The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-10-12
was from the middle west. and a third
from the Pacific coast.

was from the middle west. and a third
from the Pacific coast.
On the other hand a majority Of men
from the south who have recently Wis
tied Washington insist that that solid
Iy-democratic section Is and will con
tinue to be unalteIably opposed to
government ownership. and the out
come in New York cannot seriously af-
feet public opinion. Another note
worthy fact is that democratic con
gressmen who represent districts
largely rural, no matter from what part
Of the country they come, generally
a be counted on as opposed TO gov
eminent ownership, while members
from urban districts are, as a rule, at
least more cautious in expressing op-
position to the doctrine. 1t has lOug
been an accepted theory that farmers
were hostile t. the railroads, but il the
expressions Of their representatives in
congress are a trustworthy guide, they
are not nearly so apt as are city dwell
lers to favor the governments taking
ove transportation lines.
There has been considerable talk
about the possibility Of an extra ses-
Dull vi tOuBl = DO a lCSuiS VI IL
troubles in Cuba, but the notion is not
taken seriously in administration cir
cles nor by prominent members Of con-
gress who are in town. The president
has ample power, it is agreed to deal
with any situation which now possibly
can arise in Cuba Had the Cuban
government opposed American inter-
vention and attempted forcibly to op-
pose it. the situation would have been
different; but as there is no govern
ment in Cuba except that erected by
Secretary Taft, any fighting it may be
necessary to do can be done without
the sanction or assistance of Congress.
AS vet there has been little criticism
of President Roosevelt's course toward
Cuba. but it will come later on. Sem
ator Raynor of Maryland, gave out an
interview the other day in which he
intimated that the administration is
~insincece in it's declared intention Of
getting out Of Cuba as soon as a Cuban
government can be set up. He admitted
that, under the Plat amendment. there
was nothing for the United States to
do but intervene, but al through The
interview there ran a note Of distrust
of President Roosevelt and his motives.
Senator Raynor's interview, of course,
is not of momentous Importance in it
self, but it is an indication Of the state
of mind of democratic politicians gen
orally. They are not saying much now,
for the reason that the country seems
to approve Of the administrations
course, but if there is any chance TO
make political capital out of this Cuban
business they are going to make it.
Wore the situation reversed. republi-
cans would be just as eager to make
capital out of any plumbers which a
democratic administration might make.
When senators and representatives
return o Washington for the converting
of congress in December, they will
, find that much progress has been made
, during the summer on the senate and
house annexes. When these buildings
are completed the American congress
! will be housed as no other Parliament
tary body in the world ever was housed
before.
Their completion will also make
Capitol Hill a place of marvellous
beauty, and will be a substantial be-
ginning on the Park Commissions
plan for making Washington the CITY
Beautiful" of the world. When the
block east Of he Capitol and north of
the library of congress is occupied by
a marble home for the United States
! supreme court, as it will be at no dis
tant day, the Capiol Hill group will lie
completed, and Washington will have
| a thing for tho wonder and admiration
,, of all visitors, whether American or
foreign.