The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-01-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETT Err.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. December 81


crat or a Republican in the " hlte
House," No question has been made
more frequently asked in the Repubilran
cloak rooms of Congress than this, and II
has been reiterated more than ever since
the President sent to Congress the an
nual report of Commissioner of Corpora
tions Garfield who adopts, as his chle1
recommendation, after years study OF
the subject of federal control Of trusts,
a scheme first proposed by William j..
BRYAN at Civic Federation banquet In
Chicago, six or seven years ago. ms
scheme consists Of prohibiting all corpo-
rations from engaging in interstate bust
ness until they have procured federal IL
censes and complied with such conditions
as Congress may impose.
There is no question but that the Presi-
dent has put his finger on the two great
est evils of the business system of the
country He has emphasized the neces-
sitv for providing for governmental con-
troll of railroad rates and of the great cor
porations which engage in interstate COM
merce and which are popularity known as
trusts. He has asked, almost demanded,
that Congress pass legislation which Will
remedy the existing evils. In so dong
the President has not hesitated to borrow
from his opponents and advocate leading
Democratic policies, but he is counting
without his host in expecting Repuoll-
can Congress to aid him in correcting
these evils. Instead of setting them
selves to the task which the President has
pointed out to them as Of vital impor-
lance in the we'll being of the nation, Re
publican members of Congress are gazing
at each other in amazemeDt and ques-
tioning if they have not made the unpar-
dona Bile error of electing a Democratic
president on the Republican ticket.
eve have come to the parting of the
ways." said the President to Repub!i-
can Senator recently. 1--WE must now
decide whether the Republican party
shall stand for square deal for every
man, be he great or small, influential OF
insignificant, whether it shall improve It's
opportunity, curb corporate greed and
prove to the people that it stands TO;
their interests, or whether it shall merit
the name given it by the Democrats. "the
party of special privileges and vested in
terests." What reply the Senator made
to the President your correspondent does
not know To your correspondent, a
moment later, the Senator said. "Iha'
man is fool He talks like wild eyed
Democrat If he goes on at this rate be
will soon be bigger socialist than Brya'
and bigger anarchist than Debbs " Ii
Mr.. Roosevelt could hear what the nat
ional legislators in his own party are
saying of his policies and his aims, even
az stout hearted an individual as be
would probably feel a sckening sensa
ton
The President has just been guilty of
frightful heresy in the eyes of the mem
bers of his party. He has appointed
Francis E. Luepp to the office of Indian
Commissioner. Mr.. Luepp is life long
Democrat and has for years been CORE
spondent of a prominent Democratic
newspaper. Mr. Luepp was appointed
| member of the Indian Commission oy
President Cleveland. resigning after sew
eraI wears service. He has been the spec
| ial investigator of numerous Indian scan
dals and has not only studied the prob
lem of handling the Indians but has the
best interests of the Indians at heart
That, of course, makes no difference te
| the partisan politicians. Mr.. Roosevelt
should have appointed a Republican
Fitness for the office should have beer
| purely secondary consideration. Mr.
Luepp succeeds VIM. A. Jones, one of the
| best Indian Commissioners who ever fill
ed the office, and Republican. Mr.. Jones
was formerly Republican member Of
the Wisconsin State legislature. When
Mr.. Jones handed to the President his
resignation Mr.. Roosevelt asked if he
could suggest good man for his success
or. Jones replied, eyes, Francis E
Luepp." "Mr. Luepp is a Democrat" re-
piled the President. 81 know that" said
Jones, "but if there is one Office in the
administration which should be filled
without regard to party politics it is the
one have the honor of resigning," and
to Mr.. Jones credit it may be said that he
always placed the interests of the Indians
and the good of the service before par
tisan considerations.
When Congress reconvenes there is to
be made terrific fight on the Panama
Canal Commission. An effort will be
made to cut it's membership down to
three and other changes will be advocat-
ed The existing Commission may be
open to criticism, probably is, but those
who believe in an isthmian canal will
think twice before they endorse the at
tack. The onslaught is to be led by Rep
resentative William P. Hepburn, of Iowa
chairman of the committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. Mr.. Hepburn
is the protege of j. W. Blythe. national
committeeman for Iowa and Counsel fol-
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail
way. An examin alton of Mr.. Hepburn
record shows that he has always fought
any isthmian canal, that he, with Others
whose sincerity was questioned, espous-
ed the Nicaraguan route that he almost
~, Ii tho Panama Civil