The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-20
WASHINGTON NEWS End GOSSIP.
The Capitol Deserted by Society
Folk at Present, But There is
Still Somthing Doing in
Politics.

Washington, July 16, D. c., 1864
A warn July goes simmering by on
the wings Of a solar beam,
And its Offset is soda fzz or pale
ocrystic cream.
I'd like to steal al April eve and
in its embrace ii",
Or borrow
Tomorrow
The morning
Adjoining
The brow Of winter sky.
The campaign Will cautiously begin
in about a fortnight, and both parties
are getting ready for the fray. When
the principal candidates have publish
ed their letters Of acceptance the first
guns will have been fired, aaad the
fusillace viii thereafter get lively.
Both parties viii undoubtedly estab-
lish headquarters in New York city
around Madison Square, with branch
es in this city, whence the tons Of par
tisan literature i'll be addressed and
franked
The president will return to Wash
ington about the end Of this month to
gather up some loose ends Of unfinish-
ed business. At Sycamore Hill he is
obtaining some rest in the midst CT
busy days for the entire family, him
self and Mrs. Roosevelt, the four
boys aid Miss Ethel. rise with the
sun and go to bed with the chickers
The President hunts, and walks and
rides and sleeps out-of-do occasion
ally, and boxes with the boys aud plays
golf and tennis Fishing is too slow
for him.
The ladies of the Cabinet are
somewhat scattered. The Hitchcoks are
in New Hampshire. Mrs. Shaw and
Mrs. Payne are enduring the rigors of
Washington July, and will proba-
bly, tarry into August. They man
age to make life endurable by taking a
weekend trip to Old Point Comfort
or Virginia Beach. Secretary Shaw.
accompanied by his daughters, Misses
Enid and Erma, left Washington Sun
day for the Thousand Islands and the
New England resorts. Mrs. Shaw and
Mrs. Earl will remain in their Massa-
chusetts Avenue home. Mrs. Metcalf
still fingers in California, where she
has delightful home in Oakland. She
will come here in December and re-
sumo life at the Arlington, know
ing we'll the trials and tribulations
of getting and keeping good servants
for housekeeping Mrs. Paul Morton
and her daughter Pauline are spend
ing July at Arbor Lodge, the hand
some Morton property near Nebraska
City. Mrs. Morton will take house
at the West end, possessing that large
private income which is rather necess-
ary to social success in Washington.
The real status of Paul Morton, the
new member of the Cabinet, is yet to
be determined. His refusal to succeed
Mr.. Cortelyou and the announcement
which be made W hen he was appointed
Secretary of the Navy, that be would
occupy the place only nine months,
aroused a Struggling of shoulders and a
raising of brows in political circles.
He still retains his position as Presi-
dent of the Atchisop, Topeka & Santa
Fe Railroad, and is merely on niCe
months leave of absence in Washing
ton. The Presidents pul pose III call
ing him to the position is inscruta BILE
for be knows absolutely nothing of its
duties, and is not trying to learn any
thing. Indeed, he could not learn the
rudiments in a year unless his famil-
iarity with prairie schooners might be
considered preparation. OF course
the labors of a Cabinet officer can be.
as they are in the case of Hitchcock,
merely perfunctory, and performed by
hired subordinates But the Presi-
dent ought not to be party to such a
definition, and it looks now as if Mr..
Morton took the position remembering
that the administration might change
in nine months, and that the impor-
tant portfolio was carelessly tossed to
him as a kind of political souvenir
without the expectation that be would
do any work.
The case of Charles Emory Smith
was entirely similar. He was made
Postmaster-General for his social and
newspaper prestige when the President
interest in his work and allowed it all
to be done by his bureau chiefs. 1t
was too much Of a risk to run on the
part of both. What sorry fgu.e,
| lndoeQ, mas CQarleS Emory OmlGH cut
since the revelation of the Postoflce
fraud!
Republican newspapers are greatly
afflicted in their minds in recalling
certain uncomplimentary language
which Col. Bryan is alleged to have
uttered concerning Judge Parker pre-
vious to the St. Louis convention.
They no doubt fear that the disparage-
menr points to permanent alienation
between these two gentlemen. They
worry unnecessarily. Let them pos
sess their souls in patience. Large
minds do not cherish grievances for
ever. If they did, what sort of rela
tion would exist between Platt and
Odell? Or between Spooner and La
Toilette? Or between Roosevelt and
Grosvenor? Since the nomination Of
Judge Parker, Col. Bryan has appear
ed only in the role OF magnanimoUs
and patriotic statesman.
Is Mr.. Secretary Loeb large enough
for his place? Even if he conducted
himself politely and prudenty
i'll peremptorily refusing the
interview with the President request
ed by the Miners committee, which