The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-09-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

withdrawn from entry as being valuable
for coal deposits or for classification were
thrown open to agricultural surface entry
on Thursday last, under regulations APP
proved by Acting Secretary ofthe Interior
Pierce
The opening of these lands was accom-
plished under The act Of June a2, 1910,
one of the Administration conservation
measures providing for the agricultural
entry of the surface of public coal lands,
the coal deposits being reserved for sepa-
rate disposition by the United States.
The West should be greatly benefited
by the measure, according to the officials
of the Department, of the Interior, per
hitting, as its does, two.fold exploita.
tion-the use of the surface for crop
raising and the conservation of the min.
erals. The act does not apply to Alaska.
Acknowledgements who have hereto.
fore made filings upon lands classified or
reported as coal lands will be permitted
to secure title to the surface of the lands.
It will permit, in the future, the allowance
OF homesteads, desert land entries, Carey
actselections aud reclamation Withdrawals
upon the surface of public lands which
contain coal deposits The agricultural
title will pass from the United States, but
all coal deposits willremain subject to ex-
ploration and purchase under appropriate
coal laws.
Before entering the lands for the ex-
ploitation of coal deposits prospectors
will be compelled TO file sufficient bond
to protect the agricultural claimant from
any damage which may occur TO his crops
or improvements.
Practically every Congressman who
drops in at Democratic headquarters here.
as well as those in correspondence with.
Chairman Lloyd and his assistants, report
that in this campaign the Republicans
are decidedly on the defensive.
From the accounts being received, this
state of affairs seems to be general
throughout the United States. There
has been nothing exactly like ii since the
memorable contest 20 years ago, when
the Republicans lost control of the House
Of Representatives and suffered one of the
most crushing defeats in the history Of
their party.
It was the tariff Of 1890 which caused
the landslide and resulted in the election
of Democratic House. The prevailing
belief now is that It will be the tariff this
year that will once more bring about the
defeat of the Republicans:
xxx
New York politicians of both parties
are aghast over the suggestion of an
alliance between Col. Theodore Roose.
welt and his one-time bitter enemy, viii
liam R. Hearst.
Hearst has extended the olive branch
and in an amazing first-page editorial in |
his New York newspaper promises the
support of his Independent followers to |
Roosevelt if he will come back to New
York and lead fight against the bosses
for the people.
The Republican leaders construed the
Hearst appeal to be .'play for position'' |
in the coming fight Roosevelt will have
nothing to do with Hearst they say, but |
he Hearst} will have placed himself in |
such position where he will be able to
swing the balance Of power in the coming
State election.
~
Four members Of the Republican Con-
gressional Campaign Committee, respon-
sible for the conduct of The current con-
test and responsible for the campaign
textbook of the Republicans, have already
been retired into private life. They are
Messrs. Hamert. Of Idaho; Miller, of
Kansas; Hinshaw. of Nebraska, and
Peatre, of Maryland Not one was re-
nominated for Congress.
The Republican textbook has been out
only few days, but has already kicked
up dust-not among democrats, who are
grinning, but among Republicans. who
see nothing in it but the gasps of dying
"stapdpatters' vainly endeavoring 10
save lost cause. Criticism of the book
is almost universal among candidates, not
only for what It contains, but more es
pecially for its sins of omission.
The Regulars and many of the political
"has-beens" Of Congress are given fronb
position in its pages, while there is not
single quotation from the vivid utterances
Of the Insurgents, who, with the Demo
Gratis, are mainly. responsible for what
good came out of the recent session Of
Congress.
The Democrats are smiling over the
discontinue Of Republicans over their