Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-05-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Rsgula, Correspondent


For a time at least, politics in
Ohio have calmed down, and
there is,apparently a truce in the
ragged ranks OF the Republican
party in that State. The Presi-
dent and his advisors are watch
ing the case closely, however, not
being by any means sure wheth-
er it is a truce or a lasting peace
between the Taft and Foraker
forces. Senator Foraker was in
Washington this week, but he de-
clined to talk politics, and espec-
tally he had nothing to say as to
the suspension OF hostilities be-
tween him and Secretary Taft.
It is generally accepted in Wash
ington, however, that the Ohio
fight has really been settled, that
Taft will be allowed to control
the State delegation to the ma
tional convention in return for
allowing Senator Foraker an un-
hampered reelection to the Sem
ate
In the mean time, there is the
Hughes boom looming up on the
horizon, and this is liable to
cause fresh dlssension in the Re-
publican party: Gov. Hughes is
undoubtedly the choice of N e W
York Republicans for the nomi-
nation, and it is said that he will
be officially endorsed by the state
organization very shortly. This
is one outcomes of the fight that
he made, but in which he was de-
feated at Albany for the public
utility bill. Should Hughes go to
the national convention with the
strength of the New York delega-
tion behind him, he would be a
serious factor in the fight. The
story has been started that an
effort will be made to induce him
to accept the second place on the
ticket. But this is not at all like
ly on the face OF it. The vice-pres,
ident by tradition and necessity
has to be q rich man, viii C h
Hughes is not, and preferably
lie is a nonentity, which Hughes
is not, and never will be. Further
he and Taft are both honest, how
ever their principles may be diff.
fered with by political opponents
and while the Republican party
might stand for one honest man
on the ticket, two would be rath.
er crowding the limit.
Commissioner of Patents Allen
has resigned, aud when he leaves
the Patent Office, it will be like
the case OF the famous western
Orator who did not leave a wet
eye nor a dry throat in his audi
ence. The Patent Office service
under his administration h a s
been lamentably lax and ineffi.
cient. There were at one time neal
ly $1,000 cases piled up in the Of
fee awaiting action while t h {
commissioner took his customa
Try three months vacation. The
work OF the office has fallen sc
far behind that it has been neces
sary to add an hours work a day
to the time of all the clerks, an(
teven at that rate it will be long
before the Office catches up. But
worst OF all has been the way il
which the Commissioners has al
l.
lowed an influx of all sorts 0
questionable attorneys and que
Itionable methods in the business
before the office. The Patent OF
fee has control over the meth
DDS Of the attorneys who prac
tice before it, even as to their ad
vertising, and it has become TIN
regular thing for attorneys tt
make all sorts OF impossible
claims as to the guaranteeing
patents, making applications ant
doing all sorts of service withou
pay, and selling patents withou
regard to merit. This has brough
an influx OF inventors with al
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