Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-02

that in as close a contest as is fore
Swallowed in the next Democratic ma
tonal convention the votes of the Dis
trict of Columbia and Alaska, or either
one alone, might nominate a man who
would estrange the electoral votes Of
New York, New Jersey, Ohio or In
diana. The free coinage Of silver at
l6 to 1" was put in the Democratic
platform of 1900 by the casting vote
of the delegate of Hawaii, who placid
ly remarked that he had come 1000
miles to attend to this convention
and attend to it he did
Mr.. LittIepage on Himself.
Pride of authorship is sometimes
sneered at, but after all it is not an
unreasonable sentiment If man has
no pride in his literary productions,
others will hardly find much to admire
in them. Even the author of Mick
Carter" monumental work which
you will find on the kiosks in all the
cities of Europe with the American
illustrations" but printed in the YER
nacular of the neighborhood. must be
proud of his literary skill.
But when man attempts to write
his autobiography as self made man,
too much pride in either the making
or the authorship is apt to go before
fall. For example, here comes the
new Congressional Directory, with
the autobiography of the Hon Brown
Littlepage Of West Virginia. The gen
tleman is a man of political and intel
lectual ability. He has habit of win
ming Democratic victories in Republic
an districts. He has already made his
impression upon the house. and will
doubtless go far. But somehow the
peroration of his description of his
own qualities moves his colleagues to
wonder if not to laughter. / quote:
"Mr. Littlepage stands very high
as lawyer and citizen throughout his
district and state He was a candi-
date for the nomination for governor
two years ago, but was defeated in
the convention by Hon. Lewis Ben
nett. The sentiment is now prevailing
throughout the state that had Mr.
Littlepage been nominated he would
have been elected. He bears the rep
utation Of being a very grateful man,
never forgetting a kindness, and is
faithful in his friendships and thor
oughly reliable He stands for the
under man in life. Works hard, late
any early, as congressman, and is
rejecting credit upon the country by
his manly, conservative and wise
course in Washington as a representa-
tive of all the people. He is pa
triotic man, of ability and fine quail
ties of mind and heart"
A representative, without due sense
Of reverence, commented upon this
self-revelation with a parody on a
classic cOuplet:
And still they gazed, and still the
wonder riz,
That one small page could show all
that he is.
No pun on the name of the gentle
man from West Virginia was intended
in the last line.
Vexed by Fine Arts Commission.
Congress is always tenacious of it's
powers and intolerant of their inva-
sion by unofficial boards. This feel
ing cropped out the other day in a
debate on resolution of inquiry into
the delay in beginning the new build
ing for the bureau of printing and en-
craving. The present building is
dark insanitary, ill-ventilated 1t is
tenanted night and day by thousands
of workers, both men and women,
and the air in it's fetid workrooms
has no opportunity to be purified.
Three years ago $2,15O,0OO was APP
propriated for a new building;
not a sod has been turned for the
foundations. Personal inquiry by a
congressman elected the fact that
the fine arts committee had decided
that suitably artistic building could
not be erected within the sum appro-
| priated, the plans as prepared by the
government architect were changed,
and a new appropriation is to be
sought. Hence, congressional wrath
and resolution of inquiry.
For, you see, the fine arts commits
sion was appointed by President
Roosevelt. 1t has an Office in Wash
| ington, but it's members, headed by
| D. H. Durham, the famous city
beautifier, serves without pay Con-
gress was never asked by Roosevelt
to authorize the commission. Con-
gross never has authorized it. And
now when the commission s detected
in holding up the enforcement of an
act of congress for three years, the
house rises in wrath and threatens
to sweep the obstructionists away
The whole thing is unfortunate.
The commission has done good work
already for more stately capital
and is just on the threshold of its
labors. 1t is right in opposing the
erection of cheap and inartistic
building on the Mall, which is intend
ed to be an avenue of dignif1ed gov
eminent palaces But it should have
amended the plans, taken congress
into it's confidence and sought sup
Elementary appropriation which could
have been secured before the sum