The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1907-02-14
Washington Chat

Ten thousand temperance crusaders
of the District of Columbia, bent upon
having Congress wipe out ever saloon
in Washington, will beseige the law
makers in the Capitol on St. Valen-
tines Day, February 18th, the date
set by the House district Committee
for a hearing of the temperance ad-
vocates.
Rain or shine, this formidable army
will assemble at point near the
White House and promptly at noon
will march down Pennsylvania avenue
to the Capitol. Arriving there the
march will be continued throughout
the whole building with the idea Of
showing that the citizens of Washing
ton are in earnest about the matter
of prohibition in the district.
The aim of the crusaders is to have
the amount of license paid by saloon
: keepers increased. At present this
$500 per year, not as large as in many
other cities, and by an increase it is
hoped to reduce the number of
saloons. The abolition of these in
The District of Columbia appears to
be moving question, but it is doubt
full if Congress will take'any action
this session. There is too much other
business on the calendar of both
Houses and about all that can be ac-
complished during the balance of the
session is to pass the remaining APP
preparation bills. However, the tenn
perance people are not discouraged.
Their demonstration is to be re-
markable one and on St. Valentines
Day every nook and corner ,otsthe big
white building will echo with the cry
"Down with the saloons"
As the present session of Congress
draws near a close, the talk of an
extra session increases, but whether
the President will call a session at an
early date after the 4th of March can
not be ascertained from him or from
those in charge of affairs in either
the Senate or the House. Senators
and Representatives deny all know
ledge OF any such purpose on the
part of the President, but often these
lawmakers assume an attitude of
utter ignorance and indifference when
it is known that in doing so they are
only playing the part of statesman
ship.
Persistent rumors are afioat how
ever, that an extra session, to be a
very brief one, is really to be called
and not few secretaries, clerks and
other Congressional employees, who
appear to have INSIDE information,
are making plans to remain at their
posts several weeks after the 4th OF
March.
Washington is always in favor OF
an extra session. 1t means more
money for the hotel keepers and the
merchants. 1t prolongs the enter
tainments in the social set and pro-
vides amusement for the floating
population which. makes Washington
its home only as long as Congress re-
mains.
just now Washington is the mecca
for candidates who are seeking posi-.
tions In the new state of Oklahoma.
Many of the fat plums will be ready
for picking as soon as the new state
is admitted to the sisterhood and
from the large number of applicants
who are already on the ground, SO far
in advance of the time the territory
will become state, it looks as if the
belief among them is that the first
come will be the first served. The
President has given all inquirers to
understand that he will pay no atten-
tien to patronage until the state has
been admitted on July 4th, after
which he will listen to the appeals
to be mabe.
Probably the federal judgeships
are regarded as the best positions and
the fight fsr them is shaping faster
than for the other places. Every
wire at the Capitol is being pulled
by the candidates, but the President
remains firm in his determination to
RI, III L. ~ T.