Middletown transcript., 1911-02-25
WASHINGTON LETTER

WARRINGTON, D. O., February IL, 1911
THE week in Congress has been of great
interest and importance in legislative
mstters. The House has passed she
Canadian Reciprocity Bill BY a large ma.
iority and it is predicted that She bill will
pass the Senate. It will not, however, have
smooth sailing and if it were not for she
impression that the President will call au
extra session Of Congress almost immedi.
ately after the Ash Of March, provided the
Senate does not vote on the reciprocity
bill, it is doubtful if a vote could be had
before the 4th Of March. II the bill comes
to vote, there is but little doubt that it
will be passed, because majority in favor
OF the bill in the Senate is conceded, but
owing to parliamentary usage in che
Senate, there can be limitless debate, and
the upper house has some limitless de-
baters who.are quite capable Of talking
the bill into the next session.
~
The opinion in regard to President Taft
as politician and statesman has risen
considerably since the beginning of the
present session. 1t is conceded that be is
in the main master of the situation and
reciprocity with Canada is established, as
the better minds of the country think it
will be, there is prospect of reOiprocal
trade relations between the United States
and Mexico and with Central and South
American republics. With these ends 90.
complished close on to the completion of
the Panama Csnal, the administration is
sure to finish with eclat, il not with an
other term fer President Taft.
~
There is much unfavorable comment
from all parties in reference to what is
called the "blundering blatherskite di.
plomacy" or rather the lack of it. Of the
Democratic heir.apparent to the speaker.
ship OF the House of Representatives.
Nothing could have been more inoppor.
tune than the statement that reciprocal
trade relations we're preliminary to the
annexation of British America, and q
foolish remark may be the ruin of what
promised to be a most benefcent tfade
arrangement. 1t is yet time for the Dem.
ocratic majority TO pause and reconsider
the propriety of electing political mar.
plot to high Office. A hundred or more
years ago there was ducking stool in
England for silencing old women who
talked too much. An appropriation for
such an instrument and q water tank
would not be bad for the National Capi.
tol.
~
Il is something more than opportune
that the exposure ofthe great lumber trust
comes fast upon the heels of reciprocity
with Canada and the proposed free i'm.
portation of lumber from that country.
The Bureau of Corporations has Just fur.
nished the information that forty years
ago rs per cent. of the timber Of the
country was owned by the governments.
but at present 80 per cent. Of it is owned
by private persons. 1t is apparent that
the United States must conserve with
greatest care the small remaining supply
of timber and, further, it must, if possible
scotbh the trust that is monopoliziBg
with view to increasing still further the
exorbitant cost OF such timber as is not at
npoaapk r1pdar shair oonkrol
-
President Taft has issued q proclama-
ton, not as President Of the United States,
bat as President Of the Red Gross Society,
asking contributions for the relief of the
famine stricken region in China. John
D. Rockefellow has contributed $500
and there have been many contributions
from other sources and charitable people
are also contributing food stuffs and cloth.
ing which will be sent by o. 8. trans.
port to Shanghai and thence up the
Y Yantsekiang River where millions Of
Chinese inhabitants are in dire distress.
It is said they are selling their children
for food. This, however is no particular
measure OF their suffering because it il
common with the Chinese in that part OF
ihe world to kill or sell ;, their daughter
The selling of daughters, however, is not
confined to the Chinese. Il goes on with
more or less observation in all the hos
eeds Of Christian civilization We ara
Ipending millions annually in China for
The conversion of those people while our
exclusion laws keep them from theUnited
States That is practically telling them
hat they are good enough for Heaven,
but not good enough for this country.
they are an amiable, temperate, iudustri-
Jus people. Their country is greatly over.
populated and il is not their fault that
hey are not able to get enough 70 eat.