Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-10-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, for the time, has
almost ceased to be a news CEN
ter. The President in the Missis-
slppi valley, Secretary Taft in
Japan and Secretary Root in
Mexico are monopolizing t h e
head lines i'll the newspapers and
the swirl of news that went out
OF the nationalcapital during the
recent brief stay of the Presi-
dent at the White House has civ
en- place to the quiet almostequal
to the summer solstice. Active
preparations are going on TO r
the naval crui ,e to the Pacific.
The Army is drilling and study
ing military problems, the State
Department and the Postofflce
Departments are doing business
at the old stands but they are
not making news,
The Secretary ofCommerse and
Labor has, however, furnished
the politicians somethingto talk
about by his declaration that un
less the tariff is revised the indus
tries OF this country, and espec-
niily the cotton industry, will suf-
fer from discrimination offoreign
nations. Secretary Straus cited
President Mckinley us as author
ity for the necessity of tariff re-
vision and reciprocity treaties.
Mr.. StBaus is the third member
of the cabinet to take his stand
for tariff revision and the Opin-
| ion of the President that the Re-
publican party mustpledge itself
in the next national platform to
revise the tariff Immediately al
ter the inauguration OF the new
President is well known. Secreta-
ry Taft, Secretary Root a Il d
now Secretary Straus have all
pnblicly announced their convic-
tions that the time has come, or
will have when a new President
is inaugurated, to revise the
Dingley tariff. Secretary Wilson
and Secretary Garfield are known
to hold the same opinion and it
is probable that all the other
members of the cabinet do so,
with the bleexception ofthe
Secretary OF the Treasury, Mr..
Cortelyou. What his views are
no one knows but himself and he
won't tell.
1t is q safe assertion that a ma
jority of the Senate is in favor OF
tariff revision and it is entirely
possible that a majority OF the
House is of the same opinion,
although it is a difficult task to
ascertain the views of a majorl-
ty of the lower chamber. Maiori-
ty rule in the House OF Represen-
tatives is a thing of the past,
save in theory. The Speaker and
a few of his choosing, not more
than three or fonr control the ac
lions of the House with despotic
sway and it is rareindeed for the
maioity to secure an opportunl-
ty to express itself on any ques-
ton ofrealimportance Ofcourse
in the theory the Speaker is Sc
lected by the popular vote OF the
members and no man can be
speaker who does not command
the support of a majority OF the
majority party. In iact, howev.
er, the Speaker, as dispenser OF
committee placts, builds up a
machine which he absolutely con
trolls and few men who have once
secured a good list OF commit
tees, and especially a chairman
ship of an important committee
will risk their position by quar-
relling with the Speaker. Howev-
er, if a majority of the next Re
publican Convention forces the
adoption of a tariff revision
pledge, not a plank but aPledge.
it is probable that the Speaker
will be forced to succumb.
The Army Board OF Ordinance
and Fertilization is conducting
some elaborate experiments to
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