The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-06-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, D. c., JUNE 18th, 1908.
Mr.. EDIToR:-It is not often in the
history of presidential nominations that
the candidates of both the great parties
are known SO long in advance. Four
years ago, it was, of course, known that
Theodore Roosevelt would be- nominal
ed on the first ballot at the Republican
National Convention, but this year it is
known beyond doubt that Taft will re-
ceive the Republican nomination at
Chicago and Bryan the Democratic
nomination at Denver. No one, OF
course, knows who will be elected
Democrats think they have better
chance to elect their candidate than at
any election in the last twelve years.
Nh. Taft will not create the enthusiasm
among Republicans that Roosevelt
would have created. He is good man
but not popular, or, as the saying is,
magnetic. He is very poor orator,
prone to make mistakes and fdur pas as
he did in the matter of characterizing
Grant as anex-inebriate, when he at
tempted to eulogize him on Decoration
Day. 1t is quite probable that if he is
allowed to talk land who can prevent
him?), he will say many things that will
hurt and perhaps be fatal to his candi
| dacy. Mr. Bryan is also given to talk
ing good deal and not always with
perfect prudence, but he is much finer
orator and on the whole has better com
mand of his tongue than his competitor
for the presidency.
The platform is practically ready for
presentation at Denver, it is understood,
and, among other things will contain a
clause denouncing the Crumpacker cam
paign publicity bill, and another de-
nouncing the extravaganza of the Re
publican administration, and will de-
clare for tariff revision, and for Federal
improvement of public highways.
John Mitchell is considered out of the
race for nomination for the Vice-Presi
dency on the Democratic ticket. The
claim is now made that he and hi.
friends could do vastly more for the
good of labor were he governor Of Illi-
nois than he could do as Vice President
of the United States, and the expection
is that he will give consent to his name
| being put up for that office.
That the reduction of postage from
the United States to the United King
dom of Great Britain is greeted with
universal approval is shown by the num-
Der of letters and kilograms of congra'
ulation with which the Postmaster Gen
eral has been deluged recently. SIN
Great Britain" Mr. Meyer said "there
has been a growing sentiment for the
reduction of postage to and from this
country, for a number of years, to two
cents an ounce, and l am certain that
| in the course of time the Postof1ce De-
partment can arrange for the same rate
| with other countries" Only within the
last few days Postmaster General Meyer
issued an order increasing the weight
limit on parcels for Great Britain and
Ireland to eleven pounds, effective July
lst, instead of four pounds six ounces
which is the present limit at which
packages can be sent in the mails to the
United Kingdom.
In unmistakable language, the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of War have
notified the Panama government that
elections in the republic must be con-
Quoted fairly and while no serious
trouble apprebended by the administra-
ton if Intervention should become nee
essary the government is prepared to
make it effective by the use of what
ever force may be required.
There is at least one man in Washing
ton who is satisfied with the treatment
of his department by Congress. The
United States Fish Commissioner was
moderate in his demands and as con-
sequence received distinguished consid-
Grafton at the hands of the Appropria-
ton committee, which bore in mind. no
Doubt. that the Commissioner had for
the last four years diminished the ex'
peuses of the Fish Commission, while
he increased the output of the work and
the efficiency of his bureau. The Com
mission expects to plant over three
billion fish in the United States this
wear, and the cost is estimated at $l6o
to hatch and distribute million. Sew
eral hundred millions Of Holsters alone
have been planted on the New England
coast, at the various stations, with the