The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-10-20
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON
Events Of Political and Public Inter
est as Seen From the Washing
ton View Point

Events OF POiltlcal anu fuDllc inter
est as Seen From the Washing
ton View Point
Washington, D. c., Oct. 1S.-Mass
achusetts Republicans have notion
that they are about lit" as they are
holding one of the few "off-year cleo
tions," and the following from theil
platform indicates how little they ex
pect the result in the old Goldfish
state" will settle matters. The plat.
form says: with a single excep
ton, Massachusetts, is, the only state
in which election of all state officers
takes place this year, and its verdic,
will be read by the entire country
as first judgment upon the doings Of
Democratic and Insurgent congress
upon the wisdom of the executive
checks placed upon it. That verdict
will virtually affect the action Of con-
gress during the coming session and
influence the still more vital presi-
dental election Of the coming year. u
The Capital is used to Senator
Heyburn's pyrotechnics, and In, the
ordinary course Of legislation his &C.
centres do not command the same
attention as is now attracted to his
course as chairman of the investiga-
ton in Wisconsin into the election
of Senator Stephenson. A good many
of the Senator's comments resemble
stump speeches., and in the criticisms
of the primary system, and of both
Senators Stephenson and La Toilette,
are giving spice to the investigation,
making even more interesting read
ing for the pubic than the story OF
Lorimer and the alleged debauchins
of the Illinois legislature.
After about 5000 postoffices
throughout the country had been de.
signated as postal savings banks, the
Washington Office was "also" made
depository, and on the first day it
did business, 118 depositors left their
coin in Mr.. Hitchcock's strong box.
Practically all second-class president
ial offices throughout the country ara
now postal savings banks, and the
system is rapidly being extended to
include first and third-class presi-
Dental Offices. The widow of Sen
ator Carter, formerly of Montana,
and the father of the postal savings
bank idea in the United States, re-
ceived certificate number / from the
Washington Office.
News of the cordial receptions ten
dered President Taft everywhere
along the route of his travels, is most
pleasing to his official family in
Washington. Particularly in Iowa
was Mr.. Taft most kindly received,
and there was little evidence of the
reported opposition to him there or
in Kansas, and those here closest to
the administration declare that Mr..
Taft will carry every state west Or
the Mississippi, Notwithstanding the
fact that few senators are trying to
shape things otherwise.
The featuring of Governor Harmon
of Ohio as unsafe" by the chairman
of the Democratic committee of Ida
no, has been seized upon as an item
of news" of wonderful Importance
by the boomers of several Democratic
candidates for the presidency. 1t is
recalled here that the Peerless One"
from Nebraska has long contended
that Mr.. Harmon has been too friend
ly to the interests" to be considered
seriously as possibility.
Once more Senator Penrose, the
stalward old war horse of Pennsyl-
vania, has routed his enemies, and
after one OF the hardest fights he has
ever been called on 10 lead, he has
succeeded in renominating his candl-
date for mayor, George H. Earle, in
Philadelphia. The, senator's victory
was so decisive and overwhelming as
to leave no question as to the su-
premacy of the Penrose element in
the Quaker City.
That dollar diplomacy has found
it's full vindication in the wonderful
expansion of American foreign trade
during the last fiscal year. is, the
opinion of the state department, as
embodied in statement prepared by
the bureau of trade relations. How
we'll the American public engaged in
manufacturing and in producing the
commodities marketed abroad has
responded to the increased facilities
and opportunities recently developed
by the state department, in co-ordin-
alton with governmental agencies is
declared to be demonstrated by n
comparative statement of our foreign
commerce. This discloses the fact
that the exports of domestic mer-
chandise for the last fiscal year
amounted to $2,049,320,199, exceed-
ing the previous years showing by
$504,335,479 They even surpassed
by $195, 602,165 the record of 1907,
which was banner year for Amerl-
can exports. A gratifying fact was
that instead of being principally COM
posed of raw materials, as was form
erly the case, the exports were COM
posed of manufactured goods to the
extent of 80 per cent, valued at ST.
1911, 253,302. The result was baf-
ance of trade in Uncle Sans favor
Of $522,094,094.
Secretary Wilson is prepared to
suggest to President Taft and to con-
gress that the enforcement of labe;
law is not really any part of the pro.
per work of the head Of a department.
created for the promotion of. agricui-
ture He has no pride Of opinions