The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-08-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

As the date for the Bull Moose conven-
tion at Chicago draws near ii becomes
mere and more evident that Roosevelt
will be confronted by problems there so
Intricate and embarrassing that they will
tax to the utmost all his energy 10 solve
them in way that will give him even
the semblance of an Organization. The
difficulties that will beset the Colonel and
his managers in their efforts to get the
third term candidate in the Geld are rem
ldered strikingly forcibie by the increasing
disposition Of progressive Republicans ID
Congress to back away from anything in
the nature Of third party movement.
Scarcely progressive can be found who
lis willing to 60 along in such a move-
ment. The progressives. like the regulars
who are or mean to be candidates for re-
election, realize that if they run as nomi.
nees ofa third party they will be slaupht.
cred BY the wholesale by The, candidates
Of the united and harmonious Democrats
~
Democratic House Leader Underwood
is quoted as saying that the next tariff
bill 10 be taken up will be the so-called
market basket bill.''
This bill will reduce the tariff on q
great many things that the housewife
buys for her table. It viii, incidentally,
remove the protection from large por-
tion of the things the farmer raises
fruit, vegetables, butter, eggs aud so ON.
From democratic standpoint. The
masses in the cities are consumers of
these products, and the attempt thus 10
lower the cost of living is expected 10
make votes for the democratic ticket. II
has been urged by some of the members
Of the House majority that it would be
better for the party to postpone action on
this bill until after election, SO as to make
It easier to corral the farmer vote, these
counselcrs holding the opinion that the
city vote is safely democratic anyway.
~
Every year sees more fruit from the
United States sold in Europe and Great
Britain. Apples. prunes, peaches.
Ioranges, lemons and in fact every kind
of fruit that will carry well, is sold in
foreign countries. The Consular Service
is doing good deal to extend the con-
sumption of American fruit and to en-
courage American growers to widen their
markets II is believed that the opening
of the Panama Canal will be Of very pro-
nounced aid to the fruit growers Of the
Pacific coast in reaching cheaply not only
the markets of Europe and Great Britain.
but also Of the Atlantic Coast. Improved
refrigeration service and fast steamships
will help to bring this about.
~
Any land where rainfall is so light that
vegetation will not flourish is known as a
desert. California. save in certain sec
tions, is of this character, When the
padres worked up into California from
the arid regions Of Baja California, they
found land of delightful climate, fertile
soil and with everything about ii full of
promise; but they found that The rainfall
was SO light that only for few months in
spring was the country fruitful; then ii
relapsed into the condition Of a desert.
dry aud almost forbidding.
San Diego was the first place where
Father Junipero Sierra set up his crucifix
and paused TO rest. Noting how the
vegetation responded riotously to the
rains, he established the first mission in
the State at what is now called by the
San Diegans "Old Town." and in time
he planted olives, some Of which are
there and bearing to this dav; and palm
trees. some of which also still flourish;
and he planted figs. and vines, and
oranges. and many other things which
he had known in Spain, aud which
would bring joy to the children Of men.
And thus began the transformation of the
desert of California. watered by the
stream that flowed down past the Mission
to the sea
And as the Missionaries went on they
created more Of these pleasant GASES. aud
they taught the simple natives how 10
irrigate the land. how to be husbandmeu
and craftsmen. and in time the Missions
grew so wealthy with their thousands of
cattle aud sheep and their orchards aud
vineyards, that they did not know what
to do with their wealth and they became
the objects Of covetousness by unrighteous