The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-12-16
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Washington, December 9. 1910.


! The Pasadena, California, girls re-
fused to dance with the Japanese naval
officers, and the ball is called off; the
japanese Admiral in high dudgeon sails
away, and all Japan resents the atfront.
The Pasadena girls were within their
rights, and they have the sympathy of
all the California girls and also of the
girls Of the whole United States. But
what about this International Expos-
ton for which California and the whole
Pacific Coast is clamoring? The sup
port of that exposition, if it is held at
San Francisco, must come from the
Orient. We all know the attitude of
San Francisco to the Orient. 1t very
recently brought us to the verge of war
with Japan, and there are possibilities
of serious trouble in an International
Exposition held on the Pacific Slope.
The proper place for an exposition to
celebrate the completion of the Panama
Canal will be the capital of the United
States. New Orleans and San Fran
cisco, "a plsuge on both your houses.
The Secretary of War has Just
returned from the Philippine Islands,
by way of Asia and Europe, and bring
ing the somewhat trte information that
our Maylayan acquisitions from Spain
rs not fit for selfgovernment. Well
what country was fit? The real differ
ence is that the Philippines are less fit,
or least fit? 1t is positive benedic-
tion to some countries like India, Egypt,
and the Philippines to be governed by
an Anglo-Saxon people. All children
need guidance and control. and these
people are not onl ly ''half devil and half
child, but devil, ostrich and orphan
child in one.
The President 5 message is the most
voluminous ever printed, and it is gen
orally considered to be an important and
up to date document. Few readers will
peruse it from end to end, and the epi-
tones furnished by the press are excel
lent as time savers. The President
earnestly favors the fertilization of the
Panama Canal aud surely if it is worth
digging it is worth defending. Without
fortiications it could be destroyed with
few pounds of dynamite in a single
night. To fortily the canal is to chal-
lenge the peace Of the world. Inter
national interests demands its protection.
The Secretary of Agriculture has
now completed his most optimistic of
reports The value Of the agricultural
products Of the country in 1910 is
81, 92S, 900, 600 and Mr.. Wilson says
that at no time in the worlds history
has a country equalled this record. 1t
is quite probable that those even who
are now past middle age may see an
agricultural output equalling in value
one trillion of dollars.
The Recommendation of the Secretary
of Agriculture to eliminate the middle
men and for co operative organizations of
farmers and cooperative societies of
consumers to get together, and thus
shortening the distance between the
farm and the dinner table, is well
worthy of consideration and action.
There is expectation that the recently
elected Congress will be less under the
hypnotism of the express companies and
more mindful of the demand for
parcels post than past Congresses have
been The President in his message
urges legislation authorizing the Post
Office Department to transport packages
in the mails at reasonable rates with
reasonable limitations as to the bulk
and weight. The present mailing con
ditions are most unreasonable, having
been dictated by the express companies
in order to throw the cream of the
carrying business into their hands The
backwardness of our country in tnis
modern postal facility is shameful, for
the parcels post is extant even in such
countries as China, Japan, Africa, Aus
tralia, Asia Minor, Turkey and Korea,
to say nothing of the European coun-
tries
Senator LaFolette is by all odds the
'independentest' Senator in the whole
United States. Most Senators, when
invited to the White House for consul
tation, accept the honor as command.
Not so, Senator LaFollette. He wrote
the President little note, which said
in substance 81 will, if consistent
with my sense of duty, approve your
appointments to the Supreme Bench
but beware that your appointees have
clean records or III oppose their con
frmation by the Senate
Congressman Pearre Commended
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