Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-11-21
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
(speelal METEOROLOGICAL }

principal crops OF the United States
showing that corn, wheat, oats and
eight other crops representing APP
proximately 10 percent of the value
Of all farm crops this year, aggregat'
ed about 3 percent greater than year
ago and "a percent greater than the
average for the past five years.
Cuban Reciprooty,-The Ave years
limit prescribed in the Cuban reci-
procity treaty, at the end of which
the treaty might be terminated, will
expire Dec. q. 1t was said at the
war and state departments the other
day that the treaty would continue eff
fective for an indefinite period until
either the United States or Cuba shall
serve notice of its termination. AL
though the treaty provides that 1t
shall remain in effect for five years
from Dec. 227, 1903, it also provides
that it shall be continued in force
from year to year thereafter until one
Of the parties to the treaty shall noti-
fy the other that the treaty will no
longer be regarded as valid and bind
ing. This notice, it is provided, must
be given year in advance of the
date ON which it Is desired that the
treaty shall terminate. No such no
tice has been received or given by
either Cuba or the United States up
to this time, and none is expected.
No Insult Intended.-A celebration
of the election of Mr. Taft by three
Americans at Granada, Nicaragua,
Nov. 4, ended in a riotous gathering
and demonstration which resulted in
a local dispute over the treatment Of
the American flag. Minister Coolidge,
in reporting the affair to the state de-
partment, says that three Americans
who led in the celebration were joined
by Nicaraguans, to one of whom they
finally turned over the flag, and this
man with the flag in his possession
was later arrested. The local authort
ties explained that there was no in
tention to make the arrest because OF
the mans connection with the cele-
Dration, but that he and others who
were placed in jail had been connect.
ed with riotous acts and some OF
them were plotting against the gov
ernment, one advocating annexation
with the United States in a speech.
The incident is regarded as closed.
The Nicaraguan officials have assured
Minister Coolidge that there was no
intention of mistreating the stars and
stripes.
Panama Zone Net Included
Whether persons living in the Panama
canal zone are under the immediate
protection of the constitution Of the
United States was the principal ques-
ton involved in the case of Adolphus
Coulson VS. the government of the can
al zone, which has been dismissed by
the supreme court of the United
States. Coulson was found guilty Of
numbering his wife at Cargona in
1907, and subsequently was sentenced
to be hanged. He appealed from the
trial court to the supreme court Of the
zone, and there his principal defence
was that on his trial he was denied a
jury, to which he claimed he was en-
titled under the federal constitution.
It was contended on behalf Of Coul-
son that as the zone territory is part
of this country the government and
the citizens are both under the author
ity of the constitution with their re-
spective rights defined Hence, it was
argued that the federal government
can exercise no power oven the per-
sonal liberty or property of an indi-
vidual beyond what the constitution
confers, nor deny any rights which
the constitution reserves, including
that of a jury trial. The zone court
refused to accept this Interpretation,
contending that the zone lis territory
in the use and occupation Of the Unit
cd States, under its. control, but not
such territory that the constitution
would be legislative in, and Of its own
force carry its rights, privileges and
limitations into" and the dismissal Of
the case has the, eject OF afirming
that ruling.
War College opened.-The formal
opening Of the army war college last
week was made the occasion of sim
ple ceremonies in the building dedi'
Gated to that institution, Secretary OF
state Root, Gen. ]. Franklin Bell,
chief OF stafI, and Gen. w. w. Wither-
epoon, president Of the college, ad-
dressed distinguished company, con-
aisting OF Secretary OF War Wright
and other high officials Of the gov
ernment, members Of the diplomatic
CORDS and officers of the army, navy
and marine corps, concerning the his
tory and purposes of the institution,
Gen. Bell, in presenting Secretary
Root as the principal speaker, said
the Spanish-American war developed
q lack of preparation promptly to meel
military contingencies, but he de
caared, regardless Of what the policy
of the government may be in the fu
ture, the army will never be caught
without plans to meet an emergency
He characterized Secretary Root as
b'Moses," who appeared, by creating
the general stan and the war college
to provide the army with efficiency
lacking in the Spanish war. secre
tary Root declared that it was moi
strange that at the capital Of coun
try devoted to peace there should rise
a structure devoted to the science o.
war. Selfishness, greed, jeolousy and
spite have not yet disappeared amoni
men and prosperity. he said, only In
vites attack unless there is also tbs
virile manhood and capacity to defend
the nation possessing II. In order thai
this nation may be able to defend 1t
self II need be. he said the army wal
college had been created.
Total number OF Jews in G.Ne,