Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-04-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent,

| AIIOH Jul IsCS GOIIc6 pOuutul.l
Washington, D. c., April 23.-This
week there have been two notable ex.
pressions giving the cue to the two
parties for the campaign, one by the
Democratic leader, John Sharp Will
liams, and the other by the bouncing
and somewhat grandiloquent orator,
Senator Dolliver of Iowa. The gist of
Delivers speech was that Trusts may
be trusted; that there are good trusts
and bad trusts; that the beneficent
trusts produce prosperity and that
naughty trusts die of their own wick.
edness like angry scorpions. He gave
list of trusts, which, he declared,
had gone bankrupt merely because they
tried to. defraud the people. The corol-
larry of these conclusions was that
trusts could not possibly be an issue in
the approaching campaign. At this
the Republicans applauded bysterical-
lY, and the Democrats laughed tumult-
uously. Several clerks will be employ
ed for the next six months to furnish
to voters the smooth Dolllverian con-
illusions. Of course the trusts will
directly or indirectly pay the scribes.
Mr.. Williams, the leader of the House
Democrats, charged the Republicans
with shrinking and not daring to face the
real issues of the campaign. This, be
declared. accounted for their running
home so early; they cannot face an in.
Vestigation of the obvious abuses and
corruption in the departments, execu-
tive usurpation of legislative functions,
violations of the Constitution, and
failure to pass necessary laws unless
those Investigations are made by the
offenders themselves. He asked why
the conspirators were not punished
who bad been declared by the Supreme
Court to be guilty of combining in the
Northern Securities case: why the
anthracite coal trust had not been pro.
secuted, the coal-carrying railways
compelled to reform their methods, and
the frauds in the Postofflce depart.
ment and Interior Department relent-
lessly exposed. For the first time, he
said, the president had been INDUCING
In the practice of making laws by his
official decree; and the people have be-
come accustomed to his habit of exc
cutting only such laws as he considers
wise. Mr.. Williams appealed for reel
orocity with Canada, the putting of
soft coal, hides, and other commodities
on the free list, and for the Filipinos
free press, free speech, and commerce
with the United States by any vessels
hey may choose to employ. He said
he air was full of Issues for the CAM
'aign which he believed would retire
;he Republican party from the confid
,nce of the people and from it's position
Of trust next November.
The Democrats Of the Judiciary
Committee of the House turned a neat
rick on Wednesday to the discontinue
IT the Republicans. A majority of the
were absent and all the
Democrats were present; whereupon
he Democrats instantly called up, ap-I {
'roved of and ordered reported to the
House two important resolutions in
reduced by Leader Williams. One
sked the administration why it had {
lot prosecuted the coal trust and the
Their inquired why criminal action bad ,
Ot been taken against the Northern Z
ecurities conspirators. As those reso-
1tions had been referred to the COM
littee as to graveyard, and it was
ever intended that they should see +
be light, the Republicans were deeply C
hagrinned and enraged. They fill e
but were voted down and :,
yerruled, and the House was asked to O
ass the resolutions. They are now on \
le House calendar as privileged o
leasures, subject to be called up at
ny time. So 1t is likely that the Re. y
ublicans of the House will be com e