The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-02-20
Washington Letter

dates for the assembling OF the ma
tional conventions of the two great
political parties only about thirty
days distant, interest of anticipation
in their developments grows apace
along with livilier activities Of the ad-
vocates who got into the field early.
SO far the President.making industry
has mainly been confined to dissem-
ating literature in which the aspir-
ants loom heroically, but all that will
be forgotten when things begin to
happen in primary elections and con-
ventions which choose delegates TO
the national event, unbiased, sensib-
lie people, are only amused by straw
votes and vocferations as proceed
ing from some other impulse than in
terest in wise conclusion. The next
few weeks will see something of this
sort which will afford the one rei.
ale evidence of preferences.
1t now looks as though the coming
campaign will be fought out for the
most part on the tariff, or questions
closely related to methods of handl-
ing moneys derived from the people
by a vast system of taxation. The
Democrats have tackled tariff refor-
nation with an energy that will be
productive of interesting results con
tending for revision and reduction
solely with regard to lowering the
cost of living. and at the same tina
producing sufficient revenue. Presid.
ent Taft and his following have &C.
cepted the isue of contention against
the recognition of the protective sys.
TEN and will not shrink from waging
the campaign to finish with that
as paramount question.
Congressman Joseph e. Ransdell,
president Of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress, has erturned to
Washington and his legislative duies
from a most strenuous senatorial
campaign in his home state, Louisi-
ana, in which Mr.. Ransdell won
splendid victory, a seat in the upper
branch of the national legislature at,
ter March 4. 1913.
Mr.. Ransdell bears his new hon
ors with becoming modesty but new
er.the-less he is entitled to a world
of congratulations for he had as his
antagonist in the senatorial primar-
les a past master in politics, Senator
Murphy ]. Foster, who came to the
| Senate in 1901.
Congressman Ransdell, who is a
member of the Rivers and Harbors
Committee of the House, said that
river and harbor bill would be re-
ported shortly but as to the amount
1t would carry he could not say, as
there were a number of matttrs still
to be discussed which would neces
sarily change the totals, whatever
the decision. He thought the bill
would exceed twenty millions some
what, but said that 1t was a general
desire of the committee to report a
conservative measure to the end that
the policy of an annual river and har-
Dor bill be still further emphasized.
Although | shall go to the upper
branch of Congress next year" said
Mr.. Ransdell, my interest in the
cause OF waterways will be increas-
ed, Just that much more, II that be
possible. 1t Is one of the great prob
lens which confronts us as a people,
this transportation question, and II
needs wisdom in its solution to the
end that the whole country may be
sound policy of waterways develop
ment and l hope to see the policy
made permanent. Without permanent
cy the improvement of our rivers
and harbors might become chaotic,
and surely We do not want to go
back to the old order of making be-
ennial or even tri.ennial appropria-
lions for our internal waters. Peace
meal appropriations for waterways
have very rightfully been relegated
to the rear and the sensible course
adopted of making yearly appropra-
lions for the continued improvements
of projects that have received the Ell
dorsement of the Board Of Engineers
and have the stamp of COMPRESSION
al approval"