The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-05-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON,M May 8.-Henry Wat
terson's recent editorial on the nation
al political situation has created stir
here that no other editorial of late
months has accustomed. As political
prophet ''Marse Henry" is entitled to
all the.honor that is coming to him. A
close student of political events, he IS
one of the best informed men on the
machinery and policies of both politi-
cal parties. His statement that the
field is against Taft, that Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks will probably hold the
balance of power, and that Governor
Hughes of New York will be the next
Republican nominee for President,
is being received with the respect that
a Wattersonian pronunciamento CON-
mands. The only flaw seen IN Mr..
Waterson' s reasoning is in his estimate
of the Fairbanks capacity to stick,
The President is nothing IT not
tenacious and his admirers declare that
if he holds the balance of power IN
the convention it will be held for Fair
banks alone, and it is very unlikely
that anyone else will profit by it. The
Fairbanks party is not pursuing the
will-'o-the-wisp of party favor with a
brass band. but the chase is none the
less energetic. The results may bring
grief to the luster of Prophet Waiter
SON S renown.
The first meeting of the Inland
Waterways Commission, recently ap-
pointed by the President, was held this
week in the committee room of the
chairman, Representative Burton, of
Ohio The commission was organized
by the election of Senator NewlanGs,
of Nevada, as vice-chairman, and DR..
w. j. MCGEE as secretary. The one
point that was most emphasized at the
meeting was the necessity of having
the work of the commission conducted
on a broad plan and from national
point of view. So far as possible, all
sectional or local interests, plans or
projects will be eliminated. While the
commission will make a general inves-
LEGATION of the inland streams with al
view of preventing floods, utilizing the
waters for irrigation purposes, and the
Improvement of swamp lands. its chief
task will be toward a solution of trans
porIation difficulties by the handling
of great quantities of slow freight on
water courses instead of on the rail
roads. Such a substitution would not
only greatly facilitate the handling of
ali kinds of freight, but at the same
time would prove to be the most eff |
Gent means Of keeping freight charges |
down to maximum The work of the |
and the question it will study is rapid |
ig being recognized to be one of the |
most important before the country to- !
day. The creation of the commission |
IS due In large measure to the pioneer
work done by the National Rivers and |
HarbOrs Congress, which for the last |
live years has impressed upon Congress |
and the country the necessity for I'M
dertaking steady and scientific policy |
of waterways development. Although |
no plans have been formally adopted, |
it was announced by Chairman Burton |
this week that in all probability the |
commission would make trip of inves- |
legation down the Mississippi river, the |
tour to be taken just as soon as the |
government boat can be placed at the |
disposal of the members.
o -
Congressman Brownlow, of the First
District of Tennessee, and member
Of the Republican National Committee,
came out this week with q statement 4
that although he was quoted as origin
ally being a Taft man he was most
in favor of third term
for President Roosevelt. Mr.. Brown
low declares that he believes President
Roosevelt made serious mistake when
he announced that he would not be a
candidate for another nomination. He
believes that no man should declare
himself against the wish. or will O. the
speuple, so long as he is able and in
every way qualified to- serve them Mr.
Brownlow is of opinion that problems
now confronting the country are-sof
SO important a character that President
Rooseveltls guidance will be needed for
their proper solution.
o
J. w. Yerkes, of Kentucky. who re-
signed recently as Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue, has gone back to his
first love-the practice of law. He has
Joined the local law firm of Hamilton
& Colbert. 1t is understood that Mr..
Yerkes will take up corporation prac-
tice for the most part, deferring his
practice in cases coming under the
revenue laws until later. Etiquette re-
quires that retiring official shall lei
not less than one year elapse after de-
serting a government post before hi
takes up cases against the government
Mr.. Yerkes will observe this unwritter
rule.
o
John J. Gore, has been selected a
surveyor of customs at Nashville
Tenn, to succeed Joseph w. Dillin
This announcement has just been mad
by the Treasury Department. Nh
Gore was the Republican nominee fo
(No,r~~orc l,1t xr,oc defeated nv Rpnre