The Washington herald., 1907-07-17
AT THE HOTELS.

Perhaps ! am biased but after seeing
all the rest 4 the country. ! am free to
maintain that South Dakota is the best
State on Uncle Sans map. Things are
humming out our way this year The
completion Of the great Northwestern and
Milwaukee systems. from the Missouri
River westward. across the State brings
the Eastern and Western sections In
closer relation than they have been. uni
flying the State. indeed, for the first time
in its history. Heretofore. to go from the
Black Hills to any point. in the eastern
end of South Dakota. or vice versa. was
2 journey OF many hundreds Of miles, in
volving "A wide detour that carried one
into an adjoining State People are pour
ing into our country by the carloads, and
lands have trebled in value in the last
six years.
Politically. we are so strongly RepuU
lican that we must. In order to have any
fun. fight among ourselves. There are
two big factions. one headed by Senator
Kittredge, the other by his colleague,
Senator Gamble. The war at times has
been bitter, but it win not prevent US
from giving the electoral vote of the
State to the Republican Presidential nom
inee next year. Senator Kittredge many
Of us think the ablest Of Western states
men. He will be reelected without any
trouble in the primary election next sum-
mer. Secretary Taft is by long odds
South Dakota's choice for President"
Mr.. f. c. Johnson. Of Elyria, Ohio. be-
sides being one Of the foremost lawyers
OF his section. has for forty years been an
active worker in the Republican party.
In conversation with a Herald reporter
last evening at the Raleigh. Mr.. Johnson
said:
Perhaps you have noticed that this
talk about the elimination OF Senator
Foraker has died out Those who Orig.-
mated il were quick 10 learn that il did
not take well with the rank and file OF
Ohio Republicans. In the first place. Sen
atOr Foraker is not .hc -rt Of man 10 be
eliminated. A figure OF his comma nding
prestige in the State and nation cannot
be obliterated. In storm and sunshine he
has fought the party's battles, always
with zeal and mastery ability. He an
swered Bryan in 1856 as no other man IN
Ohio could have done. In the United
States Senate he has 10 superior as a
lawyer OF de5ater, and 10 talk OF retiring
such a man is folly. Il can never be
done
Without any personal 81 will against
Secretary Taft. I am Of the opinion that
his Presidential boom has fattened out
to a point approaching collapse. I do not
think il probable that he viii get the
unanimous support OF the Ohio delegates
10 the Republican national convention.
President RoOsevelts strength is unques-
tionably great. but for him 10 attempt 10
name his successor is wholly imprac-
ticable. That is a feat that even tran
scends the Presidents power. with all Of
his conceded clevernesS and popularity
In former days the Interstate Commerce
Commission had no more valued employee
than Mr.. T.. J. Marchand. who. by reason
Of being offered a far higher salary than
the government paid. resigned his COM
mission TO enter the service Of the Rock
Island lines at Chicago. Mr.. 4Iarchand is
now the special representative Of that
system. being in close confidential rela-
lions with President B. W. Wincheu AT
the New Willard yesterday. when asked
for an expression regazding the condition
Of Western roads and the country they
serve Mr. Marchand said
THE prospects for a continuation Of
heavy business are indeed bright The
tonnage Of this year is equal 10 that OF
1906. while the railroads are in much bet
ter physical condition than they were last
year. On the Rock Island important
stretches OF the lines have been reballast-
ed. new ties and new rails have been laid,
and additional siding and terminal facili-
ties provided, which. with the additional
equipment recently acquired, viii give the
shippers all they can ask in the way Il
service the coming season.
You can also say that the Western
transportation companies are living UP 70
the laws governing them. and that the
percentage Of violation of the law on the
part OF the roads is very light. When
you come 20 think OF the fragrant viola
tons Of all other Federal statutes. the
railways are about the most law-abiding
Of all great institutions.
''Since going with the railroad company
I have made frequent trips 10 Oklahoma
and Texas. The man who has not seen
this great Southwestern country has
missed a great deal The new State Of
Oklahoma is al empire IN all but name,
and II is destined 10 have a glorious fu-
ture Its people are as intelligent and
patriotic. and as thoroughly impTegnated
with the spirit Of modern progress as
any in the world. They are splendid
Americans, and they are laying the foun-
datiOns of a great Commonwealth"
"One Of the odd sights on the Isthmus
of Panama" said Mr.. p. J. Madden. a
Chicago engineer. who has just returned
from the Canal Zone, is TO see every man,
woman. and child down there carrying
an umbrella during the rainy season.
Even the laborers on the big ditch car
~ a spade in one hand and an umbrella
in the other. I wondered at first how
they expected TO work and protect them
selves from rain at the same time. but
they are doubtless onto the trick, and.
at any rate. nobody estops them from
carrying out the native custom.
Il was on the isthmus two weeks and
am here 10 tell you that the progress
being made is greater than one who has
not seen the operations can imagine. Col.
Goethals. the chief of the commission,
has made a splendid impression, and no
better man to head the project could
have been selected. If let alone, he VIII
construct the canal IN quick time. The
one thing that impressed me most, next
TO the fine Roadway and splendid organ
ization. was the extraordinary and COM
plete provision that has been made for
the well-being and comfort OF the men
engaged on the work Their sleeping
quarters are a model of cleanliness, and
the sanitation is simply perfect. The
hotels at Colon and Panama and inter
mediate points are excellent. I had as
good meals at them as l would get in
the United States, and at very reasonable