Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-04-29

BY TAvENNER,
Special Correspondent of The Sentinel.
Washington, April rs. 1910.

Washington, April rs, 1910.
Senator Aldrichs announcement that he
will not be candidate for reelection is
being regarded with increasing suspicion
here in Washington as manifest political
trick.
IL is doubtful If single one of the GEN
uine progressive Republicans really believes
that the Rhode Island boss intends to re-
linquish his control of legislation moment
sooner than he has to. Even a few "reeu-
lars" have privately expressed the belief
that Aldrich might consent to a reelection,
basing this conclusion upon what they
characterized as the enormous pressure
which no doubt will be brought to bear
upon Aldrich to cause him to change his
mind.
Because of his record of underhanded-
ness and trickery in dealing with the Sem
ate and the public, everything Senator Al
drich does or says should be carefully ana
!yzed before accepted on its face value.
Aldrich does not say anywhere that he
will not accept reelection. He says he
will not be candidate" II would be no
surprise to Senators who know Aldrich II
the words II am not candidate for re-
election" should turn out after the fall con-
gressional elections to have been but an
other of his famous "jOkers," with which
the Payne-Aldrich tariff law is overloaded.
The corporation interests served by Al
drich can best maintain the excessive tar
if rates. which give them monopolies on
American markets and make it possible
for them to collect enormous profits from
consumers, through Republican admins
tration. Therefore 1t Is but natural that
Aldrich's primary object at this time is to
keep the Republicans in power
What move on Aldrichs part could re-
lieve the Republicans of so heavy re-
sponsibility in the approaching CONGRESS
sional elections as the announcement of
his retirement? Realizing that his long
representation Of Big Business has earned
for him the enmity of the American peo-
pie. and that his name is to be one of the
main issues in the fall campaign, 1t Is but
giving due credit to Aldrich's resourceful-
ness to assume that he figured it out he
could not serve the special interests better
at this time than to announce his retire
ment, II such announcement would help
the Republican party over dangerous shoals.
Aldrich is taking no chances in announc-
ing he will not again be a candidate. He
can change his mind easily. or he can have
reelection forced" upon him. Should the
next House be Democratic however, Al
drich might not care to come back to the
Senate, for II would then be obvious that
he could put through none OF his own pc
culiar style of legislation.
The ship subsidy bill is beaten so far as
this session of Congress is concerned. II goes
to destruction on the rocks Of scandal. The
Merchant Marine League, the organization
which Is backing the bill providing for the
Of n
funds to few private ship0wners, is being
exposed before a special investigating COM
mittee of Congress as being backed by men
who would profit directly or Indirectly
through the passage Of the proposed legis-
lation. These men. the most Of whom are
milliOnaires, have contributed to the funds
Of the league, and the funds have been
used in turn to attack and terrify members
of Congress opposed to the subsidy grab
Although officers Of the league testified
contributors to the league treasury were
interested in the passage of ship subsidy
bill merely as American patriots anxious
to see the merchant marine built up.
cross examination of the very witnesses
who made such assertions brought out the
fact that two of the vice-p presidents of the |
league were directors of the steel trust, |
and that another vice-president was the
general manager of the Newport News, Va,
company, concerns which
might easily profit through the opening of
the pork barrel by the passage Of a ship
subsidy measure.
THE Democrats are nearer to electing
President OF the United States than they
have been since 1892" says Gov. Claude
A. Swanson, of virginia, who recently COM
MIA N hat nxrtanIaI 30 h., n,
coast. mot in years have the Democrats
shown so much activity, so much desire to
shake off lethargy, to hold harmony ban
quets, and TO get together as manifested
in all sections of the country at this time |
With such spirit pervadng the leaders
and the rank and file of the Democracy |
taken together with the dissensiOn among |
Republicans, can see no other result than |
a Democratic house and Democratic presi-
dent in 1913"
President Taft still refuses to relent in
his opposition to Congressional investi-
CATION Of either the sugar underweigh-
ing frauds or the sale by the government
Of valuable sugar lands to the sugar trust.
The first resolution introduced by Repre-
sentative John A. Martin, of Colorado, pro-
Viding for an investigation by Congress
was smothered TO death. Mr.. Martin has
now introduced another resolution. He al
eyes that the sugar trust has been allowed
% acquire $4,000 acres Of the richest su-
gar lands in the Philippines and that the
,alidity Of the transaction Is open to most
'eri0us question, in view Of the fact that
he law Of the Philippines expressly de-
'lares that not more than $500 acres Of
and shall be sold to any single corporation.
sanction was given TO the transaction In
question by Attorney General Wickersham,
Who was former member Of the New
fork sJgar-trust law firm of Strong & Cad
yalader, which firm Mr. Martin declares
vas directly concerned with the alleged
Illegal sale. President Taft's brother Is
till member Of this firm. Whether the
can much longer prevent a sweep
ng investigation Of the entire scandal Is
doubtful
Offices Of standpat Republicans resemble
nai!-order houses these days. To head off
defeat. the standpatters are
the mails with millions Of pack
ges Of garden seeds. farmers bulletins,
maps, speeches and hOrse-doctOr books.
iOt q few Of the regulars are uneasy as a
esult Of the recent election In the Thirty
econd New York district. in which Ravens,
he Democratic candidate changed the
908 Republican plurality Of l0,l67 into
Democratic plurality Of 1881
a. 81.