Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1910-02-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Rrom Our Regular OorrssspondentI
Washington, D. c., Feb. IL. 1909.
There has been q lull all the week |
In the Ballinger Investigation, but |
the investigation will be resumed
In Q few days with viRor and matter
OF importance and 10 is said, OF o
character will be spread |
before the people. There 10 no |
doubt but there was o deep laid
plot TO secure mineral and coal lands
Of almost inestimable value by the
GuRgenheims, one Of whom, as il 10
we'll known, 10 ia the Senate Of the
United States from Colorado. That
mere wealth without education,
learning, craftsmanship. reputation
or public service can secure o place
in the highest legislative body In
this hemisphere. has made many
doubt the efficacy or permauency Of
popular government. and 10 10 per-
haps DOT without reason that some
people are turing toward socialism
and others barking back 70 monar-
chy in their disgust and despera-
ton.
There was q conference at the
White House last week between the
President OF the United States and
the boss Of the Senate. Mr.. Aldrich
Of Rhode Island aud IL is expected
that other conferences will be held
in the near future relative TO the
possible consequences, political,
industrial and financial. depending
upon anticipated decisions OF the
Supreme Court Of the U. S. in the
oil and tobacco cases. The tobacco
case is now awaiting decision Ia
hands OF the Court. The Standard
Oil case has been advanced to March
l4th. The main subject discussed
between the President and Mr..
Adlrich 10 the projecting OF the
amendments relating TO the Inter
state Commerce Law. Legislation
in this particular is awaiting the
Supreme Court decisions in these
two important cases. The Pres
ident's speech at the Lincoln's
birthday dinner at the New York
Republican Club, about the several
party pledges and how they should
be kept. makes IL plain that be has
not changed his determination TO
investigate the conduct Of ell trusts
and that rumors OF financial crises
in Wall Street will in no wise deter
him.
Information comes from the high
est place in the State Department
that Secretary Knox is not pleased
with the merely ornamental charas-
teristics Of large number OF our
diplomatic establishments abroad.
Ha wants those debonair young fell
lows aud old fellows to be do.
ing something useful or to have
them come home In order that he
may appoint practical and progress
sive men in their places. The aver
age diplomat scorns commercialism
and industrialism and the sugges-
ton that he shall do something for
the promotion of American commerce
aud trade abroad is NORWOOD TO
his sporty or aesthetic disposition.
or course. our American consuls are
not diplOmatists in the old Meter
mich or Talleyrand sense. In fact,
no such diplomatists longer exist.
Steam and electricity have put old
style diplomacy out Of business.
There are other means OF communi-
cation nowadays than by couriers
on horseback. But there are scores
OF consular stations throughout
Europe, Asia. Africa and South
American where the consuls have
quasi diplomaticfu functions, although,
their usefulness is largely as Gem
mercial agents However, as man
is social animal, social functions
and opportunities at these consular
posts have an effect to seduce the
ordinary yourg fellow sent abroad
TO sybaritish habits. They are dis
posed TO spend but few hours at
Office and to give the day and night
10 pleasure. The United States is
o great corporst with hundreds
OF thousands Of servants, in fact n
far greater number than it can.
adequately watch and then every
four years or so q new boss is elect
ed and almost before be can become
acquainted with the shop, his term
OF service is up. or course, 10 ID
very important that our eonsuls
shall keep our manufacturers i'd
vised with reference to trade oppor.
tunities. Our foreign commerce
has greatly increased and We are
selling tremendous amount Of STUFF
abroad for less price than we sell
70 our own people at home. Sewing