long time. Mr..
Roosevelt is too thorough reformer to
permit the pursuit of rogues with felt
slippers, and their handling with silk
gloves, even il Postmaster General Payne
were himself inclined to keep things
under cover, which he is not. Dismis.
sails have followed the finding of clerks on
"laborers' rolls in defiance of the Civil |
Service rules and favored "laborers"
have been given the alternative of hus-
tling mail sacks and scrubbing windows, |
or leaving the service. The misdeamors
involving higher officials have been the |
subject Of a long conference between the |
postmaster General and Secretary Root,
who left Immediately after the conference
for St. Louis where he presented the facts
to the President in order that the latter
might be acquainted with the steps taken,
and advise the best course to thoroughly |
purge the servise OF existing evils. It |
can be stated definitely that the return
Of the President will bring forth even
greater activity than has been already |
shown.
BEGGED HUsABN0 TO KILL HER