The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-26

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WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 10,
1909.-Dear Dad: "Scurvy" is the
only word that comes to my mind
when l see congress cut the appro-
priation for children's Fairgrounds
in this city from $4,000 to $500.
After spending all of one day and
part of second debating this
question-it was practically the
only debate on a bill appropriating
some $4,000, 0O0-Jim Tawney de-
manded separate vote on this
item, and the house voted to cut
the appropriation.
/ would suggest that all persons
interested in the welfare of chill
dren write and secure a copy of
the Congressional Record for JAN
IA, in which they will find on page
943 the official list of those who
voted for and against the chill
dren's Fairgrounds. Every dis
trict should take care of it's repre-
sentative on votes like this. A
billion dollar congress that raises
its own salaries, and cuts play
ground appropriations, deserves
the same consideration given to
the thief who robs a church's poor
box, or pliers the coppers from a
baby's bank.
How about Tillman? l have moth
ing to say. My! How the idols
are lettering! Yes. Tillman was
one of my idols. Perhaps land
marks would be better word. He
was not an object of worship in
any sense; but he was one of the
fixed points" in measuring de-
cency. | always thought Tillman
honest. | once wrote an able char
acter study of Tillman for a maya
zine, and it was based on the
theme of his rugged honesty. l
have always thought what good
thing it was to have the honest
agricultural sentiment of the coun-
try voiced so enthusiastically, in
this rich mans club. | was almost
reconciled to the continued exist
ence of the senate by the fact that
it could contain Tiilman. And
now? Well. at least my enthusiasm
on the subject of Tillman shall not
| in future be Obtruded on the world.
| With many others listened
eagerly and seriously to Tillman's
| defense. | wanted to know. I
wanted him. if possible, to clear
myself. wanted to see his repu-
tation for honesty wiped clean of
the smirch which his own actions
seemed to have brought upon it.
But like many others ! was dis
| appointed. His denial was tech
| meal, and his plea like that of
| the young woman who had become
| a mother without the formality of
the marriage service. 1T is such
a little baby" the mother pleaded.
And so Tillman argued that he was
trying to get away with paltry
400 acres, while Hartman was
permitted to get away with two
million.
That's what comes of long
term in the United States senate.
Evil associations corrupt good
morals. verify believe Tillman
has kept his fingers from picking
and stealing, generally; but too
much Aldrich has finally twisted
his perspective. He has lost his
sense of the proper relation of
things. The same dullness of in
tegrity which causes him to carry
his son on the pay roll as his Sec
rotary, regardless of services rem
dered, has blinded him to the
rights and wrongs of this land
snatching episode.
I think my old friend, the presi-
dent, has a too modest opinion of
the esteem in which he is held by
the people of the country as a
whole. He said to me the other
day: "Rath," said he. 'yOu are one
of six people who will remember
me 80 days after the 4th of March.
He spoke seriously. And" he add
ed when | say 30 days speak
advisedly. Thirty days is the maxi
num-"
DO you remember our friend, the
minor muck-raker?" | refer to-
| the promoter and manager of the
peoples lobby. Well. he-Henry
Beach Needham-has written po-
litical play. And take 1t from me
1t is all right. It's background is the
United States senate and its action
Is the kind of political action that
| Is going on today all around us. Ii