The National tribune., 1909-12-02

Senator Flint, of California, whose
home IS at Los Angeles. has finally an
D0unced that when his present term of
Office expires on March 4. 1911, he will
not be a candidate for reelection. Sem
aJor Flint says he would like TO remain
I'm the United States Senate, as he is
very fond OF his duties there and has
learned to like his colleagues, but he is
poor man, and says that he cannot
afford to take a reelection. as il is nee
esSary for him to apply himself assidu-
oUSly TO gaining wealth for his family.
He says that he is comparatively
Young man, and that if he retireS now
he can engage in business ventures and
auass q competence, and that if he
were to take j second election, which it
is thought he could have, without trou-
bile. he would have gotten entirely away
from all OF his business affiliations and
associates in that u years service, and
would find II very difficult then TO break
away from political life and make
money, and he says he owes it to his
family to get out of politics and gain
competence while he is able.
Maj.-Gen. Alfred z. Bates, retired,
former PayTnaster- General, U. S. Army,
died in sanitarium in New York City
Oct. 13. he was born in Monroe, Mich,
July Is, 1910. and entered the West
Point Academy in 1851, graduating four
years later.
AS Second Lieutenant of Cavalry he
went West and participated in a num-
ber of indian campaigns. He was de-
tailed as instructor at West Point, but
took the field again in time TO be in the
Big Horn campaign, which cost Gen.
Custer andLhis men their lives. Lieut..
Bates was highly commended for brav-
cry in connection with q battle in which
he defeated the Apaches at Snake
Mountain, while in command of cav
airy troop and 200 Shoshone Indians.
In 1875 he went on the staff as Pay
master with rank of Major. Promotions
came rapidly, and he was soon Colonel
in the Paymaster's Department. Next,
he served as Military Attache in London
and Paris, resigning to become Briga-
dier-Genera1 OF Volunteers during the
Spanish War. He was appointed Pay
nlasteT-General OF the Army, July IL.
1889, and served there until Jan. 21.
1901, when he retired voluntarily as
Major-General.
1ntermcnt was in Arlington with full
military honors.
One OF the most interesting debu-
tantes of the season will be Miss Olga
Roosevelt. 3 second cousin of former
President Roosevelt. The RooseyeIts
have leased a house in Washington,
and Miss Olga, who is probably the
wealthiest debutante of the season, hav-
ing a large fortune In her own right,
viii make her debut in Washington in
stead of in New York She is quite
seems a very odd idea to leave the
Metropolis and come to Washington to
present q girl TO society.
The Post Office Department is just
TOW having trouble with 'possAns in
the South. Some nights ago a party
of Young people at Leesville, La, went
eEt on 'possum hunt and captured
several Of the critters. Some time dur
5ne the night some one placed the pos
sum in the package department of the
POST office at Leesyiile. addressed 60
President Taft. The Postmaster found
the next morning that the critter had
chewed uD and destroyed all the mail
IN The box, 50 IL is one Of those practi-
cal jokes that some one is going to suf-
fer for.
We are TO have a new representative
from Colombia The State Department
has been informed of the appointment
OF =. d. Paule Rorda as Minister for
the Republic Of Colombia. He succeeds
Enrique Corts.
Sometimes there is method in ones
madness. It would seem that the broad
halls OF the Capitol, of which there
must be millions of feet, would furnish
= background for many thousands of
picturcs, but there is one in the Capitol
tnat kaS no place to hang. 1t is the
painting The Fight of the Ironclads."
which was removed from its place in
the center corridor to make room for
The new elevator. The painting, which
is one Of the largest in the Capitol, has
become q white elephant on the hands
Of Elliott Woods. Superintendent of
Public Buildings and Grounds, because,
rs he declared, there is not a place in
the Emitted states Capitol that ne can
hang it. Is il not too bad?
FREQ Townsend Martin, OF New York.
who has been abroad for some time.
has been advocating the Government
ownership of our Embassy homes. Mr..
Martin says that the common need OF
Americas diplomatic relations abroad
should be democracy. Dir. Martin is
deei3ediy opposed to the present meth
od Of selecting American diplomats, and
SAYS thar men are chosen because they
are rich. rather than because they are
representative 9Ir. Martin says:
Every citizen OF the United States
of America ought to realize the need OF
suitable ministerial representation in
7hc great European cities. According
60 the present system, ambassadors are
chosen, 1irst. for their wealth, and, sec
ondly, for their ability. Without money
ability Is VI no use whatever. / have
no wish - criticise any particular En-
Es-sy or its ministratiOn, but travelling
Americans are united in the opinion
49,