Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-01-29


as one looks on at civic or military
procession. To experts in dress and
connoisseurS in sartorial values and
critics of manners the station ~ the
blue room, although it is without seats,
must be as entertaining as the best pro-
auctions on the stage. The foreign
ambassadors and ministers wore their
court costumes with all the decorations
to which they are entitled. Our army
and navy officers in their new dress
uniforms display considerable gold
lace, but they are quite outdone by
some South American and Oriental
countries which rank far below the
United States ia wealth and power.
The British ambassador wore gold
embroidered coat with splendid decora-
tons upon the front, while his wife
wore costume of pearl colored brocade.
The new Turkish ambassador was
there with his red fez, the only street
head covering which was observed.
The MOhammedans never on any &C.
casion uncover their heads.
Washington would be much less at
tractive to so called statesmen if it were
not for this social side of life. Senators
and members of the House perhaps
care utslittle--for it, but their wives
and daughters, their sisters, cousins
and mOthers-in-law look upon it as the
real thing, and consider the ceuntry's
affairs and legislative work as of sec
ondary Importance. 1t is impossible
that this view shall not have its intlu
ence with the senator or representative.
1t may not consciously swerve him
from his duties, but it is impossible
that a man whose nights are spent
with his family encourage at brushes
and dinners shall during the day be
able to give his best attention to ma
tional business or to the discharge Of
that work fer which he was sent to
Congress. OF course, there are many
honorable EXCEPTIONS.
The President has sent another and
perhaps final message to Congress ac-
companying the report of the Conserva-
ton Commission. This message may
not have any great effect on Congress,
for this body is in no frame of mind to
be impressed with the recommends
tions of President Roosevelt, but that
it will have it's influence on the coun-
try and through the country an infiu-
ence on this or on future Congresses,
can be little doubted. 1t is a very seri-
GUS paper-the final serious expression
OF very serious man on the eve OF his
farewell to the country and in fact to
the world in which he has been for a
number of years the most conspicuous
personality. Although the reader will
have an opportunity to peruse the mes
sage in full, there are certain passages
which might well be committed by
heart. Speaking of the rights of the
people, the President says:
The man who serves the community
greatly should be greatly rewarded by
the community. AS there is great in
equality of service 80 there must be
great inequality of reward, but no man
and no set of men should be allowed to
play the game of competition with
loaded dice.
This administration has achieved
some things; it has sought, but has not
been able, to achieve others; it has
doubtless made mistakes; but all it has
done or attempted has been in the sim
gle, consistent effort to secure and en-
large the rights and opportunities of
the men and women of the United
States.
What the President says about play
ing the game with loaded dice has
plainly reference to the great trusts and
monopolies that have bought legisla-
lures and have their representatives in
the halls of Congress in Washington;
and he probably has reference TO the
boycott and the blacklist which are
the loaded dice respectively OF the labor
trust and of the employer.
AS summary of the waste of ma
tural resources for the year 1907, the
President presents remarkable array
of figures. AS for example, the total
waste of mineral products, 300 millions:
damage by floods, 23S millions; loss by
fire, $50 millions, preventable loss by
fire, 1865 millions; loss by insects, $50
millions; forests destroyed by fire year
ly, 50 millions of acres; waste of natur-
al gas, q millions; daily waste gas per
foot, one million; yearly waste of coal,
240 million tons. The report of the
Forest Conservation Congress, compos-
ed as it is of the Governors of the States
and some of the most distinguished
an impressive influence on the think
Ing minds of the country, which will
sooner or later find expression in legis-
lation.