The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-22
CITIES BATTLE
FOR BIG SHOW
In Celebration of Opening of
Panama Canal
BETWEEN THREE TOWNS
New Orleans, San Francisco and WASH
ington In Three-Cornered Contest.
Some Live Notes From the
National Capital
BETWEEN THREE TOWNS

between New Orleans and San FRANCISCO.
1t would seem that 1915 will be a year
of expositions. Present plans contem-
plating something like half a dozen in
various sections of the country with some
of the back counties still to hear from.
The promoters of many of these declare
they will celebrate whether the govern
ment comes across with sugar for theirs
or not.
New sOreans bases her claim for gov
eminent recognition on the fact that she
is the natural canal port and besides the
Pacific coast has just been recognized
in the exposition line, while 1t has been
a long time since the south has had
slice of this particular kind of pie
San Francisco, on the other hand comes
with something like $5,0oo,oo0 subscribed
for the exposition, and the claim that
it's further from Frisco to Seattle than
from New Orleans to st. Louis so the
sectional claim is without merit.
In addition of the opening of the canal,
San Francisco proposes to hold the ex-
position also in commemoration of the
4OOth anniversary of the discovery of the
Pacific ocean.
There are those who say the country
is big enough for two expositions at the
same time, and this may be taken by
Congress as I he best solution of the
matter.
Republican leaders are puzzling, not to
say worrying, over a phenomenon which
has Halley's comet beaten mile. The
folks at home have quit writing letters
urging Congress to do things and the
wise ones are worried.
1T is a fact" said a prominent Insur-
gent member, that the folks at home
have about quit writing letters asking for
things. They have about quit sitting
down and writing long epistles saying we
ought to pass this legislation and ought
ITO pass that. What does it mean? 1
think it means the people are disguised
with the way things have been running
and are getting ready to go to the polls
in November and take a swipe at a large
share of the republican members
of the House. Mark my word, there's
cataclysm coming next fall"
Secretary of War Dickinson is strenu
ous enough to suit even former Pres
ident, the only living Elk in fact. When
the big Tennessean wants to go anywhere
he walks except, perhaps, In the evening,
when he attends a formal reception. Each
morning Mr.. Dickinson may be seen
kalking down Connecticut avenue in the
direction Of the War Department with
stride which would give Joy to the heart
of Colonel Roosevelt. He takes his con-
stitutional at an hour, too, which would
indicate that it is not safe for his sub
ordinates to get on to their jobs after
8 O'Clock.
Mr.. Dickinson evidently does not be-
lieve in enjoying the luxuries which are
dear to the hearts of many statesmen IN
washington For instance, he has no
use for a valet. AS he walked down to
the War Department recently friend
noticed that a piece of paper was fas-
tened to his chin, indicating that his razor
had slipped
"You ought to teach your man to be
more careful when he shaves you In the
morning" the Secretary's friend volun-
teered.
IT agree with you" answered the Sec
retarv. when that razor slipped this
morning I-reproached myself vigorous
~ and I do not believe 1 Will onend
again"
While Postmaster General Hitchcock
is credited and justly so with being the
politician in the cabinet, 1t Is fact that
he is about the to poi the mark as bus
mess man as well.
partment into a money-making organi-
| cation IL 1t costs a law suit or demo-
cratic victory in the congressional cleo
tons this fall.
politics has been driven out of Mr..
| Hitchcock's mind by the allurements Of
the Taft retrenchment wreath, which,
Mr.. Hitchcock thinks, will look very nice
on his blond head.
| his efforts Is that
neople have been criticizing him for pay
ing more attention to politics than to the
affairs of his department Because of this
and because he wanted to make his de-
partment pay, Mr.. Hitchcock has turned
| a deaf ear to the pleadings of Represent
alive Mckinley of Illinois, chairman of
the republican congressional committee,
and other republican representatives, who
are in sore distress over the political Sit
uation, that he help them out financially
and by his personal assistance in the
coming campaign.
| Among the reforms that will come In
| the near future is the consolidation of
| the star route and rural free delivery
services.
Although Senators Aldrich and Hale,
leaders of the upper branch of Congress,
| do not retire until March, their seats in
| the Senate chamber, which are regarded
| as most desirable, have been assigned.
| The unwrtten law of the Senate is that
the first senator who makes claim on the
seat of departing member obtains pos
session as soon as it is vacated
Senator Burkett of Nebraska beat the
rest of his republican colleagues to 1t
when announcement was made by Sena-
| tor Aldrlch of his intended retirement.
Senator Deliver of Iowa was the next to
make claim and obtain the seat occupied
for so many years by Senator Hale.
| Senator Root will leave the democratic
side of the chamber with the beginning of
the next session of Congress. He will
probably get the seat now occupied by
Senator Burkett.
| A considerable number of members of
the House, have already given it out they
will not seek reelection for the next
House. The reasons they assign are va
rious In some cases the political unrest
| is the real cause.
| Among those who are going tn step out
at the end of this Congress- making no
| effort to remain, are Mr.. Lowden of H.
linois. Mr.. Cooper of Pennsylvania, Mr..
! Sperry of Connecticut, Mr.. Reynolds oil
Pennsylvania, Mr. Huff of Pennsylvania
Mr.. Dawson of Iowa, Mr.. Jameson OF
Iowa Mr. Foss of Massachusetts, and Mr.
| Ravens of New York
One or two others have made up their
minds to quit, but have not announced 1t
| The dropping out of Mr. Sperry will
deprive the House of a unique figure
He will soon be SO years old, and has been
in politics nearly 60 years
|