The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-10-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Charles R. Cranes sudden, unexpected
and hitherto mysterious recall to Wash.
ington by Secretary of State Knox, as be
was at the point of sailing from Sau
Francisco to assume his duties as Ministel
of the United States to China, was oc.
casioned by developments involving the
question of Mr.. Cranes fitness for tina,
post.
This much is knownsin well informed
quarters in Washington. Unless Mr..
Crane is able to clear himself in the eyes
of Secretary Knox of an accusation of a
serious breach of what the State Depart.
ment regards as the first principle Of
diplomatic discretion, the conference with
his official chief may result in the abrupt
termination of Mr.. Cranes connection
with the diplomatic service.
The State Department has in hand, it
is said, what it regards as more or less
convincing evidence that Minister Crane,
on the eve of his departure for the Far
East, became responsible for the publi-
cation in Chicago newspaper of what
the Department views as a most indiscreet
discussion of the attitude of the United
States toward the two treaties recently
negotiated between China and Japan.
Matters of highly confidential nature
with respect to the position of the United
States regarding these and other pro-
visions of the treaties between China and
Japan are alleged to have been divulged
in the Chicago publication, and for these
disclosures the State Department is dis
posed, in the absence of proof to the con-
trary, to hold Minister Crane responsible.
According to authentic information OBJ
tanned, it is of this responsibility that Mr..
Crane has been summoned to Washington
from San Francisco to acquit himself.
~
Politicians who have made study of
conditions in Speaker Cannon's Con-
gfessional district believe that the OPEN
ing gun has been fred in what promises
to be, the rhost bitter wa- ever urged for
the seat of any one man in Congress, and
that fight is to be made for the seat of
Speaker Cannon.
Those who know say that the war to be
waged against him during the next year
will be severe, and if he comes out the
victor he will have to marshal his forces
and fight harder than ever before.
Opposition to Mr.. Cannon is being de-
veloped in his home town, and there is
no question but that he will have at least
two opponents an Independent and a
Democrat. Judge E. R. E. Kimbrough
is the democratic opponent, and his
friends believe that if he should defeat
Cannon he would be the biggest Demo
crat in the country and the logical can
didate for the Presidency in 1912.
~
Within seven years door has opened
on an entirely new industrial freedom for
the people of the United States. Within
the last five of those seven years certain
great corporations have undertaken to
slip paddock on that door. in the night.
This is the real meaniug.of the fight now
on for the control of the Empower of
this nation.
The stake of the fight is estimated at
$4,000, 600 minimum horse. power-a
driving force great enough TO operate
every mill, to drive every spindle, to pro-
pei every train and boat, to light every
city, town and village in America. At
one time-and that not long in the past
all this enormous industrial asset lay in
the wallet of the people.
Today there is contest for the posses
sion of what remains unabsorbed-per-
haps the less desirable fve-sixths. On
the one side of the battlefield are certain
opulent electric companies, with their
bases of supplies in the great banking
houses of the nation. On the other are
the people of the United States. The
issue rests with Congress.
~
That the Legislatures of thirty-one
states have adopted resolutions favoring
the election of United States senators by
a direct vote and calling upon Congress
to take the necessary steps to amend the
constitution, has just been brought to
public attention.
The constitution provides that whenever
two-thirds of the states shall demand by