Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-12-24
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, Dec. "a.


at the request of the United Press,
Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson,
r preventative in Congress from the
Sixth Alabama district, has prepared
our article dealing with the recent crit
iosms of the navy by Henry Reuter-
dahl and others. Capt Hobson was
former constructor in the navy, who
helped to design some OF the ships that
are now on the way TO the Pacific His
review of the navy Is elaborate aud he
says the United States is able to assem-
BILE only one great feet while we have
three oceans to defend. With cur fleet
now 10 the Atlantic we are defeDseless
in the Pacific; and when our feet is 10
tie Pacific we are defenseless in the
Atlantic.
The shadow of Fecretsry Taft is fall
ipg over the War Department like q
tugaboo today. Chiefs of bureaux,
their assaintsnts and clerks, who look
forward to Christmas with a short
shopping interval before wonder whether
the strenuous Secretary is going to use
the Christmas time to dispose of some
of the accumulated work that lies before
him or whether they will be left free to
do their own sweet will. On many
desks there are transcripts of reports
ready ID be submitted and officers are
holding themselves ready for q summons.
The Secretary arrives in the afternoon.
Oregon land frauds was the subject
of lengthy conference today between
Attorney General BOnaparte, and Fran
els J. HeneY, the governments special
counsel, who has come to Washington
under special instructions. Heney went
over in brief the evidence in the land
grsfs cases, set for trial at Portland,
Ore, Jsnus.y l3. 1t is understood that
he took up phase Of the investigation
that has recently developed, and which
promises a startling climax. Today's
meeting followed a preliminary one
which the Attorney General at Chicago
Sunday, and a conference with the Pres
ident at the White House last night.
Heney expects to confer again with the
President before his departure for the
west.
The people of the Pacific coast are
still bitter towards the japanese and
Chinese, and demand their absolute ex-
cusioD, but they do not take much stock
in the war scare, according to F. ].
Heney, special attorney in the land
fraud and San Francisco graft cases.
Mr.. Heney says that the visit of the
battIeships to the Pacific is not regarded
as sequel to the japanese incident in
San Francisco. "The people Oh the
coast are too busy thinking and acting
in the present, to bother with events
that are so far removed, as the arrival of
the feet" said Heney today. "The
west is just now talking politics and fl
nance. The people out there are, as
whole, for Roosevelt, or the man that
best represents his ideals. Taft seems to
be that man. Governor Hughes bss
many friends in the west, and is easily
second choice after Taft"
The State Department today trans
mitted instructions TO Ambassador
Thompson, at Mexico, to arrange for the
ex,radition of w. II. Walker, the de-
faultiDg bank cashier of New Britain,
who was captured 10 Eusenads, Mex,
several days ago.
Mrs. Nicholas LoDgwOr!h, who was
operated upon q week ago Tnurgdsy
for appendicitis, Is able today 10 walk
about in the house for the first time
since the operation. Thursday she will
60 to tie LOngwOrth residence in this
city.
Southern politicians in this city think
that William j. Bryan, young Florida
lawyer, will be appointed to fill out the
uuexpired term OF Senator Mallory, who
died at Pensacola Sunday night.
By publishing its official organ, the
Federationist, one day in advance of the
regular day, the American Federation Of
Labor stole march upon the National
Association of Manufacturers. Justice
Gould, of the Supreme Court of1he Dis
trict said today that the temporary in
junction granted the Bucks Stove and
Range Co., of ST. Louis, to prevent the
publication of its name in the unfair list,
was not to become effective until the
applicants for the order fled a suitable
bond. The publication was scheduled
for today. Late yesterday the attorneys
for the st. Louis concern filed their
bond. They we're much surprised to
learn later that the magazine had been
out for several hours.
By direction of the President, the re-
tirement of Col. Benjamin O. l.. Lock |
wood, OF the ooh. infantry, has been |
ordered by the War Department to be-
come effective today.
At noon today the government con-
cluded Its case against John r. Walsh,
charged with wrecking the Chicago |
National and Home Savings Banks and |
the Equitable Trust Company. Judge |
Anderson sdiour ed court till after
Christmas. Walsh's attorneys were no!
prepared to announce their next step.
The November statement shows that
H. aliens came to this country |
during that month, IAN increase of "a per
cent. over the same month last year.
Orders were issued at the Navy
Department today, for the retirement
or eye, on January 8, of Rear Admiral
Albert Ross, Commandsnt of ths Naval
raining station on the great lakes.
Ross will be retained on active duty
Ifter bis retirement.