The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-16
Kxsf WASHINGTON DISPATCH.
PRESIDENT TAFT AND SENATOR
ALDRICH CONFER.
Sensation Expected In Ballinger In
vestiEation-Knox Not Pleased
With some Of Dipbmats-Wants
Men Who VIII DO Something.

Washington. Feb. 1A.-There has
been hull all the week In the Bal
linser Investigation. but tho investi-
CATION will be resumed In few days
with vigor and matter OF Importance
and Il is said. OF sensational char
acter will be spread before the peo-
pie. There is no doubt but there was
. deep laid plot to secure mineral
and coal lands of almost inestimable
value by the Guggenheims. one of
whom. as II Is well known. is in the
senate OF the United States from Col
orsdo. That mere wealth without
education. learning. statesmanship.
reputation or public service can Sc
cure a place In the highest legisla-
I've body I'm this hemisphere. has
made many doubt the efficacy or per-
mancncy OF popular government and
Il Is perhaps not without reason that
some people are turning toward So
ciaiism and others barking back to
monarchy in their disgust and des-
Th>fe WAS a conference at the
~ qaozlqo< <sYIaek hstwesp. the
\ ~ 1JI[< = ~ tile' 'DsE]{ed States and
the boss OF the senate. Mr. Aldrich of
Rhode Island and II Is expected that
other conferences will be held In
tho near future relative to the pos
sible consequences. political. indus
trial and financial. depending upon
anticipated decisions Of the Supreme
Court of the United States in the oil
and tobacco cases. The tobacco case
II now awaiting decision In the hands
OF the court The Standard Oil case
has been advanced to March 14th.
The main subject discussed between
the President and Mr.. Aldrich was the
perfecting Of the amendments reiat-
ing TO the interstate commerce law.
Legislation In this particular Is await
ing the Supreme Court decisions in
these two important cases. The
Presidents speech at the Lincoln's
birthday dinner at the New York Re-
publican Club. about the several par
ty pledges and how they should be
kept. makes II plain that he has not
changed his determination to inves-
tigate the conduct OF all trusts and
that rumors of nnancial crises In
Wall Street will I'm no wise deter
him.
Information comes from the high
est place In the State Department that
Secretary Knox Is not pleased with
the merely ornamntal characteristics
OF large number of our diplomatic
establishments abroad. He wants
those debonair young fellows and old
fellows to be doing something useful
or TO have them come home In order
that he may appoint practical and
progressive men In their places. The
average diplomat scorns commercial
ism and industriarsm and the sug-
gestion that he shall do something
for the promotion Of American COM
merce and trade abroad Is wormwood
TO his sporty or aesthetic disposition.
or course, our American consuls are
not diplomatists In the old Matter
Mich or Tallerand sense. In fact. no
such diplomatists longer exist. Steam
and electricity have put old style dip
iomacv out OF business. There are
other means of communication now
adays than by couriers on horseback.
But there are scores OF consular sta
tions throughout Europe. Asia. Afri-
ca and South Africa where the
consuls have quasi-diplomatlc func-
tions. although. their usefulness Is
largely as commercial agents. How
ever. rs man In social animal So
ciai functions and opportunities at
these consular posts have an effect TO
seduce the ordinary young fellow
sent abroad To- sybaritish habits.
They are disposed 10 spend but few
hours at office and to give the day
and night to pleasure. The United
states Is a great corporation with
hundreds OF thousands OF servants,
I'm fact. far greater number than
II can adequately watch and then ev-
cry four years or so a new boss is