The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-08-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.

ASPIRATIONS OF Secretary OF war, William
H. Taft has begun. Such action was
predicted several weeks ago. 1t was then
pointed out that because of the tariff
revision sentiment expressed by the War
Secretary in his New England speech and
because of his tariff reduction agitation
in favor of the Filipinos, he would be
attacked by the representatives of the
Protective Tariff League.
The first of series of vigorous arraign-
ments of the Secretary of War was deliv.
cred Friday. The morning mails brought
a reprinted editorial from the organ ofthe
association to nearly every official desk
and newspaper Office in the capital. The
attack goes over the tariff record made by
Mr.. Taft and the attitude he takes in his
recent speech. 1t closes with these
words:
''By his official record regarding free
trade in the competing products of the
Philippines and free trade in Panama
canal materials and supplies, and by his
at Columbus four days ago, Mr.. Taft
stands plainly in view as a:Presidential
aspirant whom protectionists cannot con.
sistently support. That being the case,
the time has arrived when protection
lists should bestir themselves in the mat
ter of securing the selection of the largest
possible number OF sound protectionist
delegates to the national convention of
1908. Efforts along this line should be.
gin without delay"
Who the 'standpatters'' will select as
their candidate to oppose Taft for the
nomination does not yet appear. But if
they are able to unite their forces, such
conservative" candidate might develop
great strength.
Nv
The Atlantic battleship fleet will start
for the Pacific next December, according
to an official statement issued by Secre
tary Loeb at the direction of President
Roosevelt. The statement was made
following a conference between the
President and representatives of the Navy
Department. The feet will consist of IS
battleships and will start some time in
December, going through the Straits of
Magellan and up to San Francisco, and
will probably also visit Puget Sound.
The question of the route by which it will
return has not yet been decided. The
destroyer feet will leave for the Pacific
about the same time as the fleet, but will
not accompany it.
~
1t cost the American Government
$2,5s4.97o in addition to the regular
ordinary expenses to keep the American
Army of Cuban Paci6catiou in that
island during the fiscal year 1907. This
fact is shown in the annual report of
General Aleshire. Quarmaster- General
of the Army. Of that amount, 81 ,eI5,383
was spent for transportation.
General Aleshire reviews the work of
the quartermaster's department and its
rami6cations over great portion of the
world covered by the United States and
its territorial possessions.
Discussing the subject of automobiles
for military purposes, General Aleshire
says that tests of the machines and re.
ports received as to their utility and cost
of maintenance do not argue in favor OF
their substitution for any of the standard
means of army transportation.
***
cat the battle of Mukden, the third
japanese army laid Iss miles of field tele-
graph during the battle"
Sat Liaoyang General Kuroki con-
trolled the entire force by wire from his
headquarters, IL miles in the rear"
These are significant sentences from the
annual report of Brig. Gen. James Allen,
chief signal officer of the United States
Army. General Allen points out the
effectiveness of the Japanese Signal
Corps, reviews what the American corps
is doing and shows that modern coudi.
tons have completely changed the meth.
DDS of handling troops in the field.
General Allen shows that the United |
States Signal Service has recently made
wonderful strides. Not only are mill
tary forts and posts provided with COM
munication by telegraph and telephone |
and elaborate systems for the control of
fire of coast defense guns, but progress
has been made with aeronautics and |
military ballouing, with thousand of miles
of cable and land lines have been built.
The Government now owns 1886 miles
of land, cable and wireless systems, all
under the control of the army. This
does not include the Cuban system nor !