Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-11-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CFrom our Regular correspondent


gressional Committee has issued his
forecast of the results in the coming
election and by it he shows that the
Democrats will gain most of the ad-
doubtful Congressional dis
tricts, giving them a comfortable work
ing majority in the House. 1t is sig
gnlficant too. that present indications
are that three of the most prominent
Republican members of the House will,
after the present Congress, be permit
ted to retire to private life. These
three are Representative Babcock of
Wisconsin, and Representative Over
street aud Heminway of Indiana. Mr..
Babcock is the chairman of the Repub-
lican Congressional Committee and
Mr.. Overstreet is secretary, while Mr..
Heminway succeeded Mr.. Cannon as
chairman of the important committee
ON appropriations, when Cannon was
elected Speaker.
Friends of Representative John Sharp
Williams, and their name is legion are
greatly elated by Mr.. Cowherd's fore
cast as it is practically assured that
with Democratic majority in the
lower chamber Mr.. Williams would
succeed Mr.. Cannon as Speaker. Mr..
Williams has made the ablest leader
the Democrats have had for many years
and his elevation to the Speakers
chair would prove a fitting recogni
ton of his excellent and earnest work
in his present difficult capacity. 1t is
intimated, too, that Chairman Cow
herd would, in the event of Democrat
ic control of the House, succeed Mr..
Hemenway as chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations.
The valuable services of William j..
Bryan in Indiana have received signal
recognition, not only from the men,
bers of the national committee but
from Mr.. Parker himself who has writ
ten to Mr.. Bryan thanking him for
the splendid services he has rendered
his party. 1t is generally recognized
that but for Mr.. Bryan's labors in In
diana the State would would have CIV
en- large Republican majority whereas
it is now expected to give gratifying
majority for Parker and Davis. Aside
from New Y ork, which, although as
safe Democratic State, requires con-
slant looking after, Connecticut is now
the center of Democratic activity.
Reports from New York say that, de-
spite the betting odds, which are 10 to
2 on Roosevelt, the Democratic man
ayers are cheerful and even enthusiast
ic and that they expect the election of
their candidates with several votes in
the electoral college to spare.
The Democratic managers are look
ing daily for the arrival of Clarence
Smythe, who has been making inves-
LEGATIONS in Panama and Colombia
and who has advised the National
Committee that he has proof of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's having paid President
Marroquin, of the United States of
Colombia, $3.50, 900 to promote and in
sure the success of the Panama revo.
luton, in order that the way might be
paved for this country to construct the
isthmian canal by way of Panama
and Colon. 1t is expected that these
proofs will create great sensation
although the President and his ad-
visors obstinately insist that no such
proofs can be produced.
One of the inexplicable features of
the last days of the campaign has been
the attitude recently assumed by Rep
resentative Hearst, who, in his New
York newspaper, has attacked Parker
for permitting ex-President Cleveland
and ex-Secretary Olney to appear on
the stump in support of the Democrat.
ic ticket. Mr.. Hearst declares that
Cleveland and Olney are as closely as
sociated with the trusts as any member
of the Republican party and that in
permitting them to appear for him and
in allowing their voices to be heard in
Democratic councils MI. Parker is be-
traying the ''real Democrats" in the
party. Mr.. Hearst, although now q
Democratic member of Congress and
renominated by Democratic conven-
ton, has also shown characterization
by accepting the endorsement of the
popullst convention, in direct disobedi.
ence to Leader Murphy of Tammany
Hall. 1t is generally believed that
such methods must result in the dis
ciplinlng of Hearst after election, al
though it may be inexpedient to un-
dertake it in advance, of November s.
There is being made an attempt on
the part of the Republican campaign
managers to create the impression that
Alton Il. Parker is the candidate of the
Standard Oil Company. Such charge
is utterly without foundation. 1t is
based on the fact that State Senator
Pat McCarren and Delaney Nicoll,
both ardent supporters of Mr., Parker,
are closely affiliated with the Stand
ard Oil Company. But. contrary to
the allegations of the Republican press,
neither of these men were responsible
for Mr.. Parker's nomination which was
the result of the unanimous choice of
the Democratic national convention
and not brought about by any two or
three admirers of the Esopus jurist.
Southern Railway Winter Schedule.
Effective Noynmbar 9Th 1904 So,,th