The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-04-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.


ington. When someone isn't launching
a Presidential boom. someone is squelcb
ing one, knifing or smothering one, as
the case may be-
Being the center of national political
activity. Washington gets all.the rnmors
that may be flying about the country.
It's immaterial that most of these rumors
are not true; they serve as news while
they are hot. and before they have been
thoroughly digested in all oftheir benefi-
cial or sinister potentiaIities, they are re
placed by fresh output,
Fearing, perhaps, that there would not
be enough material for the political fore.
casters TO work on this year, there have
been established. mainly in Washington,
a large number of political news bureaus.
and these are showering the newspaper
correspondents. IS well as the editors
throughout the county, with propaganda
about the candidates in whose interests
the bureaus are supposed TO be working.
Very often the candidates are The ones
having the smallest real interest in the
game. but sometimes they serve as stalk
ing horses for other interests and at the
same time help to make ''newsn which is
consumed in place Of the real article and
often without being distinguished from il.
".
Because Lorimer was once investigated
and held in his senate seat, despite over
whelming proof that his election was the
result of bribery. he cannot again be
tried upon similar charges.
This, in effect, is the decision of the
Lorimer investigating committee of the
senate, rendered by vote of S to ! The
majority Of the committee was composed
of Dillingham;, chairman; Gamble. Jones.
Fletcher and Johnston. The latter two
are special privilege Democrats. The
minority consisted OF Kenyon, Republi.
can. and Lea and Kern, Democrats.
The action Of the committee from any
standpoint of common sense is an abso
lutte absurdity. The doctrine of res
judicata. or suit already settled. is ap
piled by the majority Of the committee tc
the case, and under this, It is declared
that, as the matter was once settled b,
the senate. il cannot be reopened. The
ridiculous feature of this is that the
senate itself reopened the case when Il
ordered the committeeko make q new
investigation. and the committee has nc
more authority to make the decision an.
nounced than it would have to instruc,
the senate how it shall vote.
The serious feature of the action is that
1t represents the new attitude the biparti
san. special privilege serving combination
has decided 10 assume. and the new
method by which it is expected TO obtain
victory for corruption.
Deliberately and with manifest inten
ton 10 confuse the pubic mind 30 that
senators who take their orders from
special privilege and are openly con.
spring to justify bribery and hold Lori
mer in his purchased seat may still Offer
excuses for their conduct. the Democrats
and Republicans who supporting Lorimer
have evolved q new way Of avoiding the
real Issue BY raising Law question. which
they will pretend to vote upon.
1t is the purpose to force long dis.
cussion of the law question in the senate,
and senators who are determined to vote
for Lorimer will avoid the necessity OF
doing SO by merely voting to sustain the
action of the committee.
1t is an open secret that the combina-
ton believes that its new device will en-,
able it to hold Lorirer once more in the
senate. For no ether purpose was ii
brought forward. It seems absurd, in
view OF the overwhelming evidence
against Lorimer ani the aroused senii-
meut Of the country against political cor
ruption, that SO obvious dodge as this
should be attempted But ii not only Is
to be attempted, but there is every reason
to fear that il will be successful 1t is re
sorted 20 because upon direct vote upon
Lorimer's right his seat the combina-
tion wonld not dare to vote for Lolimer
=.
Few men who have ever come 10 Wash
inaton to plead special cause have made
a stronger impression ON those with whom
they come in contact than Col D. c.
Collier, president Of the San Diego Elk
position. which is to he held in San Diego
in 1915. Col. Collier knows more Mem
bers of Congress than most men get 10
know after living in Washington ten
years Moreover. they like the big
Wesserner. and they are anxious to do
almost anything ae may ask for The Elk