The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-12-28

that they are trying to discover what
the American navy Is endeavoring to
do, to get reports concerning Its target
practice and in general to make up
serious reports of what is being done
in naval circles of the United States.
Few people believe this, and certainly
for one do not.
Mayor Dahinan's Interview.
There has come from the White
House no denial of the presidents
statement to Mayor Dahlman of Oma-
ha that he did not regret being instru-
mental in bringing on the recent panic
In Wall street. Two New York news
papers denounced the president bitter
ly-the World and the Sun-but all
that Mr.. Roosevelt said was-or all
that he was quoted as saying-that IL
the conditions in Wall street were as
rotten as they appeared to be he had
no apology TO make for having exposed
them. A Nebraska man who is not at
all friendly. politically speaking, either
to Mr.. Bryan or to Mayor Dahlman
was present when the president made
his statement and stands ready to in
dorse all that the mayor of Omaha
has said on the subject. 1t Is possible,
of course, that Mr.. Dahlman will have
his name added to the long list OF
members of the Ananias club; but, aft
er all, there seems to be no reason why
Mr.. Roosevelt should take such action.
Mr.. Bryan has been saying that the
Wall street panic was not due to any
thing said or done by the president,
but rather to the methods of financiers
controlling insurance and railroad COM
panies which had aroused general pub
lie suspicion of the integrity of the big
figures in the street. If Mr.. Roosevelt
can say that he exposed these methods
one sees no reason why he should not
boast of IT, The only attacks made up
on him are made by the well recog-
nized organs of high finance In New
York. These attacks will not hurt
What might hurt would be his talking
In one way in private and another In
public. There will be rather close
watch Kept to discover whether he is
going to repudiate the Dahman inter
view or not. 1t would be unwise for
him to do 1t, as it expresses some
what notorious truth.
The Political Game Of Chance.
Only few weeks ago the more
buking the president for permitting
the senators from South Dakota to
cast lots for the selection of certain
public officials whose appointments
were In the hands OF the president 1t
happened that the two senator's were
not on the very best terms of friend
ship, and 1t is hard to discover what
better method the president could have
adopted to make fair division of
spolls between them. OF course 1t
doesn't sound like the earlier Theodore
Roosevelt, the famous civil service re-
former, the member of the civil service
commission. But with advancing years
he has become. like his friend Mr.. Har-
, riman, a practical man, and the mere
question of fitness for Office seems not
to appeal to him quite as much as the
long or the short straw held in the
fist of senator trying to take care of
a constituent.
But, after all, there seems to he no
reason why members either of the
house or the senate can properly pro.
test. Recently they conducted quite a
considerable lottery. Their new Office
building, which is fitted up with the
gorgeousness of New York club. will
be ready for occupancy when they re
turn after the holidays. The rooms
were assigned purely by chance.
The new office building is going tC
be of great assistance to the work OF
congress. Possibly 1t Is Il little over
gorgeous, all the furniture being solid
mahogany and there being swimming
baths, Turkish baths, magnificent
restaurant and all the appointments OF
a club. But to the people who have
business to do with their representa-
tives the convenience will be worth the
price. Instead Of having to pursue
members of congress to this and thai
hotel or to distant committee rooms In
the cellars of the capitol. they can bt
found hereafter In their own Offices
furnished by the nation. If they can
not be found there. 1t Is a fair indica
tion that they are not attending to the
business for which they were sent tt
Washington.
Prohibition In the District.
One of the first measures to he press
ed after congress reconvenes In Jan
nary will be the one providing to max,
the District of Columbia dry" i
Is going to have some strength. 1t viii
be opposed by the District commission
ers and by most of the property own
ers In Washington. Today the Capita
City exacts from its liquor dealers tn,
heaviest license tax of any city outside
of Boston. 1t has within the borders
of the District three extensive prohi
biton territories. No liquor is sold "a
the capitol nor at any point facing tn,
capitol park. But the demands of tn,
extremists for complete prohibition Il
influencing many members of con
gress. The argument does not seen
logical, because the man from Nortl
Dakota who comes TO congress an,
votes to regulate the morals of tn,
people of the District of Columbia can