The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1910-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

W Washington, ID, G., March 2G, lie.
The political situation as viewed
I from the standpoint of the nation
Al capital, is much more interest
ing to both parties than legisla
llon and executive matters uSt
now. The election of Mr.. Foss Us
4 Democrat to Congress in MaSsa
chusetts this week 10y a plurality
of 800 in district which elected
Republican in 1908 by a plurali-
ty ct 1900, is regarded here and
throughout the country as most
significant Indication as to pOpu
lar feeling. OF course, political
iigurcrs are had at work and will
show plausibly special causes for
this remarkable political change
But crediting the Republicans
with all that they may claim as
causes for this surprising result. it
indicates that the trend Of popular
opinion has gone so far that moth
ing but miracle or Roosevelt can
save the House next fail to the
party in power, Let ii be said
with whatever emphasis can be
brought to bear, that the party in
power Is not responsible for high
prices or for unsatisfactory bust
ness conditions lnasmuch as the
party i'll power, Democratic or Re-
publican, always claims credit tor
whatever good thing happens. it
must face the responsibility for
some Of the bad, even if it should
be bad crops.
SO great has been the excite
ment over the rebuke of Cannon
in the lower house Of Congress
that the Balllnger-Pinchot inyesti-
cation has been to a great degree
forgotten. MIR. Pinchot, since he
has testified, has started to Europe
and Is now we'll on his way thith-
er. II is reported that he is .aing
in answer 10 a cablegIam from ex=
President Roosevelt That one so
hear he eX President as x-Forest-
err Pinchot should be the first to
get the ear Of Mr.. Roosevelt, is
subject of considerable anxiety to
the other side, or at least to GER
tain individuals of the other side |
SO far, Mr. Roosevelt has been as
silent as the Sphinx which yester
night he saw by moonlight. An
Dlher significant fact is that dur
ne Mr., Gartield's residence III the
;ity two weeks ago be was the
guest Of Mr. Pinchot, and he only |
yesterday made an address to the
lippecanoe Club in Cleveland, u
very temperate address, but one
n which it was plain to see that
lis sympathles were with the IN
urgents and that his advocacy
vas for a more enthusiastic sup.
tort of the Roosevelt policies than
t is possible for President Taft to
accomplish, handicapped as he is
" those In the House and the
senate with whom he has elected
0 cOnsort. 1t is a curious situa.
ion and Unprecedented in our po-
tical history that a self exiled ex-
resident is at this moment more
otential 10 the political affairs of
he country than the genial gen
lemanin the White House. What
9 may say or do when or before
c lands here in June is matter
keen sOlicitude to regulars, in
lrgents, Democrats and to every
ne interested IN current politics.
Mr.. Garfield, in his speech in
leveland, made a severe arraign.
ent Of those Republican leaders
nilty of policy which he thinks
certain to lead the party to de.
at. He insisted that the aver.
&c American realized that pres.
1t conditions pointed to some.
ing radically wrong. He urged
aggressive action and pointed out
lat when a party fails to be pro.
esslve its usefulness has begun I
wane. ut is our duty,o said
r. Garfield, "to squarely face the =
tuatlon and to stand up and be
united for the policies that are
sympathy with the best pro.
essive thought of our country. I
q the people are justly calling
'on us for a fultilment Of that !
LEY. They will not be satisfied =
tn lDaction and makeshift legis. =
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