The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Senator Elkins Of West Virginia 20 event
of very great importance has occurred ID
Washington since the adjournment of Com
gress. The death of Mr.. Elkins makes ii
certain that there will be two democratic
Senators from bis State Senator Scott of
West Virginia will be succeeded by a
Democrat, and the Legislature being
democratic will elect q Senator Of that
party to succeed Senator Elkins. The
late Senator was one Of. the wealthiest of
what has been called the ssAmerican
House of Millionaires. His death is
generally explained in the press as caused
by over work at the late Congressional
session, but anyone at all familiar with
the facts will not be slew to attribute bis
illness TO high living. He no doubt had
q powerful constitution, but no constitu-
ton can forever withstand a perpetual
banquet.
~
The President has announced that he
will not take the initiative in bringing
together in holy accord the belligerent
wings Of the Republican party known as
the siand-patters and The insurgents He
says that he will address himself 10 the
business Of the country and leave any
peace making program to the contending
parties.
When It was announced some DAYS ago
that Sehator-elect Lorimer had been
given clean bill Of morals with re-
ference to his election as Senator, there
were many who said, How will Col.
Roosevelt feel now for refusing 10 sit at
the table with him and hasing the refusal
Published over the worldly;; but now thai
the Senate has refused 10 approve the
clean bill prepared BY Senator Burroughs
and others and proposes 10 take up the
matter again. il is quite possible after all
that history will justify Ex President
Roosevelt's action.
~
If appearances are to be trusted. some
thing will be done at this session of Con-
gress to prevent the influx of undesirable
people from Europe. Surely if there is
any choice in undesirables the Asiatics BY
way Of the Pacific are less vicious than
some who have been recently coming
across the Atlantic, A deputation Of
American newspapers numbering thirty.
two called on President Taft 10 protest
against the hardships encountered by
immigrants landing in this country.
Their spokesman, Louis Hammerlinp,
told the President that they objected 10
the suspicion with which immigration
officers looked upon those arriving ii
this country. President Taft told them
that be went last Fall to Ellis Island and
remained there during the forenoon
listening to the cases presented TO the
immigration commissioners and thai once
or twice, moved by compassion. he. in.
tervened in behalf Of Immigrants whom,
The commissioner would have turned
back, aud that he had since followed
those cases in which he had been in.
fiuenced against his better judgment,
butsthat be had to make The humiliatine
confession that the outcome vindicaied
the commissioner and showed that his
experience was better than the Presidents
compassion.
Apropos OF the Immigrant question, the
fact that the attorney general Is proceed.
ing against the international steam ship
lines under the Sherman law is very sig
ui6cant and far reaching. The reason
Europe is scraped, as it W re. with fine'
tooth comb for the million or more
Of immigrants annually landing ID this
country is found to great extert in the
fact that steerage traffic is immensely
profitable 10 the great steam ship lines
such as Lloyds. the Hamburg American,
the Cunard. the White Star. the Holland.
American ann several others. They make
millions yearly in this traffic and ii is
well known fact thst they carry lsrge
bodies Of sleerage passengers both ways.
At least half million are taken East
ward back 10 the ''old country"
every year. All the steam ship lines
have immigrant bureaus and travelling
agents using every means and induce
ment 10 bring Immigrants to this country.
~
This is the season Of war scares. pro-
poted, il is said by sorre, in order to get
large appropriations for the army and
navy and for the contractors who furnish
military supplies. There is report that
the Japanese government has successfully
negotiated with President Diaz Of Mexico
tor port aud depot OF supplies on the
western coast. II there were truth ia
this. Il would be cause for immediate H.
reference by tie United States govern
ment-