The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-04-29
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gen.
eral Topics from
the Capital.
April "a, 1910.

ApIH 2Si 1910
The past week has furnished nothing
very startling from legislative or an
executive point of view at the capital of
the United States. But there is not the
slightest abatement of interest in the po-
litical situation which is seriously dis
cussed wherever men of information and
prominence in politica, affairs come to-
gether. The election of Havens. Dem
ocrat, in New York, TO SnCceed Perkins,
Republican, deceased, and this election,
reversing a 10000 Republican majority
by 5000 Democratic majority. prac-
tically changing $1,000 votes, is regarded
as extremely significant of the general
dissatisfaction with the national political
situation and program As far as can
be discerned the dissatisfaction is mainly
with the tariff bill of the special session
and the Presidents persistent approval
of it. II seems to be in vain that Sen
ator Aldrich and Representative Payne
and the President point to the fact that
the revenues of the government are now
increasing and that there is fair prosper
ity under the present tariff. The election
in New York coming so quickly upon
the heels of Foss's victory in MasSachu.
sets, is regarded as indicative of a ma
ton 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
Roosevelt 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,
AWe,1can. 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 upon. He was re-
ceived at the Capitol by members and
Senators, with it appears almost as much
enthusiasm as was accorded to Bryan a
few days before. There are those who
say that Mr. Hearst is playing for the
Presidential nomination in 1912.
Much interest and significance is at
tached to the announcement by Senators
Aldrich and Hale that their Senatorial
terms will by their own voition expire
on the 4th of March, next. These Sena-
tors are at the head of the little coterie
in the Senate that has very completely
ruled in the highest legislative body for
long term of years. Mr.. Hale is
seventy-four years old, and Mr.. Aldrich
sixty-eight. They belong to rather a
past political era than that OF the present.
They are both in certain degree pro-
vincial, down East" statesmen and are
not in accord with the broader, more
modern and more progressive sentiment
of the nation. The oncoming younger
class of statesmen as represented by
Cummins, Beveridge, La Toilette and
Dolliver, more nearly represent the feel
ings of the nation with reference to the
domestic and foreign policies.
There continues to be considerable
interest in the question of an interna-
tional exposition to celebrate the COM
pletion of the Inter Oceanic Canal at
Panama New Orleans, San Diego,
San Francisco, Los Angeles and Wash
ington, are all reaching out for the expo
sition Considerable rivalry is already
apparent and these five different cities
are looking towards Congress for money
Congress has had much experience with
expositions at Philadelphia, Chicago,
ST. Louis, Buffalo, New Orleans and
Seattle. All of these were in a certain
sense, provincial expositions. 1t is time
and meet that we should have a dis
tinctively National Exposition. The
City OF Washington has reached that de-
gree OF expansion and prominence that
even if it were not the capital OF the
country, it would be entitled to celebrate
an event so emphatically national. 1t is
time that the European and Aslatlc
world, and also the American world,
should learn thar there is a capital of the
| United States. The government at the
capital should celebrate the most stu
pendous accomplishment in the compile
| ton Of the greatest work ever under.
taken by man. There is but one logical
place for such a celebration. 1t can be
held at Washington at one-half OF the
expense, not only to the nation, but to
the hundred Of thousands that will visit
it, as compared with the other cities
mentioned The foreign countries that
will send exhibits of art and manufact-
ures to the exposition can do It more
effectively and economically by landing
them at Washington than by sending
them across the continent to San Fran
cisco or Los Angeles, or by the Gulf to
New Orleans.