The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-05-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

resentatives and with characteristic in
activity in the Senate is foreshadowed.
The Senate IS not yet organized. The
House promptly completed its orgauiza
ton, passed the Canadian reciprocity
bill, and has presented and partially de-
bated the so-called farmers free list BILL
As is well known, there are complications
and side issues. The presidential qnes-
ton, the nowination coming off next
year, has much influence in politics and
in legislation at the Capitol There ap-
pears as yet but little opposition to the
nomination of President Taft by the Re-
publicans for second term. Straws APP
pear to indicate on the Democratic side
a turning in favor of Gov. Woodrow
Wilson, of New Jersey. The only ap
parent active opposition to President Taft
is from the adherents of Senator La
Toilette. The friends OF the Senator are
active and aggressive and there is of
course no telling what the next twelve
months may bring forth. Gov. Harmon
and Champ Clark, the Speaker of the
House, and of course the quadrennial
Bryan are always Democratic possibilities.
But Gov. Wilson of New Jersey has APP
pealed to the intelligence of the public
in remarkable way. Last week at a
banquet in New York, toast was pro-
posed to the governor of New Jersey
and the future president of the United
States. Gov. Wilson interrupted and
said, that, of course, means Governor
Dix" NO." replied Mr.. Frielinghuy-
sen, Republican, that means YOURSELF
Gov. Wilson has apparently converted
q fiinty, Democratic. trust-strangled state
to the doctrine Of progressive politics,
and he has apparently done it by the
force of his character and his will almost
unaided and alone. He had long been
known as gentleman, a scholar and a
statesman, but only recently has be been
brought before the public as brilliant
and practical politician. His speeches
are no less remarkable for their brevity
than for their inclnsiveness, their felicity
and their common sense. For matter,
terseness and condensation they are in
remarkable contrast with much contem-
porary American oratory.
M
1t ought to be matter of great salts
faction to millions of people in the United
States that the postal deficit has been
wiped our. Postmaster General Hitch
cock deserves the highest credit ard a
bronze monument with more metal in i'll
than there is in some of the equestrian
monuments in Washington. To have
wiped out deficit OF nearly eighteen
millions of dollars in two years is i
splendid achievement With the CO.
opsfation of Congress land the people
ought to see that he has it) he can &C.
complish more. He has one cent postage
in view and it wonld be easy Of attain
meut if parcels post were established or
il certain other reforms advocated by the
Postmaster General were carried out. "a
4
bill for one cent postage backed by the
administration may be introduced in the
present extra session and if not it will al
most certainly be brought up in the
regular session. The P. M. General will
continue to urge the increase of rates on
second class matter from one to four cents
a pound. It is refreshing to know that
the wipiug out of this eighteen million
deficit has been reached without in the
least impairing postal facilities. The
service has actually been extended along
desirable lines. Over three thousand
new postofices have been established.
delivery by letter carriers has been exten-
ded to one hundred and forty-two
additional cities, and over two thousand
new rural routes covering more than fiftv
thousand miles have been authorized.
~
Anything that concerns the capital of
the United States ought to be of interest
to every citizen of the United States. but
the citizen is so much absorbed in the
politics of his hamlet or his metropolis
that be gives not much attention to
Washington affairs. Victor Berger, the
only socialists member in Congress has
been made member Of the District of
Columbia Committee and il is said has
taken upon himself to reform the Con
stitution of the United States and
WILLOW Tree Alley III Washington.
''Wiliow Tree Alley is capital Stun
section. Mrs Victor Berger finds the
Washington public schools field for re.
form. and not without reason. Wash
ingtou has long been the dumping ground
Of Observation-Disclosures and poor text hooks
sue as are compiled to sell by caliow
educators. These books could not be
foisted on a community that has the
privilege o! voting But Washington is
a DISTINGUISHED district governed by an
ever shifting Congress. agCougress with.
out responsibility to the citizens of
Washingtou.