Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-11-30
Washington LETTER.

Departments from its more or less myster-
mense amount OF speculation among those
in Washington not on the inside. And in
this case there are very few who are on the
inside. The concensus of opinion seems to
be that he was sent TO South America for a
more serious recreation than the inspection
of consulates, which is one of the standing
jokes Of the Department, and it is rumored
that his real mission was to look into the
extent of German colonization in Brazil
and see what effect it any it was likely to
have on the Monroe Doctrine. Now this if
it was fact, displays q rather apprehensive
attitude on the part Of the administration
toward German doings in South America.
1t is no secret that for generation past
Germany has had covetous eye on South
America as possible site for German colo
MES. She would like to plant them there
il she could and failing that, she wants all
the Latin American trade she can get
which is after all only natural.
/ The Administration could have learned
without going to the expense OF sending
Judge Penfield to Brazil that Germany has
already settled a very large number Of her
! subjects there, that they do NOT take up
the customs of the country aud are not alb
sJrbed as they are in the United States.
Also they have the bulk Of the foreign trade
there, with England, France and the United
States coming good way after. OF course
! if Germany ever feels that she is strong
enough, she may try to ignore the doctrine
which says the whole American continent
! is for Americans. Any nation will go just
SO far as she dares in trenching on anothers
rights if it suits her convenience. Inter-
national law is not an exact science yet and
there is little conscience in international
dealings. The Navy Department since
long before Admiral Dewey's brush with
the German Admiral at Manila has had a
plan of sea campaign against Germany all
plotted out and there are great many
officers who would like to try it in oper-
alton just to see how it would work But
it will in all probability be a very long
time before there is even the possibility of
an armed clash between the two countries
and Judge Penfeld's report to the State
Department while it is doubtless will be
interesting is not likely to be of much i'm
pcrtance.
/ There is excellent news for the manufact-
urers concerned in the announcement Of Sc
cretary Shaw that he at least will not
/ jeopardize the business interests of the
country by recommending any financial
legislation in his comming message He
has been seem by several important bust
ness delegations recently and assured them
shat the condition of the country was per-
fectly satisfactory from a financial stand
point and that SO far as his advice went the
President would not incorporate any fnan-
age. The Secretary contented himself with
generalities and did not say what the fig
ures would be, but intimated that the finan-
cial showing would be a good deal better
than last year. It could be that without
being very much.
There viii be another factor that will
haYe to be reckoned with however, and
that is the expenditures of the Panama
Canal Commission that will have to be met
out of the Treasury till unless a bill is passed
authorizing the issue Of bonds. The Spooner
| Act authorized the issue Of bonds it is true
but there will have to be additional legis-
lation before they will be available as
the basis of national bank circulation and
i unless they are made so available, it will be
hopeless for the government to dispose of
them even at par.
From one of the lessons learned in modern
warfare and emphasized in the late Russo
japanese war, Gen. Crozier, Chief Ordin-
ance Officer, has ordered entrenchment tools
for the use of the enlisted men in the
United States Army. According to this
order the entire army and part of the
organized state militia will be supplied,
and every soldier will have small steel
shovel to carry with his other equipment.
1t viii add something to the weight Of his
luggage but not more than has been taken
off the weight of the modern gun, and he
will doubtless be willing to carry it, for it
will in many instances save his life. The
improved rifles carry SO far and have snch
penetrating power that there is scarcely any
protection from them except hole in the
ground which this spade is intended to
dig.
Prices for N. Y. Horse Manure