Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-10-17
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial CorreEpondencO.)

by Mrs. Philip N. Moore of ST. Louis,
the president, at a public meeting OF
women's clubs. The speakers in
cluded, besides Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Ru-
fus Williams of Boston, chairman OF
the health department of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs.
President Not To Make Speeches.
President Roosevelt has announced
that he would make no speeches in
support of the candidacy Of Mr.. Taft
for the presidency, as there was no
necessity for such action. This decla-
ration was made during call Of Sena-
tor Hemenway Of Indiana Mr.. Hem
enway asked the president regarding
the report that he would take the
stump. The president replied that he
had received numerous requests to do
so, but he thought it was unnecessary
and made the unequivocal statement
that he would not make any speech"
es. National Committeeman William
l.. Ward Of New York and national
committeeman D. w. Mulvane Of Kan.
sas also talked politics with the presi'
dent.
American interests Little Affected.
Commercially American interests In
the Balkan states affected by recent
developments in that section of the
world are not very important and 1t
matters little what the states politi-
cal aficiations or condition may be
so long as American interests are on
an equality as affecting trade and the
rights OF its citizens with those OF
other European countries. Imports
from and exports to Bulgaria for the
last year for which the statistics are
available practically balanced, amount-
Ing in each case to about $2SO,O0O.
Bosnia and Herzegovina sent sheep
and goat skins in large quantities to
Great Britain and the United States.
In diplomatic matters 1t probably
would be more satisfactory to the
United States to deal directly with
Bulgaria as an independent sovereign
Turkey as now.
Value Of Newspaper AdVertising---
A rather striking demonstration Of
the supreme value of newspaper ad.
vertising over all other kinds is CIV
en- by the bureau of navigation, which
spent last year $4,000 in advertising
for rerduits for the navy. 1t was de-
termined to spend similar sum this
year, but before letting the contracts
the bureau thought 1t advisable to find
out where 1t had received the best re-
turns for its money. An investigation
showed that all magazine and periOdi-
cal advertising produced from one
fourth to one-siXteenth the return in
enlisted men the daily newspaper ad.
Vertising did. The most profitable line
of advertising was that under help
wanted" BY using the daily newspa-
pers the bureau Of navigation got re.
cruits at an advertising cost of $3.S6
each, as against SIS and $65 each
through the medium OF certain mRga-
zines and journals
System Of Weekly Payments
Iong-asked-for system Of weekly pay
ments to employees Of navy yards, ar.
mories, arsenals and similar establish.
ments will be instituted shortly, Presi.
dent Roosevelt having issued the or
fer upon the recommendation of Sec
retaries Wright and Metcalf. This is
q big thing for mechanics and lab
orers employed at military, manufac.
turing and repair shops Of the govern.
ment throughout the country The Bos-
ION and Portsmouth navy yards, the
Watertown arsenal, Springfield armo-
ry, Newport naval station and num-
Der of similar places along the Allan
Tic, gulf and Pacific coasts, In Cuba,
Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip.
pines are included in the terms of the
order. It is estimated by Gen Croz-
Ter, chief of ordnance, who has general
charge of arsenals and armories, that
not less than 6O00 men employed
there will be affected by the order.
Secretary Of the Navy Metcale says
that from 10000 to $4,000 persons en-
Oloyed at navy yards and naval sta
tions will also be paid by the week
hereafter.
Farmers Offering suegestlons.-Th
presidents mail these days contains
y great number of letters relating to
the recently-created commission on
country life, and the bulk Of these let
ters are from farmers. which is graft.
tying. 1t shows that the farmers are
actively interested in the commissions
work and are disposed to aid its pro-
gress by giving information as to con-
ditions now existing, and by Offering
valuable suggestions. While some Of
the writer's advocate the introduction
of some sort of elementary agriculture
into the schools, others contend that
there Is danger OF trying to make agri-
cultural instruction too academic All
agree with the president, that the
greatest objection to agricultural life,
from the personal standpoint, Is its
isolation, and the remedy most gen.
orally proposed Is better roads. Not
= few Of the presidents correspond
snts urge a revival In some form OF
The old lyceum, which provided a So
,lal center for rural communities.
Many suggestions are made concern
Ing the postofiice service, and num-
erous other subjects are taken up In
manner which denots~ ~Atelligent
interest