The National tribune., 1904-01-21
WAyTIINGTON~@
g. 3 81 News

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the whole Diplomatic contingent IN
Washington in attendance, and it is prob
able that the President will accept
Frances friendship offering. Emba ssador
cultured, suaye, and is extremely popular
everywhere.
Germany is not going to be one single
whit behind France in the matter of pres
ents, so she isn't. The Emperor Of Ger
many is going to give the United States
Of America a statue Of Frederick the
Great He is going to give it all by him
self, paying for it out Of his own pocket.
1t is a replica of one recently erected in
Berlin, and is said to be very fine indeed.
The Emperor's desire to make such a pre-
sentation was made known some time ago.
and the statue has been cast, and is now
ready for shipment.
President Roosevelt informed the Ger
man ambassador, the other day, that he
desired that the statue should have the
finest location on the grounds OF the to-
be-erected War College. As the ground
will not be in shape for the erection Of the
statue till late next FAN, the ceremony of
dedication will be put off till then. 1t is
to be made most brilliant affair, and has
been suggested that the Crown Prince will
be selected as the personal representative
of the Emperor.
Gen. Isaac Khan has left Washington.
Gen. Khan was the Persian Minister to
the 'Court of the United States" and he
was. distinctly an addition to the pictur-
esaueness Of the scenery on Diplomatic
occasions. He was big and broad and
handsomely dark, like the william" in a
play. He was very well liked, and has a
good fighting record in his home land,
which has led to his promotion to the po-
sition OF Minister in Vienna. 1t is called
a promotion" but Persia evidently does
not know that the other Nations Of the
earth now look upon the Diplomatic SER
vice in the United States as a berth to
coyet above all others.
There is an election contest in one of
the North Carolina Districts. The contes-
tant is "daid," but the case goes right on,
just the same. The evidence is said to
show an awful condition down there, and
it is the intention to have the seat declared
vacant, and hold a new election. The sit
ting member is Democrat, and has been
given his certificate Of election, but it is
said that the conditions surrounding his
election are altogether too questionable for
the committee to permit him to remain,
seat is now dead.
Senator Quay is suffering from insomnia
In its very w0rst form, and is taking q
rest, hoping to overcome the trouble. He
has been attending to a tremendous
amount Of business OF late, and has been
far from a well mar The Senator does
not look we'll, and his step is that of q
nan much older In years than he is.
. -
The veterans OF the State Soldiers
Home at Grand Island, Nebraska, made
a unique request Of the President the other
day. They asked him for the hat which
he wore when he was on his trip last Sum-
mer. 1t IS a SLOUGH, rough-rider hat, and
just shades of from being disreputable in
looks, but he wore it when he met the
veterans Aof the Hsmeyand they want it.
So the President has granted their request
Former Representative briggs, Of New
York, convicted OF using his influence
while Congressman for commercial con-
Germ, and taking money to the tune of
Sl2,0OO for the influence, was sentenced to
one day in the Jail and to pay $4,000
fine. 1t is pretty stiff lesson for young
man, and the stigma will stay with him
till he dies. 1t should be said for Mr..
briggs, however, that he acted the part
Of man throughout the trial. 1t was
shown conclusively that he did not know
that he was doing wrong, that he was yio-
lating the Constitution Of the United
States, and that he never denied doing
exactly what he was charged with, nor did
he plead the baby act. His only defense
was ignorance OF the law, and Of course,
that excuses no one.
The prison sentence will forever debar
Mr.. briggs from holding q Federal Office
He is young man, only about 35, and is
tall, well built, and rather .good-looker."
He was always attired in the strictest
fashion of the habertlasher's art when in
Congress, and his neekties were dreams.
Mr.. briggs had a peculiar voice for
man of his stature, being a cross between
a whine and that Of spoiled child. He
always acted exactly as though he was
going to tell you he wouldn't play on your
cellar door again, il you didn't do what
he wanted you to. Will other young men
profit by his experience? 1t is not prob
able.
There was distinguished meeting OF
Naval officers in Newport News the other
day In the interest of the local Sailors
Rest, and many Rear-Admirals, Captains.
and other high officers were present Rear
Admiral Harrington, in formal address,
commented most favorably upon the
cnange In the personnel OF the Navy.
From being largely predominated by for
eigners the service has reached point.
he said, where natiye-born Americans
composed fully so per cent Of the enlisted
men, and that Of those now entering the
service, less than two per cent. are Of for
eign birth.
The Government clerks have found A
friend in Senator Stewart. He declares
that instead of making the hours of SER
vice longer they should be shortened. He
says that six hours is long enough for
them to sit in the badly-ventiIated rooms.
This may be true, but they are just about
Is well ventilated as the average house is.
And then there is always the alternative
that those who do not like the service can
leave it. but it is said that nobody ever
does. Few die, and none resign" is the
old story.
The very latest thing in the humorous
line comes from Mr.. Estes G. Rathbone.
the man who thought he had a stuffed
club that would. lay out Gen. Leonard
Wood. Mr.. Rathb0ne has addressed to
Senator Redfield Proctor, Chairman OF
the Committee on Military Affairs in the
Senate, in which all the old rumors about
the Cuban administration of our early oc-
cupancy OF that Island were threshed over.
letter in witch he gives n detailed stare