Middletown transcript., 1908-06-20
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 18th, 1908.
IN spite of the efforts that have been
made to sail the Cortelyou boom for
the Vice Presidency under the admins
tration flag, the President has made it
clear to the most obtuse that he rs not en-
thusiastic over Mr.. Cortelyou for the sec
ond place on the ticket. The administra-
ton is notviolently opposed to Mr.. Cor
telyou's candidacy, but its one preference
is for Senator Dolliver of Iowa, first and
last. Whether Iowa will give up the
Senator remains to be seen.
~
The platform has been approved at
Washington and announcement was made
that harmony prevailed in the party over
its various declarations. Itappears, how
ever, that there are four planks which
promise to present difficulties, as follows:
over capitalization of railroads, the
amendment of the antitrust law, the cur
tailment of the power of the courts in the
case of iniunctions popularity known as
'anti-ipjunetion'' legislation, and postal
savings banks; and one other plank which
it is feared may cause some friction is the
one indorsing the national forest policy
of the administration. The forest service
stands especially high with the President
and he has succeeded in overruling the
objections of Speaker Cannon who EN-.
phatically objected to it. in its present
form. 1t now appears, however, that ar
guments are to be presented soon to the
President and Secretary Taft which will
go to prove that too enthusiastic in.
dorsement of the present forest policy
may cost the party many votes in No.
vember
~
As to the "anti-injunction" plank, the
present draft of the platform contains
plank favoring the restriction of the
power of the courts to grant injunctions,
but this does not mean that the plank
would commit the party to the policy OF
legislating iDiunctions out of existence
or even of exempting labor organizations
from their operation, as some people as
sumo. Neither does it limit the imposi-
tion of penalty for contempt of an in
junction to convictions by jury. If Mr..
Taft's advisers believe that such plank
would be advisable, doubtless he would
cordially indorse and stand upon it, but
such a planks fills the Older ''conserva-
tive" Republicans with dismay, while
many politicians are opposed to it on gen.
eral principles, only recognizing in it some
"anti-iniunction' pronouncement.
~
The utmost harmony prevails regarding
the currency plank Of the platform. 1t
congratulates the party on the enactment
of the compromise financial measure Of
the last session and expresses confidence
in the high standing and the ability of
the National Monetary Commission to
formulate a plan for the reorganization
of the financial system of the country
which shall cure every serious defect in
| the present system.
~
The third-term rumor dies hard, but it
is impossible to find any real leader of the
party who takes any stock in the 'Roose-
velt stampede" talk, either among the
Taft supporters or the "allies."
~
Booker I. Washington, on his recent
| visit to Washington informed the Presi-
| dent and Secretary Taft that the colored
| delegates would like to have one of their
number second the nomination of Mr..
Taft for the Presidency, in behalf of the
eolored people of the country. When the
| Secretary was asked his opinion on the
subject be said that the proceedings of the
| convention, so far as they related to him
self, were in the hands of his friends.
The matter has been referred to Charles
P. Taft, Frank H. Hitchcock and A. l.
Vorys, who all on the ground in Chicago,
and if they are of the opinion that such
action would help to abate the resentment
that it is alleged exists in the minds of
many of the negro Republicans, some
suitable colefed delegate, doubtless, will
be chosen to second the nomination.
~
Secretary Taft is a busv man, winding
up his affairs IN the War Department,
preparatory to his resignation on July lst
or before that date if possible. No Of
fetal announcement of the selection of
General Luke E. Wright as his successor
has been made from the White House,
but it is admitted there that the Tennes-
seean has been rendered the positi on and
that he has indicated his willingness to
accept it.
~
Some excitement was created in army
and navy political circles in Washington
over the publicity given, by direction of
the President, to the letter which Secre-
tary Taft delivered to President Amador
OF Panama on May 18th, demanding the
suppression of fraud in the presidential
elections to be held there in July.
THE COMMENCEMENT ANGEL
Prepare the lace.trimmed lingerie, lay