The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-07-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

signs on inc horizon @1 tuo SaHoiuenSJ Va
William II. Taft for the presidency, to be
launch ed with the personal endorsement
of the President There are many straws
which the political representations inter
pref to support their theory and it is I'M
doubtedly true that Mr.. Taft is one Of the
largest men, in the Republican party of
today. 1t is grave question, however,
as to whether the stand patters would
ever be willing that the nomination
should go to the man who was RESPONSE
BILE for the Panama purchase order, which
was done so much to enlighten the pub
lie as to the iniquities Of the Dingley tar
iff schedules.
If Mr.. Taft were nominated it would be
without the delegations of good many
Republican states. For instance, the
State of Connecticut woll never sanction
the nomination of man who is so Gin
sanely enamored Of the Philippines" as
they put it, that he wants to establish
United States. They are afraid of the
competition of Philippine tobacco and
when, last fall, Secretary Taft took the
stump in that State, and advocated the
abolition of all tariff duties between the
Philippines and this country they became
very angry. Colorado would not permit
its delegation to vote for Taft for the
same reason. He wants to take the tariff
off of Philippine sugar and the best sug-
ar growers of that State are up in arms at
the proposition. In fact, it has been
chiefly the opposition of the Colorado
Senators which has prevented this change,
which has been strongly advocated by
the President, f1om being made before
now. 1t is, in fact, question whether
any of the radical protectionist Republi-
cans would be willing to have Mr.. Taft
made the party nominee and unless he
could attain such popularity as
Theodore Roosevelt's which COM
PEELED the Republican convention to
nominate him nolens volens, he would be
unlikely to poll majority of the dele
gates.
Charles J. Bonaparte took the oath of
office today and those who know the &C.
centric action of great family will watch
with exceeding great interest his conduct
of the important department of which he
has assumed the headship. There is no
question but that he possesses considera-
BILE ability as a lawyer, but those who
know him best declare that he is utterly
lacking in tact and predict that he will
quarrel with his bureau chiefs almost be-
fore the sun goes down on his first days
administration He called at the De-
partment yesterday and was introduced
by the retiring Secretary to the various
heads of bureaus. When he met Admiral
Mason, Chief of Ordinance, he asked the
Admiral if he was the man who had pat
ent weapons, and methods of destruction
guaranteed to wipe any enemy out of ex-
istence. Admiral Mason admitted that he
was the man, beyond doubt.
That this is day of specialists cannot
escape the reflections of anyone who con-
ing offered to young men with special ed
ucations For instance there are nume1
Gus opportunities offering every day to
men who are graduates of colleges of for
estry. Both the States and large private
lumber concerns arc offering fine salaries
to men of this class, The Navy and the
Army are both looking for young
surgeons. The Panama Canal Commits
sion is looking daily for large numbers of
men who have ability and energy in al.
most any line and if they have a special
education, such for instance as drawing,
engineering, stenography, ETC., they can
command almost their own figure. The
young man who starts out in life without
special training is however, seriously
handicapped. As the use of specialists
increases, the supply of "just plain
clerks" grows greater III proportion to
the demand and the result is that this
class of men are receiving poorer pay
than ever, while the necessities of life are
constantly increasing in price, despite the
glowing arguments to the contrary which
Labor Commissioner Carroll D. Wright
was able to compile ''for campaign pur
poses only"
The resignation of Chief Engineer
Wallace of the Panama Canal Commission
has not worked to the serious injury of
the government, as his place has been
promptly filled. Nevertheless, it was an
unjust proceeding. So far he has spent
practically his entire time acquiring q
knowledge of the problems with which
he was preparing to deal and his services
in any other respect have not been worth
any material proportion of his salary
Having acquired this knowledge and now
being ready to perfect his engineering Or
ganization, he might in the next year
have proved of invaluable service
to the government, whereas, as it is, a new
man must now be broken in and must
spend many months acquiring the same
knowledge which Mr.. Wallace has, pre-
sumably acquired during the year just
ended
People who know the new Chief En-
gineer, John F. Stevens. predict great
things for him. That he is an able en- gi-
neer and an exceptionally able admins
TRAITOR seems to be fact beyond all ques-
ton and as he is not to be made mem
Der Of the commission, at least until time
has served tn 5amonctrata w n of har ,r ~ ~