The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-04-23
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.


The instruction of Delaware's
delegation for judge George Gray
and the outspoken opposition to
Mr.. Bryan in the New York state
convention have Afforded renewed
hope to the anti Bryan Democrats,
who predict that they will expert
ence little difficulty in cornering
the necessary third of the conven-
ton to prevent the nomination of
the great Nebraskan. The Delaware
platform is also source of salts
faction TO the Democrats in Wash
ington, especially its arraignment
of the Republican party for having,
by its iniquitous tariff, enhanced
the cost of living out of all propor-
ton to any increase of wages which
the common people of the country
have enjoyed.
***
All the indications point strongly
to the tariff plank as being the
strongest in the Democratic plat
form, regardless of who may be the
nominee of the Denver convention.
The absolute unwillingness of the
Republican party to lower the tar
if bars, even where they are obvi-
ously fostering outrageous monop-
olies, and even the inability of the
Republicans, despite the fact that
they have two thirds of the entire
Senate, to ratify any reciprocity
treaty because of the influence of
the protected interests will be
dwelt upon and it is believed that
with the difficulties which confront
every householder in his efforts to
provide properly for his family in
times of Republican prosperity"
the appeal will not be in vain.
***
The people of the United States
owe debt of gratitude to John
Sharp Williams and the Democrat
ic minority in the House which
stood out valiantly against Presi-
dent Roosevelt's four battleship
programme in the naval appropria-
ton bill. The House has author.
lied the construction of two battle
ships at a cost of approximately
So, ooo each and the Democrats
maintained, with show of reason
which for once seemed to prevail
with their Republican colleagues,
that it would be criminal to sacdle
the American people with double
that sum for naval construction and
all the subsequent expense which
two additional ships would entail.
When it is realized that the modern
battleship requires a crew of ap-
proximately 1000 men, it is easily
appreciated what heavy expense
each additional ship means to the
country.
m4F
Representative Tawney, chair
man of the committee on Appropri
ations, predicts that there will be a
deficit of $50. 900, 900 next year
but that has not prevented the
passage by the Republicans of a
widows pension bill which increas-
es the annual cost of pensions by
SI2, ,ooo,o Last year the pension
list cost the country $I4o, 900, 900
and now with ST., 900, 900 added,
the cost will be brought up to ap-
proximate.y $ISo, 600, 900. 1t has
been pertinently remarked by Dem
ocratic statesmen that if the Re-
publican administration is sincere
in its appeals for more liberal pol
icy with regard to the army and
the navy it should demonstrate at
least slight degree Of conscien-
tiousness in distributing the peo-
PIES money in the form of pensions
and not spread it broadcast for the
sole purpose of insuring Republi-
can votes at elections.
*4*
The President has cast bomb
she'll into the camp of his partisan
friends in Congress by vetoing the
Rainy River bill and in so doing
announcing policy wholly adverse
with everything which in the past
has stood tor Republicanism. Mr..
Roosevelt announces that he will
approve no bill which gives away
valuable special privileges to private
concerns and demands no return to
the people and places no limitation
on the recipients. Heretofore, the
party in power has distributed such
special privileges as the right to