Middletown transcript., 1907-10-12
WASHINGTON LETTER

| there has been any doubt in the minds
OF the American public as to where
the President stands with regard to the
navy, although tbat seems hardly possible,
he must have dispelled it by his western
speeches. Naval officers in Washington
are greatly delighted at the Presidents
stand for they believe that he will so in.
spire the great American public with love
OF their arm OF the service and an appre-
ciqtionI of its necessities that it will,
through its members Of Congress, respond
generously to the executive appeals for
more funds with which to perfect the
country's fighting feet and possibly will
even heed the arguments in favor OF in
creasing materially the pay of officers and
enlisted men.
~
Ever since he was assistant Secretary of
the Navy, Mr.. Roosevelt has shown the
keenest interest in this arm of the mill
tary establishment. Since he became
President he has more than once enjoyed
the hospitality and service of a naval
vessel and when he was on his way to
Panama he familiarized himself with
every detail of fighting ship, even going
SO far it will be remembered, as to throw
a few shovelsfull of coal into the furnaces,
task which sounds simple in the telling
but which is attended with difficulties
rome can appreciate who have not txper-
fenced the fearful heat of naval vessels
stoke hole when she is under way. Even
with the ship lying at anchor and nothing
fired up but the boilers of some donkey.
engine The heat is sufficient to cause the
unaccustomed visitor to faint if lie re-
mains there more than moment or two
and to indulge in SO strenuous an exertion,
under such conditions, as to throw coal
from the great scoop shovels into the fire.
boxes is beyond the energy of citizen
less strenuous TIN the President.
~
When, short time ago, Admiral Con-
verses health became such as to necessi-
tate his retiring from the important post
Of Chief OF Navigation, the President him.
self chose Admiral Brownson as his sue
;essor. Admiral Brownson had already
been placed on the retired list, under the
provision which compels naval officer
% retire at sixty.four regardless of his
physical and mental ability longer to
erye his country, but that did not deter
he President from calling upon him to
i'll the most important post in the Navy
Department and the results have clearly
demonstrated the wisdom of the choice.
Admiral Brownson is the youngest man
# sixty.four the Navy Department has
yer seen and his energy is such that son 9
Il his far younger su oordinates are almost
eady to retire now. But the effect of his
is proving most beneficial
o the navy and if a few "mollycoddles"
all by the wayside, President Roosevelt
Gill spend upon them few regrets.
*x*
Indications OF the remarkable success
nth which Secretary Taft has performed
lis mission in Japan, where he has
wakened the widest enthusiasm, even
mong SO phlegmatic a people, continue
D reach Washington and are received
nth the utmost qualification in admins
ration circles while among the diplomats
ir. Taft is talked of as nine days won-
er. Going to Japan at time when the
ttitude of that people was anything but
'iendly to the United States, it was
'eely intimated by diplomats who have
xperienced the displeasure of japanese
foials, that the Secretary might meet
18th anything but warm reception and
OF one of them for a moment believed
nat the big man could discuss with bis
frankness the difficult ques-
on OF Japanese exclusion and the del;che
inject of war with anything approach
lg success. But Secretary Taft has done
9TH these things aud has done them SO
ell that practically allJaps is res Jundi g
ith cheers in his honor. The diplomatic
tuation is entirely cleared and the way
now open for resumption of that dis
lssion of exclusion which was SO rndely
roken off by the action of the San Fran
SEQ school authorities. With the hearty
amer and the expansive and charming
nile which are SO well known, Mr.. Taft
'mbines absolute frankness and infinite
ct and the combination is one as val
.ble as it is rare. The President was,
'obably, the one man in Washington
ho did not regard the task imposed upon
q Secretary of War as too difficult and
8 estimate Of his cabinet members .rare
'ility has been more than justified
~
There has been a tremendous lull in
,litics since the President left Washing
n and few politicians have sought the
ational Capital. John A. Stewart,
esideut of the Lsazue of Republican
ubs, of New York, is here in connection
til some business incident to the coming
racuse convention which is to discuss
9 burning topic OF New York's aban-
ned firms, which are said to aggregate
any acres. II is estimated that $780,
0 acres have been affected by the SepIe-
Ition in farm values which is so great
at tile agricultural lands of the Empire
lte represent to-day $l6S, 100000 less
an they did quarter Of century ago.
cretary Wilson will address the Syra.
se convention and the experts of the
reau Of Soils are to be sent into the
tie later on to talk over the problem of
king some suggestions which may
I've Of value in reclaiming abandoned
ms and enhancing the value of all. /.
!. Stewart has persistently declined to
k politics for publication. but he has
d some intimate friends that Governor
lghes has lost ground in the last few
ntlis and that as presidential possi-
ity he counts for considerably less than
did six months ago.
~
BOARDING In sonao nf the r0liticaf az.