New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-12-30
THE ENTERPRISE AND
Obs server. Consolidated
N. ". FISHER, Editor and Proprietor
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Fof the people in legislativ
sense, Senators and Represents
tives, have assembled for thei
duties and got to work. That i
they have taken aim at the OF
ject, without having accomplish
ed more than to frame up a fe,
, purposes of action. The fact j
i. that at the beginning Of a Ion
regular session. such as it is BE-
lieved now stretches before tn
Sixty-second Congress, very Lit
tie is done until after the holi
!. days. The committees which real
ly shape legislation hold their pre-
liminary meetings, and if In an,
committee the labor confronted i
large and varied, the task o
! forming subcommittee and in
structing them as to what is ex
pected of them just about occu
pies all Of the time preceding thu
Christmas times recess. This j.
all that is done at such time
unless legislation required is Of
imperative Importance.
J Affairs are very calm political
ly. There has been no exhibition
of partisan zeal in any quarter
although it is expected that with
the opening Of the new year,
which will be a presidential cam
paign and election year, the coun-
try will be deluged with news of
political significance which will
involve the fortunes Of every as
pirant and many a friends of each
candidate.
The two camps Of the great po-
litical parties present quite diff
ferent aspects. There is a set
tled-down quietude among the
Republicans. not without an ap-
pearance Of melancholy which dis
closure of tone and temper may
be explained by no other infer
ence than that the nomination Of
President Taft is so we'll assured
that there is not the symptom Of
a thrill anywhere when anyone
else is suggested.
The common expression among
Democrats, often repeated by in
surgent Republicans who have
been opposing the administration,
is that executive patronage will
clinch the nomination of Presi-
dent Taft. It is a peculiar fact
that when that state of things
occur in these times it is always
another kind of solid south than
that which formerly filled the
mouths OF northern partis< MS
when they tried to land some term
in the Seventies which would
serve as an objurgation against
the restoration of white rule in
Dixieland. In these days the
worst solid south is the solid
south Of Republican federal Of
ficeholders.
The truth is that while every
body in his own party speaks
kindly of President Taft, and
while there Las not been a Dem
ocrat since he entered the White
House who has treated him with
anything but respect and not in
frequently in terms of adulation,
there is no note Of conviction to
he hear here at all indicating
he will be reelected. The Repub-
licans have long been in the habit
at least since 1S92-of treat
ing Democratic hopes and en-
thusiasms every presidential elec-
ton year with disdain, if not
contempt. This time there is a
distinct air Of resignation among
the old partisans and warhorses
of the standpat persuasion, while
the kicking insurgents seem to be
kicking merely the air. They
don t seem to be able to make the
slightest hurtful performance
against the Taft following. That
will be nominated in convention
which, it is believed will be char
acterized merely by a futile ef-
fort on the part Of the La Toilette
boomers to win radical concessions
in the party platform.
Democrats Serenely Confident.
On the oher side of the line.
there is light and good cheer
plenty in the Democratic camp.
With even more Of the serene con-
tidence they showed at the extra
session they have COME back to
Washington convinced that any
one of the distinguished men who
have been discussed in connection
with the nomination can be elect
ed.
As to who seems here to have
the lead, that is another ques-
ton. Those most talked, in the
order named, are Champ Clark,
Harmon. Governor Will
son and Oscar Underwood. Three
Of the four are southern men.
And in this connection it is
strange, but true, that the only
deprecating talk of . southern
comes from scary south
ern people. Not one northern
man in two dozen makes an objec-
ton of that kind.
Washington, by reason of geo.
graph, being most intimate with
the east, furnishes viewpoint
which makes it appear that the
eastern democracy has far from
from made up its mind, but if
thovso 10 ANYTHING annarcnf ne tn