Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-10-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
tBy Special Corrospondence !,

10y special correspondence
The colored vote is said to be gravi-
tating towards Tom Johnson for mayor
of Cleveland, because the President
came out for Burton. Thus do political
chickens come home to roost.
There will have to be a showdown
pretty soon by the Republican PLAYERS
in the presidential jackpot, for Taft
and Cortelyou are both intent on raising
the limit and forcing President Roose-
welt to lay down or show his hand. The
general opinion expressed by visiting
politicians to this city, both Democrats
and Republicans, is that President
Roosevelt is scheming for nomination
Tor a third term. In this l do not agree
with them for | believe the Presid emf
too truthful and too mech of a man to
go back on his pledge to the people and
those Republican aspirants who desire
to succeed him, which he voluntarily
madeon election night 1904. 1t is quite
possible that he would be pleased if the
Republican Convention should nominate
HIM in spite of his repeated declaration
TO his friends that he declines to again
be candidate, for a refusal to accent
the crown" when offered would be
unique IN American politics, and almost
IN the worlds history. The important
question to the many ambitious Repub-
leans is, will the President be able to
dictate his successor?
The Williams and Bryan faction of
the Democratic party in Massachusetts
evidently do not want to carry the State
and would split the party wide open
rather than lose control of the organiza-
ton. Get together, gentlemen, and fight
the common enemy that protects the
trusts.
The boom for Lieutenant-Govern
Chandler, of New York, is predicated
upon his strength in his own State. but
there is a feeling that eventually he
will be only seriously considered for
second place on the ticket.
Secretary Straus warns Republicans
that our high tariff walls encourage high
walls in other countries which are
known by the name of discriminating. -
I'VE are striking that wall now" de.
clared Secretary Strauss. The Protec.
tive Tariff League, which believes the
tariff should be increased, will throw
another fit, if this kind of talk goes on.
What will the next Congress do for
and with sugar asks the Washington
Post. Those who know Uncle Joe and
Vice-President Fairbanks assume that
Congress will pay for it, and mix it
with mint. lemon, ice and a little Old
Grow, as usual.
The coming winter will be hard one
for the housewife with limited pocket
book, for in addition to the average in
crease in prices of all commodities of
over so per cent there is further adj
vance in the cities over last year of
nearly 30 per cent in food stuffs. Under
such extraordinary conditions wages
and incomes should increase, but the
general trend is for lower wages or al
least to stand still for the time being.
Yet the Republican politicians are shout
ing that every one is prosperous and
the sacred tariff which protects the
trusts must bepreserved.
According to L. II. Bass, a prominent
Democrat of Beaumont, Texas, the
Democrats Of that state expect to have
to vote for Mr.. Bryan for president.
but withno expectation of victory with
that vote" To anticipate defeat in
advance is to invite disaster, but Texas
will give her electoral vote to whoever
is the Democratic candidate. The oues-
ton is who will run best in the doubt
full Northern States.
In the investigation of the affairs of
the Standard Oil Company it was dis.
covered that nearly all the officers of
that concern were in very bad state
OF health. Rogers, the active manager
OF the concern, though able to run an
automobile, was too sick to attend court.
Flagler, another principal man in the
concern, though able to attend "func-
tions," was too sick to testify. The
directors were all "indisposed." There
were other witnesses, however, and
from them was extracted the amazing
methods of the great trust. 1t has
evaded every law, not only of the ma
ton, but of every state. 1t has done
SO Systematically and persistently. 1t
is the greatest criminal in the history
OF the world. The story is enough to
sicken any man and all men. And this
is quite a sufficient and natural excuse
for the sickness ofRogers, Flagler, and
the rest. The question is. will the Chief
culprits escape the penitentiary, or has
another case of Alton immunity" been
extended?