Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-05-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, DC, May 1.-The past
week in Washington has witnessed an
anti-Bryan movement of considerable
proportions and the friends of the emil
nent Nebraskan are seriously concern
ed over the situation. Of course it has
long been appreciated that the Demo-
cratic organization in New York was
opposed to Mr.. Bryan, but it was sur
prise that Connecticut should have
failed to instruct for him and the re-
ports from other sections are disquiet-
ing. The Bryan loyalists insist that
nothing will prevent their hero from
securing the necessary two-thirds vote
at Denver, but that they are anxious is
obvious
Governor Johnson's friends are doing
yoeman's work in his behalf and with
the half-hearted brethren in Congress
they are gaining some success, while
with those opposed to Mr.. Bryan, such
men for instance, as the veteran Sena-
tor from Virginia, Mr.. Daniels, they
are making great Roadway. 1t seems
to be generally agreed that there will
be only two names which will appear
prominently before the Democratic
convention this year, those of William
J. Bryan and Governor johnson of
Minnesota. The Johnson people are
spending money freely. Every news
paper correspondent and every Demo
cratic Representative and Senator has
received this week a handsomely print
ed and illustrated eulOgy of Mr.. john
son, reprinted from popular maya
zine.
The reports regarding Mr.. Hearst and
his Independence League are also of a
disquieting character. 1t is asserted
positively by men in the confidence of
Mr.. Hearst that he will put national
ticket in the field, that he will back it
with the powerful influence of his wide
ly circulated newspapers, and that he
expects TO run second in Massachusetts,
New York and Illinois. The great
wealth of Mr.. Hearst, as well as his
widely distributed and more or less in
f1uential newspapers, render him a pow
er to be reckoned with and while no
unprejudiced observer believes he can
accomplish any material result toward
electing himself President, there is no
denying the fact that he can draw a
great many Democratic votes away
from the regularly nominated candi-
date of the Democratic party.
Political events in the opposite poll
teal camp are all of one kind. 1t has
become almost a procession of promi-
nent Republicans anxious to secure
seats in the Taft craft and nothing
short of a political counter march can
prevent the nomination of the big Sec
rotary at Chicago. The latest acquisi-
ton of the Taft campis Senator Hemen-
way of Indiana, who has heretofore
been Vice-President Fairbanks man
ager. There are some indications, by
the way, that the Taft people are seri
ously considering Mr.. Fairbanks fol
the second place on the ticket. OF
course it will be an unusual thing tc
select two men from adjoining states
but Mr.. Fairbanks is a good STUMP
speaker, he is popular with the negroes
of whom there are some $4,000 voting
in Indiana and, above all, there seems
to be no available e-presidential tim
Der in New York, where the Republic
cans would like to find running mate
for the Secretary of War.
Some members of the New York de
legation say that Governor Hughes will
be a candidate to succeed himself as
Governor of New York, which is con-
strued as good news from Democratic
standpoint, as the Republican COVER
nor has managed to acquire a large
amount of unpopularity in his own
state and his denomination would, &C.
cording to New York Democrats, make
for the election of the Democratic presi
Dental ticket.
Speaker Cannon and his cohorts,
frightened at the tremendous lombard
ment by the President with his mes
sages and by the Democratic House
leader with his filibnster, have about
concluded to make pretense of pass
ing considerable part of the legisla-
ton demanded by the President. Fol-
instance, Rep. Payne, the Republican
floor leader, has introduced an anti-in-
junction bill, which Rep. Williams
says amounts to nothing, but which
the House leaders have been driven to
after resisting every inch of the way.
So too, they will pass a Child Labor
bill for the District of Columbia, after
vowing they would not, and it looks as
if they would pass the campaign pub
licity bill, which they hate like poison.
John Sharp Williams filibuster has
had it's effect
A strenuous effort is being made to
institute filibuster in the Senate to
compel action there on some measures
regarded as of vital Importance to the
people, but it has not yet progressed far
enough to warrant any definite predic-
tons. The effort of Senator Elkins to
pass his resolution postponing the ope-
ration of the commodity clause of the
Railway Rate law has resulted in open
ing up the entire railway rate question
and has afforded Senator Culberson an
opportunity to offer his carshortage bill
as an amendment. 1t is not believed
that the Republicans will dare vote
against this measure but it seems to be
most doubtful if any vote will be
reached. The Republicans are trying
to dodge every possible, vote and it re-