The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.

prominent Democrats here. The gentle
man whom the convention has handed
down as the party's candidate, while he
does not excite instantaneous enthusiasm,
is thoroughly acceptable as an able,
thoughtful, courageous, and quiet states,
man. The platform as finally rounded
into shape is also regarded as fit piece
of work,-a high plateau of statesman
ship for the candidate to stand on. Some
who did not go to St. Louis and are still
to be found at Democratic headquarters
would have preferred plank committing
the party to an income tag while Others
are disappointed at the victory of Colonel
Bryan i'll securing the defeat of the so
called gold plank, affirming that the ire
mendous gold finds of the last few years
have removed the money standard
question from the field of political con-
tention.
Qualification is felt among Democrats
here that the acerbities of the convention
did not rise into hostilities, and that the
earnest differences between Hill and
Bryan did not degenerate into an open
quarrel.
Your correspondent has attended a
good many presidential conventions and
therefore desires to make few observa-
tions ~ The convention halls both here
and at Chicago, were three or four times
as large as they ought to have been, for
on such occasions the official public ought
to be practically excluded; ~ there never
has been national convention of any
party SO admirably reported by the AS.
ISOLATED Press as this convention at St.
Louis. The end of the campaign is OBJ
scure, but Messrs. Roosevelt and Fair
banks find themselves confronted with a
'sane and reasonable opposition.
~
One of the best beloved and most bril-
liant young men in Washington, young
lawyer but 26 years old, John ]. Hill, lost
his life in San Francisco on July Ist,
where he had arrived day or two before
to sail for Manila, as an employee of the
Government in the Quartermaster's De-
partment. He was brutally murdered by
thugs who gave him knockout drops,
sandbagged him, and left him on the
sidewalk of Mission street at three o'clock
in the morning, to die. He remained
unconscious until half past four of the
same day when he expired. The trans
port Sherman, upon which he was to be
a passenger, left its dock at one p. NJ
taking his trunks. Young Hill was last
seen at the Grand Hotel at nine O'Clock
in the evening of the night he was killed.
The autopsy revealed the cause of his
death. He had been robbed of all his
valuables. Three or four similar cases of
thugism have very recently occurred in
San Francisco, in the same part of the
city, where unsuspecting men have fallen
victims through the administration OF
chloral. The city has all evil reputation
as dangerous place for strangers Mr..
Hill was graduate of the Law School Of
the National University of the class OF
1899. when he took the highest honors.
His classmates here have adopted resolu-
tions of affection and sympathy, and a
wide circle of friends are horror struck at
the fate which befell young man OF
brilliant prospects in a far-away and
strange city.
~
There are great many Republicans in
Washington, from all parts of the United
States, and naturally they joined in cele-
brating the anniversary of their party,
which was organized half century ago.
A very enthusiastic meeting was held on
the 9th inst, presided over by ex-senator
John M. Thurston, of Nebraska, who
made an eloquent speech, and as some
one in the audience said, gave it to them
hard" Ex-Secretary Cortelyou sent a
letter in which he said the politics of the
Republican party "have been among the
mightiest forces in our moral and mater
ial development" Mr.. Thurston paid a
high tribute to the honesty, capability
and trustworthiness of President Roose-
velt
~
On Wednesday of this week the first
battle monument erected in Washington
was unveiled at Fort Stevens, where a
conflict occurred forty years ago in de-
fence of the city. 1t is asserted that
President Lincoln witnessed the conflict,
and the shaft of granite has been placed
upon the exact spot where he stood. In
this battle Sc Union men were killed
and las wounded,
*&*
The alarm and apprehension prevailing
in Texas over the ravages of the boil
weevil have stirred up the Agricultural
Department here to vigorous measures
of prevention. DIR. Cook, one of Secre-