Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-04-17
GOSSIP FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.


ness OI MS SOn, III duulClOn 10 Cne
numerous affairs of state, has brought
more lines of care into his face than
were ever seen there before, but there
is no truth in the report that he
has a tagged out appearance or is
greatly indisposed. There were days
when he secured no exercise and when
he would not leave the White House
for walk or a horseback ride but
when opportunity offered, he soon re-
sumed his daily routine of sports and
is once more quite himself again. Of
late, many of the hours he usually de-
votes to exercise have been spent in
the dentists chair and perhaps this
has had a telling effect on his consti-
tuition fut he is bearing all burdens
we'll.
The President has had an unusually
hard winter of it and there Is no let
up in the intricate problems placed
before him. Among these might be
mentioned, the general railroad situa-
tion, the Central American war, the
Taft Foraker Presidential fight in
Ohio, the Panama strike, Cuban
affairs, Southern immigration, the
German tariff, charges that United
States Minister Graves refused to in
troduce Mrs. Won Claussen to the King
of Sweden, and the threatened railroad
strike in Chicago.
But with all these, the President
hopes to have his desk cleared so that
he can 60 to Oyster Bay next month if
the weather becomes warm.
HARDSHIPS IN ARMY AT END.
Long practice marches and endur-
ance tests in the army are to be aban-
doned. There will be no repetition
this spring and summer of the reports
of hardships experienced by men and
horses on long record-breaking marches
of 1000 to 1000 miles, as came up
out west and southwest year ago.
This situation is due, for the most
part, to protests from the men and
their friends as result of the long
marches that were inaugurated last
year, and the fact that the rate of de-
sertion in the infantry has increased
notably within the year just passed,
and also it is becoming more difficult
for the army recruiting officials to
find men willing to enter the service.
War Department officials have
learned that ord has gone abroad
generally that life in the army is no
long round of pleasure and, although
it was bad enough at best, the inaugu-
ration of the long marches as char
dening process. were, above all, to be
avoided. Because of those marches,
both the infantry and cavalry have
grown decidedly unpopular among pro-
spective recruits and it is to change
this condition of affairs that the deci-
sion has been reached to abandon the
long distance march.
GAMBLING IN WASHINGTON.
/ That Congress permits horse racing
in Washington is disgrace to the
National Government. Twice each
year, the race horse men come to the
Capital City and with them a gang of
crooks, thugs short card men, tin
horn gamblers and pikers, together
with all kinds of sharpers. The rae
ing season brings disaster to thousands
of Washingtonians. Government
clerks, the men of moderate salaries,
the men of trades and many of profess
sions, visit the race track every day
of the two weeks in which the races
are held and pour their money into
the pockets of the race track follow
ers. In consequence, men become
bankrupt and families destitute.
Many appeals from the women of
the country have been made to the
Legislatures to have race horse gambl-
ing stopped in the District of Colum-
bia, but all to no avail. Congress
alone, has the power to make and en-
force such law, and if the sentiments
gainst racing and gambling continue
a until the next Congress with the
force that is being hurleda gainst these
vices at present, and if the women of
the land keep up their efforts with the
individual members of Congress, it is
more than likely that the horse owners
and those with them will soon have to
seek new field or quit altogether.
LECTURES ON PANAMA.
Eight members of Congress who re-
Gently visited the Panama Canal, are
now planning illustrated lecture tours
about the country in order to acquaint
the people with the excellent condi-
tions as at present exist along the line
of the big ditch. The official photo
graphers have provided many interest
ing pictures which have been made
into lantern slides and each Repre-
sentative will be provided with some