Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 12.-The
Southern Commercial Convention, the
Convention for the Conservation of the
Natural Resources and the Waterways
convention have all departed, leaving
Washington alone with Congress, the
President and the President-elect. 1t
has been a strenuous week for WASH
ington with these conventions, which
were of real importance. Doubtless
the President is earnestly DESTROYS OF
accomplishing something before his
sssun," as he expresses it, shall COM
plstely set, and before he plunges into
the midst OF the Dark Continent and
leaves the country to the care OF Will
liam II. Taft and Congress and Speaker
Cannon. The administration for more
than seven years has been trying to ac-
corn plsh great things and doubtless the
era called Rooseveltian will be remem-
bered for its strenuOusnesS But the
President has been opposed by stub
born conservatism ia both House OF
Congress and will doubtless go away
with the feeling that much has been
left to his successor.
The Waterways convention has been
much in favor of immediate work for
the Improvement of national water
WAYS, and was disposed, as was the
President, to raise money by bond issue
to the extent of five hundred millions
of dollars. But the Speaker of the
House, in one of his characteristic ora
torIcal stunts, let it be known that he
would smash any program OF that kind.
Uncle Joe evidently considers his mis-
sion to be mainly in curbing the mis-
chieyous antics If the younger states
man, those of fifty years of age or there
abouts. He declared emphatically that
he would oppose and vote against any
bond issue for waterways. All he would
promise to do was to support any river
and harbor bill framed by Burton Of
Ohio. Until he appeared on the plat
! form the convention was having de-
lightful time. Every body who had
heard of the bond issue scheme, de-
clared it was the very thing, ingenious,
feasible and sure to go through. Uncle
Joe, however, compared it to Mother
| Hubbard dress that covers everything
and touches nothing.
Washington during the week has
been full of distinguished men and
most of them have been heard at one or
more of the conventions. At the n "a
tional Conservation convention, Presi-
dent Roosevelt, President-elect Taft,
Mr.. Carnegie, the governors from a
number of States, Sam Gompers and
John Mitchell and number of other
characters we're on the stage at the
same time, while in the Wash
ington Court House, arguing an
appeal from an injunction against
Gompers, Mitchell and others, was the
erstwhile Democratic candidate for the
presidency four years ago, Judge Park
er of New York.
/ Unofficial Washington is much in
terested in the preparation for the IN
auguration, now but little more than
three months off. The work appears
to be going on very successfully. A
large sum OF money for incidental ex-
penses has been subscribed, the man
, ager of the inauguration has been ap
: pOinted-a well known business man
and he has appointed treasurer, sec
, rotary and an advisory committee with
, numerous assistants. The ceremony
and the pageant are of course brief
The events are all confined within
twenty-four hours, but when it is con
sidered that the city is visited on thu
fourth of March every four years, by
from 10000 to 100000 people; tina
these have to be accommodated will
bed and board and temporary seat
protected from the weather, or other
wise, from which to view the grea
> civic and military professions; that l
!, is necessary for the police force to b
i, greatly strengthened by special ap
= pcintments; that detectives have to b
/ summoned from other cities to look on
3 for the purses and jewelry of those VIII
+ are careless or drunk; that great hal
I has to be secured and decorated for tn
; inaugural ball, with hat rooms, cloa
: rooms, refreshment rooms and will
; many other details, the agitation an
Il interest in the celebration as affectin
the denizens of the city will be appre
eiated. Every four years, Washington
becomes more and more capable OF r.
csiving transient population nearl
/, equal in number to its permanent in
; habitants. Since last inauguration
q the New Union Seation has been CON
II pleted. 1t is one of the largest an
# finest terminals in the world, bein