Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-05-16

sui General Mason at Paris has called
the attention Of the State Department
to a measure before the French Cham
oer of Deputies to increase by four
hundred per cent OF the tariff duties
On American cotton seed oil which
would, of course, be prohibitive.
There is also proposition to wipe
out our fourishing shoe trade in that
country by imposing an increase OF
sixty per cent in the duties. II
may be also that American grains,
llours and other agricultural products
will receive q similar increase in the
tariff duties, so it may easily be seen
that a serious situation confronts
many branches OF our trade.
If anything saves the Jamestown
exposition from being an utter fail
ure and farce it will be through the
saving grace Of the proximity OF the
National Capital. Visitors to the OK
position will stop over at Washington
and the sightseeing and pleasures
that the Capital afford will do much
to cffacc the disappointment that the
Exposition will probably cause. Our
reputation among our distinguished
foreign visitors will be made, it is to
be hoped, in Washington rather than
at jamestown and those who have
come from other countries as repre-
scntativcs of their armies or navies
have been treated to the vast contrast
OF the two places. Society has never
been 30 gay in Washington during
the Spring as this year when distin-
guished guests to the Exposition arc
arriving at the Capital nearly every
day. This week is notable one in
the social world. General kuroki,
the famous japanese officer and hero
Of Yalu accompanied by Admiral
Ijuin, commander of the japanese
squadron have arrived in Washington
after a short stay at jamestown and
are the guests of Secretary Taft. They
are being entertained not only at the
Japanese Embassy but are beseigcd
with invitations for dinners, lunch
cons and even breakfast by the resi-
dent officials and citizens. They have
been received by the President, dmcd
at the White House and been given a
reception to meet many Washington
ians by Secretary and Mrs. Taft. The
hero of the recent Japancsc-Russian
war and of the earlier Chincsc-Japa-
ncsc war is the centre Of attraction
wherever he goes in the city. He is
small in statue and typically Japa-
nese in appearance. He is sixty years
old and has been a soldier for forty
years. The reception given to him
and his suite is the most important
formal recognition ever paid by the
United States to a Japanese military
officer.
Another visitor who is the rccipi-
ent of the most distinguished attent-
ions is the Duke degli Abruzzi of TIA
ly who is not only an honored guest
on account Of his close relationship
to the King of Italy but also because
of his rcnown as an explorer. He is
a guest at the Italian Embassy but he
has also been entertained at the White
House and had several receptions and
a ball given in his honor. The Duke
is Commander OF the Italian fleet at
jamestown and his visit to Washing
ton follows that to the Exposition.
He is accompanied by his suite and
he will make a tour of the principal
Eastern cities before returning to
Italy. A moro striking contrast than
that between the little Japanese oflic-
or and his royal highncss, the Duke,
would be hard to imagine but in their
frequent meeting at fashionable en-
tertainments they seem to have de-
veloped a mutual admiration and to
have become good friends. Tonight
they will meet at the White House
where the President and Mrs. Roose-
welt will present them to number Of
notables not often to be gathered to-
gether here at this season.
Officials of the Administration are
almost to a man jubilant over the
news from Ohio showing that Score
tary Taft is after all the favorite son.
of that state. The President who is
interested in the candidacy of Mr..
Taft naturally regards the decision Of
the Ohio leaders as something of a
personal triumph and he has made no
effort IN coprea1 his ca tiafa ction in the