Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-04-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. c., April27. The
past week has furnished nothing |
from a legislative or an exc
cutive point of view at the capital OF
the United States. But there is not
the slightest abatement of interest in
the political situation which is ser
lousy discussed wherever men OF in
formation and prominence in politi-
cal affairs come together. The cleo
ton of Havens, democrat in New
York, to succeed Perkins, republican,
deceased, and this election reversing
a1O, 600 republican majority by 5000
democratic majority, practically
changing $1,000 votes, is regarded as
political situation and program. AS
far as can be discerned, the dissatifac-
ton is mainly with the tariff bill of
the special session and the presidents
persistent approval of it. It seems
to be in vain that Senator Aldrich
and Representative Paynes and the,
president point to the fact that the
revenuse of the government are in
creasing and that there is fair pros
perity under the present tariff. The
election in New York looming SO
quickly upon the heels of Foss's vic
tory in Massachusetts,, regarded as in-
dicative of a nation wide movement
which some say only Roosevelt can
stem. Others ask, "Will Roosevelt be
able to stem it? Will he not rather
join it," Time alone can tell. 1t is
certain that the country is following
the triumphant procession of Roose-
welt in Europe more closely than the
stand pat attitude of the president in
Washington.
During the week the episode Of the
visit of the editor of the New York
American, William Randolph Hearst,
to Washington, his long interview
with the president and his subsequent
eulogy of Taft given out to the press,
has been much commented Oh. He
was received at the capitol by men,
bers and senators with it appears al
most as much enthusiasm as was Bry-
an few days before. There are those
who say that Mr.. Hearst is playing
for the presidential nomination in
1912.
Much interest and significance is
attached to- the announcement by Sem
ators Aldrich and Hale that their SEN
atorial terms will by their own Volt
ton end on the 4th of March next.
These senators are the head Of the
little coterie in the senate that has
very completely ruled in that highest
Legislative body for long term Of
years. Mr.. Hale, believe, is seven
ty-four years old and Mr.. Aldrich
sixty eight. They belong rather to a
past political era than that of the
present. They are both in degree
provincial, "down-East' statement
and are not in accord with the broad
er, more modern and more progressive
sentiment of the nation. The on
coming younger class of statesmen as
represented by Cummins, Beveridge,
LaFollette and Dolliver, more nearly
represent the feeling of the nation
with reference to domestic and for
eign policies.
There continues to be considerable
interest in the question of an inter-
national exposition to celebrate the
completion of the interoceanic canal
at Panama. New Orleans, San Diego
San Francisco, Los Angeles. and WASH
ington are all reaching out for the
exposition. Considerable rivalry is
already apparent and these five cities
are looking toward congress for mon
ey. Congress has had much expert
ence with expositions at Philadelphia
Chicago, st. Louis, Buffalo, New
Orleans and Seattle. All these were
in sense provincial expositions. 1t is
time and meet that we should have a
distinctively national exposition.
The city of Washington has reached
that degree of expansion and promi-
hence that even if it were not the
capital of the country, it would be
entitled to celebrate an event so en-
phatically national. 1t is time that |
the European and Asiatic world, and
I may say the American world also,
should learn that there is capital of
the United States The government
at the capital should celebrate the
most stupendous accomplishment IN
the completion Of the greatest work
ever undertaken by man. There is
but one logical place place for such
celebration. 1t can be held at WASH
ington at one-half the expense, not
only to the nation, but to the hun
dreds of thousands that will visit it,
as compared with the other cities
The foreign countries
that will send exhibits Of art and
to the exposition can do
it more effectively and economically
by landing them at Washington than
by sending them across the continent
to San Francisco or Los Angeles, or
by the Gulf to New Orleans.