The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-01-18
JACK" HARRIS WASHINGTON LETTER,
WASHINGTON. /. 10 'O7

'inho Ifelly dismal
outlook, isn't it? Carrie arrived
in the city a fortnight ago, and
since then has divided the atten.
tion of those seeking for a new
sensation with congress and the
colored troops. Carrie started in
under the auspices of the local of
Rechabites, being something of a
Rechabite herself, but the pace
she struck was too warm for that
organization and they adopted
resolutions withdrawing their
countenance and support. The
Rechabites were holding a fair or
something of that kind which
wound up with a dance, and the
latter wOrdliness was too much
for the puritanical Carrie. Re
CARELESS of the sensibilities of her
new friends she spoke right out
in meetin' as to the, morality of
what she called 'hugging parties
and kissing bees', and has since
been going it alone. The Salvation
Army, however, has given her
platform room, and she is also
hiring Convention hall and other
halls on her own account. She
gives afternoon talks to thousands
Ito men only, and in the evening
addresses whOsoever will. 1t is a
crusade on vice in it's various
FORMS, wine, women and song"
in their various aspects at the
National Capitol, with hard side
hits at the President and Secre-
tary CortelyOu for their various
miscOnducts. The latter, as post
master-general, refused to allow
Carries plain speaking periodical
in the mails, alleging that it was
obscene matter, and this action
of course provoked her wrath.
She will be with us for some time
yet, adding to the gayety of the
social season in her many uni
que ways.
Congress started in Monday
morning for business, and there
will be no let-up now until the
curtain is rung down on the
comedy-drama at noon of Monday
March Fourth. incidentally, you
will note that congress will final
ly adjourn the day before Yer
mont's annual town meeting day.
There are no end of things to be
done-things which should be
done, but not one out of twenty
of them will be touched at all. 1t
seems to be more and more APP
parent that an understanding
exists among the leaders to do
just as little as possible beside the
passing of the necessary appro-
priation bills. In his regular and
special messages the president has
called earnest and immediate at
tention to many matters of pres
ent Importance which he and the
people believe should receive at
tentiOn, but they will nearly all
be absolutely ignored.
To man sitting on the fence
by the roadside, the conclusion
is inevitable that the remainder of
the session will be frittered away
in diminishing for position in
view of the next election. Just
now there is nothing in sight ex-
cept scheming and talking for
political advantage and effect. |
Everybody seems to be trying to
pull somebody else down in order
to climb over and on top. Regard |
less of how much a measure might |
be of public benefit or of how
much demand there is for il, it .
will be ignored if it's success
might possibly and indirectly
boom or benefit some hated rival.
The question is not, will it help
he country? but, will it serve or
njure my personal ambition?
no axes to put an edge on
md not being candidates for the
presidency or devoted to assisting
II preventing anyone else from
20 being, the Vermont delegation
S not interested farther than to
lttempt what they can for the gen
raj good wherever the oppOrtuni-
Y offers. The present situation
s far from encouraging, however,
o a public servant who has ideals
nd wishes to cooperate in con-
tructive legislative work.
The week ending at date has
cen a decidedly lively one in
9th houses, with nothing really
ccomplished except the passage ]
y the senate of the LaFollette S
i'll Thursday which prevents a {
train crew from working ]
lore than eight hours out of !
This bill came up |
the right time; in view of the |
acent series of terrible railroad
'recks, many of them caused d. I
ectly by the exhaustion of over I
.orked employees. The week in t
he senate has almost entirely @
cen consumed in talk on the col Q
red troops question, state rights a
$ they appear in the Japanese 6
nestion, the service pension bill o
nd a little of everything else j
In the anxiety and a
termination to talk for pOliti- b
Il effect even the eternal Smoot i
Use is sidetracked and may not 4