The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.

1 HidklnS POWCio OOtA ChaS VI ehS
Avenue in Washington continues and ap-
pears at this moment irremediable, or at
least no one sees way out of it. The
situation is applorable and peculiarly EN-
barassing to the Executive branch of the
government. But yesterday Mr.. Roose-
welt was in he.plentitude of his power
and popularity, more loved and applaud
ed even than on the morrow of his cleo
ton. His worst enemies could not have
imagined more sudden contretemps.
Napoleon is represented by some historian
as he was retreating alone from Moscow
soliloquizing in PEASANTS hut while
waiting for change of horses and re-
peating again and again 'from the
sublime to the ridiculous is but STEP"
1t is not saying much perhaps to call Mr..
Roosevelt bigger and better man than
| Napoleon but there are parallels in the
careers of rulers and they become con-
spicuous in crises like these. What is
the genesis of this fuax pas as that Mr..
Roosevelt has made? l believe it is in
great part due to the weakness of his
present cabinet The wise and conserva-
tive advisers, those upon whom he most
relied Mr.. Root, Mr.. Knox and Mr.. Cor
telyou are no longer at his council table.
Mr.. Hay is skilled diplon1atist but he is
not constitutional lawyer; he has not
come from the people, he has never held an
elective Office and has for weeks been too
i'll to take much intesest or be helpful in
public affairs. Assistant Secretary LOOMS
has been for some days the acting head
of the State Department. 1t would be in.
vidious perhaps to refer to the present
members of Cabinet by name and call at
tention to theirsspecial weaknesses and
disabilities as advertisers. There is per-
haps but one man among them who in
public estimation is of first rate ability.
His repution has been gained through
his apparent success as military governor
of s-Pacific heather tribes and the
goal of his ambition is the Supreme
bench. The Cabinet as at present. con-
stituted are in the opinion of many more
successful in the role of courtiers than ad-
visers. In short the Administration lacks
the balance wheel of conservative ability
in its advisory board.
***
| In the old hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives long since deserted as con.
gressional assembly room and now used
as receptacle of statues of distinguished
men there has been placed this week the
statue of Francis Willard. Nearly all of
the states have contributed to this hall
marble or bronze ef6gies of their dis
tinguished sons. 1t was only a month
ago that the statue of ingalls, of Kansas
was placed in this hall and now the state
of Illinois has erected a statue of Francis
Willard whom many will agree is the
first woman Of the United States The
statue represents her on the platform in a
pose familiar to those who have heard her
in public and on its base inscribed the
words from one of her temperance
lectures: "Ah! it is women who have
given the costliest hostage to fortune.
Out into the battle of life they have sent
their best beloved, with fearful odds
against them. oh, by the dangers they
have dared; by the hours of patient
watching over beds where helpless child
rem lay; by the incense of ten thousand
prayers waited from their gentle lips to
heaven. 1 charge you to give them
power to protect along life's treacherous
highway those whom they have so
loved"
The House of Representatives has been
much excited over the action OF the
Senate in returning the Agricultural bill
revenue. This amendment affecting the
revenue is regarded as direct violation
of the Constitution and is an infringe
ment on the privileges of the House
where all revenue bills must originate.
Representative Payne in an indignant
speech in the House declared that the
Constitution conferred upon the House
the right to originate all revenue legisla-
ton and the act of the Senate he de-
uounced as an aggressive attack upon the
House by the Senate. 1t is peculiar
coincidence that just at the moment that
the Senate is repudiating the act of the
President in a real or supposed attack
upon the dignity and prerogatives of the
Senate that somebody should have been
guilty of a violation of the Constitution
aud usurpation of the privileges of the
House. On vote of 265 to S the resolu.
ton to return the bill to the Senate was
passed.
~
The last of the Presidents recep-
tions occurred Thursday night, and was