The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1908-05-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER


Mr.. EprToR THE great Natural Re-
sources conference held in the White
House has reached & successful conclu-
sion and after adopting set OF resolu-
tiops somewhat broad in character but
ney tie less demCnstratiVe OF the earn
esCness OF the participants, the Govern
ors hsve adjourned and most of their
have eft for theiz respective homes
That the conference will be productive
OF good saems assured. 1t has at least
served as most useful interchange Of
opinions and ideas and has awakened
the leading men in practically ali the
states of the union to the great impor-
tance Of conserving the natural re-
sources of the country that not only
this but future generations may profit
therefrom TO the full.
While the sincerity of purpose of the
conferees was not marred by politics
and all seemed only too ready to coop
crate with the President in those worthy
objects which he laid before the confer
ence, the meeting was not without its
political features. When obliged to
leave the chair, Mr.. Roosevelt called
Governor johnson to preside over the
meeting and the nimble witted Mime
sotian made excellent use of his oppor-
tunity. His coming to Washington and
the ability with which he presided gave
increased impetus to his presidential
boom. On the other hand the evident
intimacy between Mr.. johnson and j. j.
Hill, President of the Great Northern
Railway, gave force to the rumor long
circulated in Washington, that the
Minnesota Governors political aspira-
tions are being backed by the railway
magnate and financier.
Some of Mr.. Bryan's best friends in
Washington deplore the fact that the
distin guished Nebraskan did not profit
by the example of Secretary Taft and
instruct bis advisors not to contest the
instructions for Johnson in the Mime
sofa convention. Experience has dem
onstrated that nothing which Mr.. Taft
and his friends have done so complete
ly served to take the wind out OF Gov
ernor Hughes sails as his letter to Rep
resentatiYe Parsons in which MIR. Taft
begged that his numerous friends" in
New York would not oppose an in
structed Hughes delegation from that
state. Everyone loves fight and no
one more than the average American
The Fl ght which Mr.. Foraker was max
ing on Taftiin Ohio made Taft famous
throughout the country and his final
victory thrice valuable as political as
set Perceiving that were he to fight
Hughes in New York, the result might
be equally valuable to Hughes, Taft
withdrew and left Hughes fighting the
air. The success of Mr.. Johnson in
Minnesota, according to certain shreWd
Democratic politicians, was almost
equally certain, and had Mr.. Bryan
Withdrawn and merely said that it was
quite proper that Minnesota should give
complimentary vote to her own Gov
ernor and he would not oppose it, the
johnson Victory" IN his own state
could not now be heralded broadcast
throughout the country as a great vic
tory over Bryan.
There is no question that Johnson is
gaining strength in the Southern states
and Senator Simmons of North Caro-
lima claims that there will be sufficient
opposition at Denver to prevent the
nomination OF the distinguished Ne
braskan. .en the first ballot and that af-
ter the first ballot it will be any mans
race. The Bryanites are just as conf
dent as ever, however, and the wise
political prognosticator has closed
down for repairs, while he waits
developments within the Democratic
fold
The reports which reach here from
New York indicate great and per
nicious activity on the part of William
Randolph Hearst who seems set In his
determination to Go everything to pre-
vent Democratic victory, althoug gh his
special animus is against Mr.. Bryan
who, he claims, repudiated him four
wears ago. Mr. Hearst still cherishes
an overweaning ambition to be Presi-
dent and as he has no hobby but poll
tics and an unlimited purse with which
to further his ambitions, he is a factor
to be reckened with. His present aim
is to make Mr.. Bryan, or any other
regular Democratic nominee. run third
in Massachusetts,, Illinois and New
York and while there seems to be little
likelihood that he will accomplish his
end, it is feared he may play havoc |
with the Democratic vote III this state. |
In the Republican camp everything
is moving toward unanimity and har-
mony. Wild eyed politicians who few |
short weeks ago were breathing ana
thema against Secretary Taft are now
covertly working for him with but q
single purpose, the accompl ishment of
Republican success. The President |
has succe ssfully used his slogan. If
you don't take Taft you will get me-"
and 1.-The interest which have all along
opposed Taft and favored Cannon, or