Putnam patriot., 1908-12-18
Editorial Scraps.


 cured over year ago, but now, hap oily, fast disappearing, caused deficit in the revenues of over S50, ,WU,UO. In the preceding year there was an excess of over $S4, ,DO0, ,000. Gncl esam K not yet dead broke, as he has balanced to his credit in the treasury the clean sum of s272, ,061 ,445.
 The hot discussion that has been up kept for months, about the revision oi the tariff, really amounts to nothing. The pledge of the Republican party is to be kept, and the tariff k to be revis- cd in the interest of The people-not that of the manufacturers nor of the importers, but Of the people. Speaker Cannon has had heart talk with Pre- sidenf Taft, and now secs eye to eye with him. The latter K emphatic III his declaration that the tariff must De reeisedo on just principles, and he means 1t, as any who will tfy to favor any special interest will learn to their cost.
 President Roosevelt was yirnlenlly assailed by the New York sun and the Indianapolis News during the past year, on charges affecting his upright ness.s He considered them too gross in their malignant faisity to require noti= chg. On the advice of an esteemed friend he has taking up each separate charge of both editors and shown by ineontfoveftible evidence that each was wifully false and infamous. Now those editors are pillofied to the gaze of the world as they are, and they wish they hadn't. The Indianapolis editor says he didn't originate the charges, he simply circulated them. The Sun edi. tor says II hts charges are not true, there are other things just as bad that are true, but takes care not to name them.
 Al the New York North Carolina So. ciety's annual meeting, President Taft made an address holding eut friend Iy hand to the South, which hns made profound impression on the enlire country. He shows that his policy as President will be to break down all see tionalism thal,has so long separated the North and South, and will no doubt succeed.
 Donald Grant Mithell, aged s5, the we'll known author who wrote under the nom de plume "lk Marvel died at his home near New Haven, Tuesday.
 The Venezuelans are in revolt against the rule of Castro's tyrannical sway that has brought their country in se- rious conflict with several European nations, one of which has already seiz- ed two ships of their small navy. In the absence of President Castro in Flu rope, he placed the government in con. tro of Gen. Gomez, who will not like iy oppose the will of the people by force. If the financial affairs of the country are carefully investigated no doubt there will be state of things brought to light that will prevent the return of Castro.
 President Roosevelt and the Senate are in conflict. \ resolution was adop- led to investigate the civil service po- lice that secured the evidence conclu- sisely proving that the negro troops did shoot up Brownsville. The Presi- dents Message that led 10 the inquiry oi the evidence, Is likely to call out some thing that will hurt some Senators and other prominent men. The President has gone Into no public contention un- less he had evidence to crush his oppo. nents. There's fun ahead.
 The House of Representatives. like the Senate, Is feariully displeased al the Message he sent them, that one oi their legislative enactments last session benefited the criminal classes excla- sively. As that reflects on their lack of wisdom as we'll as honesty. they won't stand 1t, and are going to make him feel their wrath. The House has just refused The request Of the Census Bureau 10 put all clerks and census. collectors under the competitive sys. tenn, instead of having unfit men ap' pointed on recommendation of Con grcssmen. That's the kind of unseliish patriots they are. More fun ahead.
 Ruef, one of the fellows who con troIied the city of San Francisco by organizing into clubs the corrupt men of all classes, whereby he degraded all the powers of the city government k perNer law courts, to sell privileges ta the siiest of humanity, and thereby enrich himself and his gang--aEteI he- Ing tried twice fof his crimes and ae- quilted, has been found guilty on his third trial. The hrase attorney @ho begun the prosecution and persisted af' ter two defeats, was nearly murdered by Ruefss thugs, recovered from serious wounds 10 win his triumph al last, Half of The city and half Of the city newspapers. did evefihlng they could lo prevent his success.