Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-07-26
washington Letter.

since saying last week that means
were being used TO round up the Fed
erai officials for Secretary Cortelyou
Tor the Republican nomination for
President, fuither evidence has come
TO light that the scheme is working.
Congressman Jesse Overstreet declared
a few days ago, that the delegation from
New York is fixed for CprteIyou, but
as Mr.. .Overstreet is Fairbanks man
be may have joined in exposing the
Cortelyou conspiracy on purpose to
embarass President Roosevelt, for he
said he did not expect to see MIR. Cor
tel nominated. Then along comes Sem
ator Elkins of West Virginia. fresh
from political conferences IN New
York with his Wall street railroad
friends, and declares: s'Cortelyou will
undoubtedly have the support ofthe
New York delegation. And you know
what that meaps,n With Overstreet
and Elkins enlisted for him and the
corporation money ready TO be poured
out for him, Mr.. Cortelyou will make
typical Republican candidate.
only one new candidate has deyeI-
oped for the Democratic nomination
during The past week, and he has not
yet reached The new spaper stage, but l
am assured by an Illinois editor. a
friend OF Mr.. Bryan, that former Gov
ernor Francis viii be candidate AS
he has always been consistent Dem
oorat and chiefly supplied the funds to
carry Missouri for Mr.. Bryan in 1886.
he must tie carefully considered as one
to be reckoned with when the conven-
ton decides that crucial question for
the Democracy.
Here in Washington President
Roosevelts. Napoleanic move of m ass
ing in the Pacific the greatest fiotilla
of battleshIps ever assembled in any
waters has prematurely revealed a
plan whose political purpose is as
plain as day. In Withdrawing his first
denial that any such intention was en-
tertainid, the President from oyster
Bay issued, through Loeb, second
statement to the effect that it was not
the intention of the Government to
send this fleet Of battleships to the Pa
life Eat once. "Of course they are not to
be sent at once. Tie purpose of send
ing them being purely political, the
movement will be reserved until late in
in the year 1907, and during the whole
of the year 1908, until after election mi
November. Those. who study the situa-
ton and look beyond the mere day
know that The present dynasty has de-
cided that something mustbe done to
distract public attention from our over
discussed domestic conditions. They
have been talked to death, all except
the tariff, and as that will not down
1t is necessary TO divert public atten
ton from it, What more pregnant
topic Tor debate. or the development of
mob heat, than the fact that Won have
neighbor on your border acting sus.
pIciously, SO .suspiciously Thai il is
necessary TO obtain at the danger ,,oint
the greatest tiotilla of battleshjns eyar
brought tegether in time of neaoe
When this debate is on, which Mr..
Roosevelt is obviously preparing for.
40 eloquence, however great wiIl he
strong enough TO Fix pubic attention
upon the revision OF schedules or the
discussion OF any domestic political
abuse.
Considering how personally proflta-
bic wars have been in the career of tbe
late Police Commissioned OF New York
one neeu not wonder at the evidence OF
the preparations now being made -
lhgo a successor to MIR. Roosevelt into
the Presidency in 1908.