Middletown transcript., 1904-08-06
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., July BOT

"A MANY people assembled at the R. R.
~ Station on Thursday evening last.
at o'clock, to catch glimpse Of the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt upon the
event of their midsummer return to the
capital. His speech of acceptance the
day before, at Oyster Bay, had given gen.
eral and genuine satisfaction to all Re-
pubicans, for its directness OF statement,
its sincerity, its modesty, and the manner
in which were expressed his own views
and the politics of the Republican party.
As usual the President shook hands with
the engineers who had brought him safely
over the road, and was at once driven to
the White House, fragrant with flowers,
where dinner was Immediately served.
Yesterday many prominent politicians
paid their respects, and the campaign be.
ing open, considerable information was
made public. Senator Proctor of YER
mont, who is not at all worried over the
strike at his marble quarries, told the
President the Green Mountain state would
roll up majority Of %, 900; and that Sec-
retary Wilson of the Dept. OF Agriculture,
and Speaker Cannon, will take the stump
about the middle OF August A better
choice of speakers for the farmers Of Yer
mont could hardly be made Proctor,
Wilson and Cannon are much alike and
are plain, earnest and impressive speakers.
Gen. Howard, who also lives in Vermont,
told the President that he will speak dur
ing this campaign as he did for Mckinley
in 1896.
*x*
A Cabinet meeting was held at II
O'Clock yesterday, all the ministers being
present excepy Hay, Taft and Hitchcock.
These gentlemen will return to town in
season for the important meeting which
is to be held next week. Postmaster Gen.
Payne appeared to be in excellent health
and spirits. He is perfectly confident
that Wisconsin will be found in the Re-
publican column. Secretary Shaw will
not call upon the national banks for their
Government deposits. He has $2S, ,000,-
900 and thinks that is good working
balance. Secretary Morton discussed
with the President who should be made
chief of the Bureau of navigation in place
of Admiral Taylor who died a few days
ago. The names Of Robley D. Evans and
Capt. Davis have been mentioned in con-
nection with the vacancy. The jSecre-
tary has ordered the American feet, now
in European waters, to return home, and
it may be expected about Sept. 1st. Early
in August Secretary Morton contemplates
visiting the navy yards, from Norfolk to
Portsmouth, N. H. He will make the
trip in the Dolphin, and take his family
with him.
Nearly every young man of social posi-
tion in Washington expects to serve two
or three years in the National Guard OF
the District, and reach at least the grade
of First Lieutenant. For the past week
there has been much activity at the local
armories making ready for the encamp-
rnent at Harper's Ferry, which will con-
tinue from Aug. 1st to the 18th. The
camp is near the junction of the Shenan-
doah and Potomac rivers, and there will
be an excellent opportunity to learn the
art of swimming. The departure of the
boys for Virginia reminds your cores
pondent of a unique incident which he
witnessed at the beginning of the war with
Spain. Suddenly all the District militia
was ordered to go into camp in the
grounds OF the Soldiers Home, some
three miles north of the city. Their de-
parture was witnessed by an immense
crowd which assembled in the vicinity of
the Center Market Armory. There was
the usual weeping, kissing and handshak-
ing, for some thought the boys would
soon be on the battle field. They
tramped up Seventh street to the grounds
OF the Home, only to find the gates locked
and admittance refused. Finally the old
soldier on guard let them inside. There
were no preparations for sleeping on the
sodden tufr; no tents; no beds; nothing to
eat. For one night the boys slept under
wet moon with the sky for blanket,
and mosquitoes for companions. The
next day they came back to town, band
playing and flags flying, disgusted and
disgruntled. Quite a number resigna.
tions followed. They doubted the wis.,
dom of going to war with officers capable
of making war so cruel.
49,
When the late VIM. G. Whitney was
Secretary OF the Navy, and kept open
house OIL K street, entertaining lavishly,
and treating all of his. servants very gen.
erously, as well as kindly remembering
the employees of the. department over
which he presided, people wondered how
he made his great fortune and of what it
consisted. His wife was Miss Payne,
of Cleveland Ohio, daughter of Judge, and
afterwards Senator, Payne, and sister of
Col. Oliver Payne, who is Standard Oil
Magnate. Much OF the fortune came with
the wife. A list of the taxable property
which be left shows that he owned
Standard Oil shares to the amount of ST.
078, 400; and Consolidated Tobacco shares
to the amount of 81, 730, $50. Altogether
his stock holdings amounted to $17, ,208,-
06O, and his entire fortune is listed at
So, ,243, 101. No wonder he could afford
to be bountiful. He gave $1,000 to have
his little daughter christened; and be wore
a 81, 700 black pearl scarf pin. His in
come from monopolies was princely.
***
| Interesting department news is made
public each week, for however high the
mercury climbs and wherever Cabinet
Ministers may be taking an outing, the
business OF the executive branch of the
government goes on forever. The Post
Office department announces that the
parcels post has been extended to China,
and after August 1st.. packages not ex-
ceeding $50 in value can be sent to far
Cathay. The Navy Department will soon
accept bids for 81, ,000, 900 worth OF armor
plate. The Government is now engaged
4