The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-15
J'iines-Dlspntch Bureau.
Nf,tnNnu nnttJinir
Washington, %, G.. Dec.

AluUFey JjullulUH,
Washington -. c.. Dec. H.
Members and Senhtors unanimously.
recognize the question OF prohibition
In the District of Columbia MS decid-
cdly the livest wire nenucing the po-
liticnl lives OF of1lceholdcrs today. IT.
is as ensy to get kentucky member
of Congress to, discuss the operations
OF night riders In kentucky as to in
duce the average member of either
branch OF Congress to express All opin-
Ion concerning his attitude on the
proposition to make Washington dry
city.
Senator from Southern State
remarked today that he believed lie
would be forced to Introduce II bin
prohibiting the manufacture and sale
of intoxicating liquors IN the United
States.
s"Of course" he said II know aucll
q law would be clearly unconstltu-
tionnl. Ihe Federal government hae
no power to say whether the States
shall make and sell liquor, but the
average man and woman, especially
the women, do not understand this.
am receiving letters from my State
every day demanding that / introduce
q bill absolutely prohibiting tho manu-
facture OF Intoxicating liquors. / guess
shall have to do II, though everyb body
In the Senate laughs at me for It.
That would be better than having
everybody ut home wanting me to stay
there when 1t comes to elect me again
or to elect a man to succeed me. Nine
Is prohibition State"
a well dressed young man. evidently
Just from long stand In front of the
bar. or numerous stands before differ
lent bars, amused the crowd in the
lobby at the Riggs House one night
this week by seeking to interview
various members of the Kentucky.
Texas and Louisiana delegations on
the subject of prohibition. lie said he
represented one of the press associn-
tons. He was decidedly unsteady of
He approached Ollie James of Ken
lucky.
"AIr. James, said the scribe pro-
ducipg his notebook, II want to get
your views on pro-hic-aloption In the
District of Columbia"
His head had sunk pretty nearly to
his breast when he concluded his re-
mark. but he gripned lis pencil and
book.
II agrac with your prohibition views
exactly" said Mr.. James. You can
Just put me down that way"
Thank you, sir.p replied the al
legged reporter, writing vigorously.
Jus what we want"
He drifted over towards the door,
and bumped into George Burgess, o..
the Texas delegation. Burgess had not
seen him.
Scuse me. Mr.. Burgess" said the
reporter. hut whatchu think bout
prohibition In Distric C.Iumbia?"
II tell you" said Burgess, pausins.
just moment before replying, III
every man in tho District was like
you there wouldn't be all this talk
about prohibition
THANK you. sir" replied the weary
one, swcetly. faithfully scribblins
away, az Burgess passed on through
-the revolving door. And=then the rn-
porter. too, passed into outer darkness.
The belief that Secretary Taft will
retire from the Cabinet soon after lis
return to America is growing 1t has
been minated to the writer by ono
of the closest political friends of tho
Secretary of War that il is the intes-
ton of the latter to get out of the
Cabinet at once. though he may re-
main long enough to complete certain
work undertaken before his deterrui-
nation to resign was reached.
1t seems that Secretary Taft had
thought of resigning for some time
before he started for the Orient, but
the President insisted upon his re-
tanning the war PORTFOLIO. and, 1t is
said told him plainly that it would be
better for him TO remain in the public
eye. Judge Taft did not entirely agree
with this view when 1t was expressed.
He had made up his mind when he
lett Seattle that he would hand in his
resignation when he got back. Events
which have occurred since his depart
ure. and especially the comment or the
press have made 1t plain that 1t is
to his Interest to get out of the Presi :
dents official family in order to cause
cessation. rs far as possible. of the
talk of his being tile Presidents man. ;,
Roosevelt's candidate. is the eN-
preston which is going to hurt Secre-
tary Taft more in the campaign for the
nomination than anything else.
Roosevelt has hit the toboggan slide
uow," was the characteristic rema rls
of Representative Jim Griggs. of
Georgia, the day following the formal
announcement of the President that
he stood by his original determination
not to accept another nomination to
the presidency.
SO long as the Republicans We're
In doubt as to whether he would ac-
cept another nomination he was able
| to hold them in line.e Now that they
think he is practically out OF the
game there Is going to he some e.s-
preston of real sentiments. and in the
next three or four months there will
be more instructions than the G. o
p. ever heard of before in all its ex-
istence."
This opinion that Mr.. Roosevelt is
more strenuous than his party alon,
many lines is quite general.
| ,---------
President Roosevelt is giving pretty
clear indication already that he Is
going to enjoy his freedom from poll;
/ tica q gnira 1 ion n the fill Lie