Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-29
Champ
Letter !

Especial Washington letter.
"HERE is one thing happening and
another which the newspapers
II say is about to happen which
may have far reaching effect on
the politics Of the immediate future.
The one now happening is that the in
circuit attorney of Boston is
hauling the Massachusetts legislature
over the Goals in manner never
Dqualed in this land of the free and
home of the brave. He summoned over
200 members Of that body before him
to purge themselves Of corruption-a
wholesale performance certainly. Tom
Lawson or somebody else charged that
The entire legislature is corrupt, and the
circuit attorney, acting on that hint,
has spread his net to catch oil legisla-
live sinners. But If more than 200 men,
bsrs of the legislature Of Massachu-
sstts are criminals, people will begin to
inquire what we are coming to. The
chances are that no such number are
guilty; but, upon the theory that where
there is so much smoke there must be
some FIRE, the circuit attorney may dig
up enough material to turn the politics
Of the old Bay State topsy turvy. In
deed, men have made themselves gov
errors with much less to work on than
corruption in the Massachusetts, legis-
laturs. In that connection it must be
remembered also that politics in Mas
sachusetts is already much disturbed
by reason of the agitation in favor of
tariff revision, Taken all In all, the
G. O. p. Is in a bad way in Massachu-
sets. s
The thing which the newspapers de.
Glare Is on the tapis is even more as
tenishing than the foregoing, and that
IL that President Roosevelt and Sena-
tor Psnrose Of Pennsylvania have on
tered into an alliance offensive and de-
fensive. growing out Of the fight to
keep Barnes out of the Washington
postofnce. Such an alliance would star
tie the country, for Penrose stands
forth as the personi1cation Of the worst
sort of machine politics, while the pres
1dent has won all his honors as an anti
machinist. Quay's mantle fell on the
Penrose shoulders. It appears that he
10 too small to wear it. Last year the
Republicans lost the state by 100000,
though they carried it by more than
SOC, 900 majority in 1904. This years
spring elections went against them.
That they are badly scared is well
known; hence their desire for Colonel
Roosevelt's help. If he gives 1t, he will
stun many Of his admirers.
Buckeye Orators Foilsd.
One of the most idiottc and wicked
political moves of this or any other
age has just been foiled by public
opinion In Ohio. It is we'll known
that the people Of that state, grow
Ing weary Of the domination Of the
Cox-Dick- Herriok aggregation, rose up
last year In their might and hurled
them from power. Investigations BY
the state senate have dragged to light
the stupendan.s grating Of the gang in
Cincinnati partially, It could have
besn said wholly" but tor the fact
that the courts interfered with the in
xestigations. As 1t Is, hundreds OF
thousands Of loot have been recovered
TO the city and county treasures, and
from what has been accomplished peo-
pie may conclude what would have
been done had the courts not inter-
fersd. am, OF course, not passing
judgment on the courts, They may
have been acting according to the con-
stitution and the law, but whether
right OF wrong the net effect was to
shield certain persons from investiga-
ton who were much in need Of shield
ing. Part of the results of the gen.
eEal uprising Of the Ohio people last
year was the election Of a Democratic
governor. PattisaH, He is man Of
high social, business and political char
aoter-none better In the state. Short
" before his Inauguration his health
became very bad and is bad yet,
Though he is improving. Aided by wise
and faithful lieutenants he has dis
charged his guberpAtorial duties to the
satisfaction Of every decent man in the
state, but the Republican officehoid ers,
who somehow concluded that they held
public positions by fee simple title aud
who were about to be displaced by
Governor Pattison, were mueh dis
gruntlsd and formed q conspiracy to
have Republican Judge pust him from
Office on the ground that he la incap-
able Of discharging his functions. Just
NJ they were congratulating them
selves W the prospective success of
their coup 'd'eiat news Of their plans
leaked out. = Suddenly
There rose SO Wild a yell
AS all tho fiands from heaven thai tell
Had pealed the banner cry of hell
Decent Republicans and independ-
ants Joined with Democrats in such a
stern and angry protest that the ras-
eally cohsparhtogs took to cover. Many
Of them swore fdisesy 5har they had
nothing to do with 1t, and the hsfpa-
ration of this monstrous crime was
completely frustrated. OF course the
foul sahelme was concocted because the
lieutenant governor who would have
succeeded Pattison III THE gahegnato-
rtal Office is Republican. The gaii
axhtbatsd in the transaction will be
better understood when it is remem-
kered that the doings Of these Repub-
Acan ef4cials who we're conispirlng to
Gust Governor Pattison were largely
responsible for the uprising last year
which made him governor. R9 this
complexion has come the party Of
Salmon Portland Chase, John sher:
mar 1oshua r Giddinrs blur Hen