Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-13
FROM WASHINGTON.

I IL
officials OF the bureaus OF forestry and
Indian affairs, with view OF concen-
trating the efforts Of the three branches
Of the government upon the forest fires
which are raging in Glacier Park and
in the vicinity OF the Flathead Indian
Reservation and Occur D'Alene Ida.
The army is sending pack trains north
from Cheyenne. Wyo., and more troops
will probably be ordered to cooperate
with the men who have been gathered
bv the forestry service and Indian
agents to check the flames. The fires
are reported today to be especially
serious. They have broken out at
variously places and are spreading with
great rapidity. There are now several
thousand men at work on the fire lines.
A severe earthquake, supposed to
have occurred in the West Indies, was
recorcd today by the seismograph at
Georgetown University. The shock
began at SOP a. IN. and the tremors
continued until S:25. The maximum
shock occurred at S:17. Father Torn
dorf said the record indicated a shock
of extraordinary severity such as would
cause big tidal wave.
This was an 'insurgent holiday in
Washington, Judged by the openly ex-
pressed delight at the news from Bever-
ly that President Taft at last has de-
tcrmined upon a triple programme
composed of the following features:
First. exit Aldrich; Second, Ballinger;
Third. exit Cannon. 1t is pointed out
that the elimination Of these three men,
who have been the most powerful anti
inSurgent influences about the Presl-
dent, means far more than their
removal from the situation. 1t
is declared that an entire new spirit
will take hold OF the administration and
that a new regime which will be wei
coined by many with opened arms, will
be established in the departments.
That Postmaster General Hitchcock in
i'm the saddle is seriously doubted. The
generally expressed opinion today is
that when Hitchcock went to Beverly
he heard sometnieg like this;
You got Balinger into the cabinet.
1t is now up to you to devise immedi-
ate ways and means to get him out
for the good of the party and with
out embarrassment to President Taft.
Many persons here see the hand OF
Roosevelt in the development OF
events. No one ever knew besides
Taft and Roosevelt what took place
at the conference they held on the
front veranda of Taft's Beverly cot
tage. IF Roosevelt had made certain
definite and forceful suggestions, "
declared a government official who has
been closely associated with him, he
would mquestionably have advised
that no action be taken Immediately
following his visit. Taft also would
have seen the inadvisability of taking
any steps that would have given rise
to suggestion that he was taking
Rooscvets advice. But everyone
knows that Taft respects Roosevelts
political sagacity and looks upon him
as the cleyereSt politician in the coun-
try. On doubtless, in the world. "
The new situation turns the Wash
ington search light upon Senator Crane
and Charles d, Norton, the new and
active private secretary to the president.
I'm talking today Of Crane, a man here
who knows him we'll declared that he
is one Of the most expert judicious adj
yisors that ever served as diplomatic
representative of a president or mon
arch. Norton and Hitchcock are
known to be close personal friends, but
Norton has not approved OF Hitchcock 5
methods. Norton has the western
idea" Of fighting out in the open. He
often criticised the administration for
IFS lack Of aggressiveness before he be
came secretary to the president. He
thought Mr.. Taft ought to fight back D
and that Hitchcock ought to have to
come out and defeud himself when the
magazines attacked his second class
postage plan. The insurgents say that
Norton would make a fine young in
surgent. "
The end Of Aldrich" has been ex-
pected and forecast by his announce
ment that he will retire, but the news
from Beverly following his reply to
Senator Bristow's charges gives the in
surgents especial delight. Bristow's
reply to Aldrich's answer attracted wide
attention here. The exit of Cannon
opens wide field of conjecture, which
depends, in its results, upon the out
come Of the fall elections. If the demo-
crafts carry the House, Cannon's retire
ment will have little effect. If the re-
publicans come back into power it will
present a rare situation and many here
believe that Cannon will go down fight
ing in the last ditch. The removal OF
Ballinger, however, is looked upon as
the opening Of political sluice gate.
1t is believed that the effects OF his far
reaching influence will go out with him
and that the political waters will witness
a great change throughout the govern
mcnt service.
Sixty patients treated with antirabic
innoculatlons at the Hygienic LabOFa-
tory Of the public Health aud Marine
Hospital services for the preyentian OF
hydrophobia, not a single death was
reported according to report issued to-
day. At the request of the various
state Boards of Health over 900 treat
mentS Of virus were sent out by the
laboratory, during the last year.
strike of Shipbuilders.
Hamburg, Aug. 13.-The ship