Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, ID. c., June 6.-The
opinion is prevalent throughout this
part of the country that the chances of
the Democratic party for victory were
never SO bright as now and it must be
admitted that there is undoubtedly a
sentiment of change, a restlessness
manifesting itself all over the United
States. This desire for change is in
evidence in the ranks of the Republic
can party and the Democrats could
easily take advantage of this upheaval,
if real leader is found. Can Bryan
do it? is the question heard on every
hand in Democratic circles. His pop
ularity in many parts of the country is
conceded and Democrats and Republi-
cans alike agree that he is the only man
in sight for the Denver convention.
No doubt the tariff revision is sub
ject that will cause no little confusion
at the Chicago convention. Wade
Ellis, the astute attorney general of
Ohio, is to write the tariff revision
plank for the Chicago platform, and,
after much consulting with the Presi-
dent and Secretary Taft, he has betak-
en- himself to the seashore to frame the
plank into the various zizzage and
sinuosities of the complicated tariff
problem. just what will happen to
the plank when it reaches the commit
tee on resolutions, remains to be SEEN
The Democratic delegates to the
Denver convention from the District OF
Columbia will go in a special train
chartered for them by the District OF
Columbia Democratic Association, the
train leaving Washington on the after
noon of July 3rd. AT the meeting of
this organization this week, speeches
were made by some of the leading
members and the verdict was unani-
nous that this is Democratic year and
that Bryan will be the next President
of the United States.
Much regret is heard over the condi-
ton of the throat of Senator Bailey of
Texas, who expects to undergo an ope-
ration in New York for an elOngation
of the palate. Until recently there was
no explanation of the silence of Sena-
tor Bailey dnring Senate discussions in
the closing days of the session, and as
he is usually one of the first men to
leap into debate as aspokesman for the
Democracy, his silence caused no little
surprise and comment. The Senator's
condition is not regarded as serious and
before leaving Washington he was con-
fident that he would be able to attend
the convention in Denver,
Banks in which funds of the govern
ment are deposited must hereafter pay
interest for the use of such funds, I'M
der the terms of the new currency law.
An exception is made in the case of
those national banking associations de-
signated as regular depositaries, in
which government funds are placed
strictly for use in the governments
own expenses. The rate of interest
chargeable is to be not less than l per
cent. and as much more as Secretary
of the Treasury may deem proper For
the present, however, the probable rate
of interest will be l per cent. year :.
In the banks designated as regular de-
positaries the government deposits
funds to carry on necessary expendi-
lures of the government in various parts
of the country.
Any action which the various church
conventions, held at this season of the
year, may take regarding Sunday di-
versions by enlisted men of the army
and navy, will in no way alter the po-
sition of the War and Navy depart
ments on this subject. The Presbyte-
rians at Kansas City have taken the
first step in that direction when at their
meeting, recently they listened to a re-
port criticising the Secretary of War
and the Secretary of the Navy for per-
hitting Sunday base ball playing on
the part of the soldiers and sailors. The
position of the authorities is that en-
listed men have little enough opportun-
ity for relaxation and that after the
usual hours of Sunday worship it will
be entirely proper to allow them to play
base ball on the naval and military re-
seryations, where such contests do not
interfere with other peoples observance
of the Sabbath. Orders will be issued
to have the military and naval reserva-
tions closed to the public if the games
become nuisance or an annoyance in
any way to the civil community.