Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-01-28
WASHINGTON NOTES.

MIR. WILLIAMS, the new D6mOcrdIic
leader in Congress, made no headway
last Thursday in his speech against the
Republican party. He attempted to at
tack the ''stand pat" policy and asked
on what the Republicans stood. The
answer. as reported, was ''for a flush,
and the reply was: Then it must be a
bob-tail." We think there is here either
. case of wrong reporting or misunder-
standing of the fundamental principles
of the national game of poker. We
have had recourse to hand book on
the subject and find that it must have
been said by the Republicans that they
'sstood pat on fush," as one cannot
stand pat and draw card, as would
have been the case had it been "bob-
TALL" as Mr.. Williams expressed it.
After careful consideration of the
authorities, we are disposed 10 stand by
the contention that the Republican
party stands pat on fush-a royal
which seems to be the highest hand
that can be held in game of poker
and consists of the ace, king, queen,
jack and ten Of any one suit. Inquirer.
A bill has been introduced n the
House making an appropriation to pur-
chase the grove of big trees in Calaveras
county, California, and it should pass
as these trees are the greatest wonders
of the natural world. They are believ-
ed to be older than the presence of man
on this continent, and are the most ma
jestic plarts that the globe contains. 1t
would be national disgrace to let them
be measured in foot values of lumber
for they can never be renewed or re-
placed by future growths. Thousands
Of years were required for their devel-
opment.
THE rules OF social etiquette appear
to be rather strenuous in Washington.
Mrs. Hay gave brilliant state dinner
at time when her husband lay i'll in
bed and the explanation for her singu-
lar course lies in the fact that it would
be contrary to etiquette for any mem
Der Of the cabinet to give dinner un-
til one has first been given by the Secre-
tary Of State, ranking member of the
Presidents official family.
SENATOR QUAY's bill ON the forma-
tion Of State from Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory attracts good deal of
attention in the press. But the main
thing about the bill Is its illustration of
the cheerful ease with which asserted
promises can be redeemed by introduc-
ing bills which there is no intention of
passing. Captious critics may affect to
see, in the story that the provision Of
the bill for an Indian Senator was in
redemption of promise made to the
Indians, an indication that Senator
Quay regards promise made to his
adopted tribe as more binding than the
promises of reform which he has made
to the people of Pennsylvania. But in
that they do the Senator injustice. He
has always been willing to redeem his
reform pledges to the extent of having
bills introduced. Indeed. if memory
serves. he had some reform bills intro
duced in the Legislature. and cheer
fully claimed fulfillment Of the pledges
while the bills slumbered TO the end in
committee. e.-Dispatch.
The bill relative to the adulteration
and misbranding of food which, under
the leadership of Mr.. Hepburn, passed
the House last week, compliments val
liable legislation on the same subject
which was secured last winter. The
earlier enactment, forming a feature
Of the Agricultural Appropriation bill.
applied only to imports, while the later
one deals with domestic productions
which are impure, unwholsome or false
ly labelled. Both measures protect the
honest packer, dairyman and wine
grower. and shield the consumer from
imposition, not to say injury. Common
justice dictates the adoption Of safe
guards against frauds and poisons at
home as well as those coming here from
foreign countries.