Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-05-15
SPARKLING NOTES
FROM WASHINGTON,
BY Special Correspondence,
II a Ma. ~


ID C.. May l3)
Speaker Cannon and the Republican
leaders have become nervous wrecks
through the prodding of the Democrats.
but they would not have worried about
1T so much if obstacle two in the person
OF President Roosevelt, had not rein
forced the Democratic program. There
is no love lost between the Republican
leaders and the President Every fresh
message sent to Congress instead of
pouring oil on the troubled waters of
the Republican managers has had the
more drastic effect of rubbing salt into
their political sores. The President has
also threatened to veto the "pork bill. -
as the public building measure is called.
ard has had it given out on the "hiphest
authority" that special session might
be expected unless my policies" are
given consideration. The Republican
leaders claim that President Roosevelt
agreed to abide by the program of leg
lSlation submitted to him. and not m
STIR up Congress and the country with
any more red hot messages, and has
broke his word. The Presidents poll
cles include currency legislation: an
anti-inJunction law; amendments TO the
Sherman antitrust law; the tariff ON
oodpulp and print paper; an employers
liability bill to cover government en-
pioyees; child labor bill for the Dis
trlct of Columbia; campaign publicity
law. Nearly all of these measures are
endorsed by the Democrats. Then
there is the Brownsville ARRAY pending
IN the Senate, which must be acted
upon, so Senator Foraker saws. before
Congress will be allowed to adjourn
and is quite likely to be an important
issue between the Administration and
anti-Admnistration Senators. In the
end there will probably be a compro-
mise, but how much will be conceded nv
the Republican leaders to the President
and the scared Congressman will not be
certain until near the close of the ses-
sion. The Republican leaders are intent
on fixing up ''clean record for the
congressman to appeal TO their voters
10 Tor reelection. The President de-
mands more than this and has been
aiding the Democrats in delaying and
possibly preventing a worthless COM
promise His messages and his urpinps
have gone hand and glove with the
Democratic plan of campaign to '.smoke
out the Republican majority.
From all this Republican gloom. II is
pleasant to turn to Democratic plans
and purposes, where the skies are
brighter and where the desires and
wants Of the people are more generally
conceded In both branches of Con-
gress the Democrats are more united
under able leadership than for wears
before. They are buoyant with hone of
success at the coming election. and
hoping that the party will be united on
a platform and candidates that will,
turn defeats into victory. There is a
general feeling expressed that the divi-
SION OF sentiment about whether Mr.
Bryan, Governor Johnson, Judge Grav.
Judge Harmon, or some dark horse
VIII be nominated, is for the great good
Oh the party. 1t is stirring up the
latent Democratic forces to activity and
the generous rivalry that has ALWAYS
preceded Democratic victory.
Every Democratic member of the
House of Representatives has signed
petition to the Speaker requesting him
TO recognize some member to move 10
discharge the Committee on WAYS and
Means from the further consideration
OF, and to suspend the rules. and to
pass the Stevens bill, or any other hill
having the effect to put wood pulp and
print paper on the free list. John Sharn
Williams, the Democratic leader of the
House, goaded the Republican leaders
10 fury by beseeching 80 Republicans.
at least, to come forward and add their
signatures to the petition. He called
on those who had introduced bills for
lree print paper to sign, but not one |
came forward. not even those who had |
made speeches in favor of such a
meausre. Mr.. Williams made his re-
quest Tor action facetiously, he knew
no Republican would come forward IN
the mourners' bench, and repudiate the
craftsmanship that hangs like
pail over the deliberations of this
congress. He told them that
While the lamp holds out to burn.
The vilest sinner may return"
And added: "If you have lately been.
'r expect to be, in any manner buD-
lozed or boss-ridden, why, think for q
econd; think what short life we live
lere and how necessary it is that we
Mould do things" But Mr.. Williams,
rayer fell upon standpat ears. and not
ne Republican sinner of them all came
Onward to show that he really was for
ven this small measure of tariff reform
ven 10 curb trust that is plunderinp
very newspaper publisher in the United
tates and their subscribers.
President Roosevelt feels deep interest
the family of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. and
oped to see Congress pass a measure ,
lcreasing the pension of Mrs. Lee. which ,
now $50. A measure was introduced 9
the last session proposing to make her 6
ension 500 per month. The bill was not 2
ltroduced at the present session. A few
avs ago the President sent for Con-
ressman ii. D. Flood, of Virginia. and
'Ked him to introduce such bill. Mr..
iood readily responded to the Presi-
ent's wishes, and has introduced a bill {
make Mrs. Lees napc;o, e7r q