West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-07-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Japanese War Scare Good Thing for
Shipbuildins Trust
ROOSEVELT AND THE RAILROADS
Corporations Willing to Contribute for
oortelyou's Campaign Demo
cratic Prospects Bright.
From or ReguIar corre.pondent.

From Oar Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 23.-
As news of real import is scant in
the dog days we are being RECALLED
with the prospect Of a war with
Japan. Bat as neither the japanese
government nor the American PEG
pie are spelling for fight with each
other about a comparatively trivial
matter there will be no war. But
President Roosevelt is overjoyed at
the display the newspapers are Civ
ing the subject, as il will help him
to induce congress to vote the nee
essary appropriations for a new fleet
OF battleships for the Atlantic. The
steel trust which will supply the ma
terial and the shipbuilding trust are
likewise interested in the building of
an Atlantic fleet, and the standpat-
tiers, who tear the surplus revenue
will be used as an argument for tar
if revision, are ANXIOUS for large
appropriations. So we will hear
more of the war scare until con-
gress is coerced into voting new
battleships.
No doubt many people have been
surprised al the collapse of the
Roosevelt antl-railroad campaign be-
fore anything has really been ac-
complished, but that should not be
matter for wonder when it is con-
sidered that Mr.. Roosevelt never
hangs on long to one job. but better
likes the. excitement that new pro-
jects offer. Then he has disco yered
that the legislatures OF most Of the
states have taken he bull 10y the
horns and passed railroad rate re
duction laws which have discounted
the puny effect Of the Roosevelt rate
legislation. Then again am as
sured, on The highest authority, that
the administration project is 10
nominate Secretary CortelYou for
President because the corporations
and the Wall street fnanciers are
willing TO furnish the necessary
campaign fund to elect him, which
is the strongest reason fol letting VI
on the railroads.
Yet MIR. Cortelyou would be ac
claimed as the residuary legatee oil
the Roosevelt strength and is sup.
posed to be ready to carry into
feet "my policies '-whateve they
are. But it is still some time to the
nominating convention and the un.
stable boss may at any moment
pick up fresh man, especially il
there appears TO be the same lack oil
enthusiasm for Cortelyou as there /.
for Taft. The President would enc
the whole matter by saying he woulc
accept a denomination, but his cleo
ton night promise, in which he
declared that to again be a candi.
date would Writ ally he TO run for 4,
third term, prevents him. Undoubt
eddy President Roosevelt would los,
a large contingent OF his own party
If he were a candidate for a thirc
tenn, and the votes OF misguided
Democrats, who would be mostly
confined 10 those in the western
states, woulI not give him an in.
creased electoral vote. The fact j.,
the Republican leaders are much
divided upon wha, to- DO and arC
working az cross purposes.
II the Dem, Gratis succeed in uni
ting on a candidate, whether he +,
generally known or not. they woulr
b. successful, Tor there arr man
reasons why The Republicans vii
not pull together wbn,v,r they nom
nate. II their cardidi'e IS a know
supporter Of the Roosevelt factor
there will be many Republicans who
will not supp1h him, and # he is d
"reactionary" there will De other.
who will vote against him or -efus,
him active support. Leaving our
Republican firuds 20 mediate on
their own troubles, Democrs.s. Who
have troubles of their own, can
overcome them boy improving ther
organization and urging measures
rather than men.
Worth Reading.