Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-24
Congressman Lilley Declares
War Secretary Has Mo-
nopoly of Sentiment
is lNDlANA's SECOND CHOICE
Recent Speech Seems to Have Strength
ened Ohio Man in All Sections
Plans on Foot to Improve Land and
Water Defenses of the Country
Washington News.

- ------.
Washington, Aug. 24.-Congressman
at-large George l.. Lilley, fresh from a
tour of New England, declares that 1t
is his belief that the Taft>senument IN
that section will assume monopolistic
proportions between now and the time
the nomination of the secretary of war
without any serious opposition. Mr..
Lilley thinks Mr.. Taft's speech has
commended him ito the whole country
as a safe and sane candidate, and be-
lieyes the conservative line he has
drawn will make him accepta BILE to
both factions of the G. o. P. Indiana.
it would appear also will rally to the
support of Mr.. Taft's candidacy.
Thomas E. Davidson, a prominent at
torney of the Hoosier state who is at
present in the capital, and Who keeps
in close touch with things political in
his state, asserts that altho Indiana re-
publicans will first of all support Vice
President airbanks in the event he has
a fighting chance, they will vote solidly
for the Ohioan as second choice. This
same tendency to put Taft second only
to the "favorite SON. is evident in
Pennsylvania, and in several other
states which have receptive candidates,
and 1t would seem to augur well for
him.
Considerable Importance attaches to
the plans on foot in the war and navy
departments to improve the land and
naval establishments of the countrys
defenders, and 1t would seem that the
recent war talk was the i'll wind that
brought good. With the real possibility
of war before them, the officials who
rule over the destinies of Uncle Sans
army and navy began seriously to con-
slider how they could bring the two
branches of the. service UP to the high
est standard of efficiency. And it was
surprising to learn how many changes
can be made which will tend to better
the fighting forces of the nation and
at the same time reduce the cost of
upkeep to the minimum. The house
committee on naval affairs has just left
on a two weeks tour of inspection of
the navy yards of the Atlantic sea-
board, and its chairman, Congressman
George E. Foss, of Chicago, declares
that much of the committees time in
the coming session will be devoted to
reorganiZing things, generally. An
has also been made that
the war department will establish at
Fort Monroe a coast defense school
where all new officers and recruits will
be instructed in the art of planting
mines, firing torpedoes, and manning
seaboapd Notifications. 1t is likely
that, as suggested recently, Congress
Will be asked to consider the question
of separating the coast artillery from
the army and making it part and parcel
of the naval establi shment, and it is
predicted that this change will effect
much for the good Of the service.
Oslerism was practiced here in
Washington this week. and the Nation
al Zoo mourns the loss of Lobengula,
the largest African lion in captivity,
and one of the most perfect specimens
ever brought to this country. The big
beast was nearly twenty years old,
having been presented to the Zoo when
a cub by Henry G. Moore, a United
States consul during President Cleve-
lands second administration, and has
been one of the leading attractions
at the park for a long time. Early
last spring the big lion suffered an
attack Of pneumonia, from which he
never recovered, and for the last six
months had been peaceful, dull-eyed
ton to nc one. Since early July Lo-
bengula suffered intense pain, and it
finally was decided to end his misery
by the chloroform route. Accordingly,
he was bound to the four corners of his
cage with stout ropes engaging his
feet and his neck and body, and then,
after three fypodermic injections of
a sponge saturated with the
anaesthetic was placed under his nose
where he would inhale the fumes. In
twenty eight minutes he died Like
Jumbo, the big elephant, Lobengula
was without an equal in captivity, and
it is not likely that another animal
ever will be found to fill his place.
From the tip Of his tail to his nose
he measured 9 feet 9 inches, and
917 pounds.
It's awful to die in America, but
according to a consular report from
Paris, it's worse to die in France. AS
one step in the state departments
to prepare Americans for
travel among, foreigners, who covet
their cash, Consul General Frank Ma
son warns his countrymen against the
luxury of ending their lives in the
French capital "The prices the I'M
dertaker may charge for funeral para
phernalia are fixed by ordinances" he
says, "but the charges to the family
or estate of the deceased are based on
the supposed ability or willingness
of the SURVIVING. rel tiNas to nv TLa