The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-29
THE PRESIDENT CRITICISED.
SENATOR coRMAN AS a PRESI-
DENTAL CANDIDATE.
The Late Albert Oaaaett Psnsions'
Prize Fighting and Other Items.

no I@N0 tAfo0FN Oab9Nhh
Prize Fighting and Othsr Items.
From our Special { correspondent
Washington, d. G.. Dec. 2ith, 1903.
Political matters are getting rather
warm at the National capital Senator
Hoar. when he took up tho Panama
question, warmly censured the presid mt.
lie WAS not. however. hail AS caustir a.
Senator German, who scored Mr.. Ro g.
welt roundly. Mr. German has taken the
position of leader Il his party, and II is
evident that the minority senators are
going To stand together in opposing the
course Of the administration regarding
the treaty with the new repqblic.
by the way, Mr.. German = stock as
presidential candidate ia going up every
day. Now that he has won his victory,
his friends think he will grow more con
servative. He il the most dignih~d look.
ing man in the Senate, and within the
past few years has developed remarkably
"a public speaker. very significant
remark was made by Andrew Carnegie
lew days ago, who said that IL Mr. Cor
man were nominated 10y the Democrats
we would have two good men as cAnll'
dates. and the country need leel no
apprehension a. TO the future. The OPP
ponents OF President Roosevelt have G'w
expressed alarm at his treatment ol
diplomatic matters. and soy II he II re-
elected that we are very likely To have
International complications However,
the country need ieel no apprehension on
this point with such man as John H1J
as secretary OF state.
There seems TO be no longer any doubt
about the confirmation cf Gen. Leonard
Wood Secretary Root came out vigor
ously IN his defense, and produced bel re
the Military Committee OF the Senate a
remarkable array II documents In lis
favor This set at rest In the minds oil
most of the committee all the extreme
charges that-Aave b,en made against
Gen. Wood.
The House has passed the pension
appropriation bull. which carried sl3S,.
600 900 There was no di,ision. With
10 the next few years the amount paid
for pensions IL going to decrease. The
old veterans are passing away every
day and the pension roll will become
shorter
The war on Senator Smoot still con
tinues. Some Of the leading ladies Of ne
land are after him with great deal OF
vigor. Nothing will be accomplished,
however, except to occupy the tine ol
the committee with charges against bim
He il Legally in the senate and cannot
he unseated.
Jacob Riis. the economic reiOrmer aud
philanthrupst, created q breeze among
the owners OF alley property In Wash
ington, by making n vigorous att iek
upon tenement houses OF this charac 'cr,
which will probably result In sn enact
ment by Congress of laws looking to he
abatement Of this class OF property at
an early day. Mr.. Riis was the gueei ol
President Roosevelt aud made several
addresses while here.
A movement IL now on loot 10 attock
the system Of prize fighting which has oi
late been pursued 10 many II our ieed .ng
cities by athletic clubs. These hghts
really do not differ very much from the
old pugilstic exhibitions that caused -
much excitement throughout the county,
and which have heen generally prohlrt
cd by statute in the different States, v ith
the exception that gloves are worn.
Last week, however, there was the most
brutal fight in Brooklyn on a Sunday
night In a barn, when the oppone1 u
went at each other with bare ti-ts aud
conducted the fight IN the most savage
manner, which nearly resulted IN the
death OF the yanquished fighter he
stake was very small and the audience
made up of the very worst character OF
men. Many Of the leading athletic clubs
throughout the country have promoted
fights which have led TO the demoral "a
ton of their members and the lowering
Of the standard OF membership 10 their
organizations It IL claimed by th 1se
who propose to move in the mate r,
that such contests have no good effect
and are in no way connected with proper
athletics
Albert Dsggett Is dead For some
years he has held the contract for print
ing postal cards Before that, he was
contractor for the sweeping of the str T.
in this city, and prior TO coming ere
was a political boss in Brooklyn. He
was always very yextrav8gant, and " whiie
he made great deal Of money, II il iii
he died poor. He was celebrated Is u
''story teller" and was at one time pfrsi
dent uf famous club, organized rom
the ranks Of retired politicians. Dagcet'
was one Of the most plausible men 30
-yer lived. He could MAKE black l'oL
ike white when he wanted TO get mOify
Agoud story is told by 0Ee Of his fries f.
VINO said be did not want 60 b. llt H
the same roUm with BIN, or Dag :eti
would tell such plausible s;ory t'
be abe to borrow all the money he hnu
in bank
What a procession Il prominent uca
have MARCHED through THE cepitsl city
since its foundation Someone OuglF' T.
undertake to write a history Il u IN
Just now q pr, ct is on loot To N -
places f historical interest b! pr .'sl
tablets This was done IN a tempo ~
way at the last encampment OF III
Grand Army of the Republic, but tn
signs which were then erected have large
ly disappeared. Many OF the oldTesideDt
who nre familiar with historical trsdi
tions and legends are passing away, sn'
soon the stock OF information they pos
sess will be no longer available.
SoUTHARD Z. WARNER