The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-06-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

than week fashionable people and some
members and Senators have been depart.
ing, now they will be leaving by the
dozen and in few days Washington will
assume its summer vacation quietude. Il
will, however, not cease to be of interes,
to the general public, for that very pos
tive and most conspicuous person will
remain in the White House, while he is
asleep, and will probably be nearby in
the District Of Columbia, Maryland OF
Virginia afoot or on horseback when he
is awake. In about month he will PC
to Oyster Bay for the simmer and then
Washington will assume real dullness, te
be unbroker until the latter part Of
September
Secretary of War Taft, whose nomina.
ton for the presidency is now looked
upon as assured. will, it is said, resign
from the cabinet on the first of July and
take up his residence at the home of his
northumberland brother in Cincinnati.
This brother it is understood has been
financing his campaign and is ready to
finance it further and to almost any
extent
An interesting correspondence has been
published between Mr.. Bryan and Score
tary Taft. The result is that both candi.
dates are on record as favoring publicity
of campaign contributions, and of having
such publicity made obligatory by Act OF
Congress.
Much interest is shown in the reported
selection Of Mr.. Taft's successor in the
war Office. Gen. Luke Wright a south.
erner, soldier, democrat, late Cover.
nor of the Philippines and later Am
bassador TO Japan, it is said will be the
man. IT is thought there is consummate
politics III this appointment. His equip.
ment in experience is equal to that of
Secretary Taft who it is said suggested
him as his successor. A democrat and a
southerner in President Roosevelt's cabi-
net will possibly win one or two southern
states in the coming election while his
intimate knowledge of the oriental
situation gained from the two foci of the
Philippines and Japan cannot but be OF
service to the Nation in the War De.
partment
-Apropos of the war Office and warlike
preparations. (although they in no way
forebode war; it is interesting to note
that the President this week signed the
bill for the reorganization of the militia
of the United States. This bill makes
military service, ifrequired obligatory on
every able bodied male citizen between
the aged of sixteen and forty.fye and ap
propriates $4,000, 900 for arming and
eqnipping. This amount is SO small that
it cannot be considered as more than
beginning.
The Cuban situation has not had any
attention from Congress this session. II
is under executive management and more
directly under the War Department. its
provisional governor Magoon being an
employee, as it were, of the Bureau of
Insnlar afGrs in the war Office, The
president announced some months ago
that after February Ist, 1909 the manage.
ment of the affairs of the Island BY the
United States would cease and that Cuba
would then resume self government.
February is eight months off, but not so
remote that substantial residents of the
Island are reducing business preparatory
to state of strife and lawlessness. Those
who have property want the American
army 10 stay all the time. It is only
those who want license to prey upon
property that are anxious for the Amer.
lean occupation to end. Our Army
officers and engineers, it is said have i'm.
proved their time in Cuba surveying and
building military roads, studying the
Spanish language and fitting themselves
for the permanent occupation which all
careful students of the situation believe
must follow as the inevta result Of the
next revolution, revolution certain to
come at the removal of the army.
The bill appropriating $500, 900 for the
purchase of a home for orr ambassador
in Paris was not passed and we must
continue the policy Of sending only our
rich diplomatists abroad, for the salaries
that we pay of $4,000 per anuum will
not much more than suffice for house
rent and simple style of living.
We have recently through the lavish
hospitality Of our Ambassadors. in Lon
don, Berlin add Rome attained much
social prestige in Europe. but only multi
miliiouaires can keep the pace set by our
ambassadors at these capitals. Represen.
tsiige Longworth who married the Presi.