The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-10-19
WASHINGTON NEWS and GOSSIP.
Politics and Other Matters That
Are Talked About in the
Matinal Copital.

Washington, Oct. 6.-Chairman
Cowherd of the Democratic Congress
sonal Campaign Committee has re-
cieved word that the long looked for
whirlwind fight, to occupy the three
weeks before election, has opened up.
Senator Bailey of Texas has joined
Vice Presidential candidate Davis in
West Virginia and is adding the power
of his influence to the efforts CT
Messrs. Davis. Hill and Whyte.
New York has just had an enthusias-
tic meeting in Tanmany Hall at
which over 6, 900 pople were present.
News from Indiana brings reports OF
enthusiastic receptions given Mr.
Bryan and reports from Congress dis
encouraging news.
Judge Parker and Senator German
are working in entire harmony IN
Democratic National headquarters and
the effect Of their personal attention
is beginning to be felt throughout
the country, according to Mr.. Cow
herd. Secretary Taft is making
rapid fire speeches for the Republican
ticket but it is regarded as an excel
lent sign that he has been placed on
the defensive and that he feels COM
PEELED to defend the administration
because of its extravagant expendl-
lures for the army and navy. Mr..
Taft is also trying to impress his an-
dience with the propriety OF this
country's holding on to the Phallppl-
| mes, but fom all accounts he is max
ing week agument Of it.
Washington has been the scene OF an
enthusiastic Democatic rally this week
| when lively interest is taken IN pol
itics, despite the fact That residents Of
the District of Columbia have no
vote. This fact was made the occa-
sion of joke by one of the speakers
who declared that judging by the en-
thusiasm of the meeting there could
be no doubt that Parker and Davis
would receive the entire electoral
vote of the District. Such meetings
are not as useless as they might seem,
| however. There are many clerks In
the Government Departments who 60
home to vote and, too, there are many
voters from Maryland and Virginia
who always attend any political rally
in Washington.
sional Committe are deeply interested
in the fact that out of the list of Re
nnblican presidential electors IN
wisconsin three are directors of ma
tional banks. There is statute which
forbids any officer Of the United Staes
to act as a presidential elector ana II
has long been disputed question as
to whether director OF national
bank Ewas an officer of the United
States. The question has never been
nassed upon by the courts but Chair
man Cortelyou thought it wise, to
issue instructions that no national
bank director should be placed on any
ballot as presidential elector. Cover
nor LaFollette, according to the re-
mort which has reached Washington,
! has declined to abide by Mr.. Cortel-
von,s instructions and the Democratic
managers are hoping that as result
! trouble will ensue in Wisconsin, even
if the Democrats fail to carry the
State. -.
II is intimated in Washington thas
Chairamn Cortelyou may not secure
| the Postmaster generalship, even II
Roosevelt and Fairbanks are elected.
There is a strong campaign being
made against the appointment to a
Cabinet Office of a man who has for
the past several months been deycting
his time to raising money from the
trnsts and corporations and it is just
possible that the President will see
the propriety of the objection, espe,c;;
tally as there are others who Would
like the cabinet berth now occupied
by Postmaster General Wynne. The
appointment of Wynne was a source OF
ANNOYANCE to the Republican politi-
clans who regard Wypne as having
been guilty of 'pernicious activity"
in sbringing to Justice August ";
aud George ". Beavers, "the Con
| pressman's Frleud.' Just why the
President should have appointed
Wynne is not clear as Wynne has
never been a politician and is absolu-
tely wihout political Influence or
the ability to promote the Republican
campaign in any way.
Lieutenant General Chafee has just
issued an order which must afford
considerable relief to officers of the
army, especially the younger mem
bers of the regiments. 4 psrnicious
practice has grown up in the army OF
giving elaborate and expensive pre-
seuts to commanding officers wher
ever they remove to Few COM
maud. The practice glew to such pro-
portions as to become workable
hardship to many of the younger Off
GERS and yet they were afraid to de-
cline because such refusal to contrib
ute their share to the proposed gifts
might be misconstrued and thus result
in s.an enemy at court The order of
General Chafee will, at leafs for the
time be;-s, remedy this growing evil,
although it will probably grow
again in the future as it has i'll the
past, there having always been re-
gulation prohibiting the practice
among all employees of the govern
ment.
The manufacturers of oleomargarine
are once more preparing to make a