Amador ledger., 1907-12-27
LETTER FROM
WASHINGTON
Washington, Dec. ID, 1907.

week has been the meeting of the
Republican National Committee, of
which Hon. Geo. A. Knight of San
Francisco is the California member
1t chose the place of meeting for the
coming national convention-Chicag
land the date-June 10Th. The
people here who undertake the study
of politics, and think that they know
something about the art, say that the
choice of Chicago is distinct vic
tory for the opponents OF the Roos-
veltian policy of debating national
platform and selecting candidate
to stand thereon. Indeed, there is a
growing opinion that if the people
are in future to have anything to say
as to how they shall be governed, it
is about time that they sit up aud
take notice of things.
Efforts have been continuously
made to ascertain whether the presi-
dent is candidate for reelection, but
to direct questions he has made re-
plies that could by no means be COM
pared with the directness of his asser-
ton on election night three years
ago. In spite of all the efforts to
get light on this subject, darkness
reigned until Wednesday evening,
when there was issued from the White
House statement which may be con-
sidered official, in which the presi-
dent reattiTmed his remuneration on
election night, 1904, saying: 81 have
not changed, and shall not change,
the decision thus announced.
1t remains now to be seen whether
the extended movement to renominate
the president at the June convention
will be continued or not. The forces
behind this movement have been so
identified with the federal Office
holders that it has been looked upon
as having the presidents sanction.
Should it still continue, it might
give cause for awkward questions and
afford lever by which the Clayton
resolution relative to third terms
could be pushed through.
The presidents announcement
Wednesday evening at once set all
tongues wagging over the question
of presidential candidates, and it was
remarkable how secretary Cortelyou's
name came to the surface and bobbed
around like cork in a mill pond.
The Taft boom did not seem to act as
if new life had been injected into it;
but the friends of vice president Fair
banks, of speaker Cannon, and
senators Foraker and Knox at once
began to take off their coats and roll
up their sleeves. giving promise of
lively times ahead. And, away over
in New York, the believers in that
other courageous man who isn't afraid
of spooks-governor Hughes began
TO sing the song of the "favorite
son." and we may later expect to
hear from the Empire state a very
hearty chorus.
| Congressman Hayes has introduced
a resolution in the house calling for
the creation of commission to select
a site for dry dock and naval re-
pair station somewhere south of San
Francisco. The navy department has
not. as far as known, given this
matter attention, for no reference is
made to it in the annual report of
secretary Metcalf. That there Is need
of more docking facilities on the
Pacific coast is clearly evident,
especially since there will be station
ed in that ocean larger feet of war
/ vessels. The navy department has
prepared plans for new dry dock at
Puget Sound at cost of 81, 250, 900,
but it was found that the bids made
we're so high that the work could not
have been completed within the limit
set by congress, and further action
will have to be taken. The secretary
:, is of the opinion that still another
dock lis needed at the Bremerton
yard, and recommends its construc-
tion. That will give three docks at
Puget Sound. if congress acts on Shis
recommendation. The Mare Island
yard, the secretary finds to be an
ideal location, strategetically, and
we'll equipped for work. The chan
mel, he says, can be kept at the re-
Iquisite depth for all war vessels.
The plans of the department. seem at
this time to be confined to the Bre-
merton and Mare Island yards. and it
is probable that it new dock con-
struction is undertaken the depart