The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-06-12
Washington Whisperings.

/ w AoHlNGION. -. ~, June y, 1913.
Granting tnat large proportion of the
voters who contribute to the success of
a party expect Office or other advance
ment thereby, it is quite evident that a
correspondingly large proportion of those
who voted for President Wilson last No
vember are distinctly disappointed over
the painfully deliberate way the new
President has of reaching conclusions
about dispensing patronage. They are
making comparisons with former admin
istrations, and especially with the two
Cleveland administrations, to the marked
discredit of the Wilson administration,
now in its fourth month, with but few
important changes made outside of the
cabinet. As consequence the counte-
nances of the office seekers in the Hobbies
of the Washington hotels and in the cor
ridors of the capitol are ''sicklied DER
with pale cast of thought" They recall
that before either of the Cleveland ad-
ministrations was month old, the bulk
of the more important nominations,
along with the prizss in the diplomatic
and consular service, had been given to
Democrats, not to speak of Cleveand's
greater patronage burden, having more
Offices to give. not then covered by the
classified service
Apropos of the melancholy condition
lof "a,
of Mississippi, sixteen years a member
of the House, serving during both Cleve-
land administrations while here a few
days ago, recalled the story he had told
Mr.. Cleveland when that President was
slow appointing favorite of Mr.. Allen 8
TO office. 1t was of Tupelo young man
whose father died leaving large estate
that was somewhat entangled in chancery
litigation, with the proverbial chancery
delay in reaching settlement. So often
was settlement deferred that the heir
apparent exclaimed in despair to a group
of his creditors: boys, Pm gittin
almost sorry the old man died.
1t is by no means likely that the tariff
bill as it came from the House will have
easy going in the Senate. Sufficient op-
position has developed to put in doubt
the success of the Wilson, Underwood
plan of tariff campaign. The margin of
party control, narrow enough as it is, is
in danger of being whitfield away before
the long impending struggle is over.
Already the more deliberate upper body
has members who are finding flaws in the
bill, particularly with reference to the
administrative features, which not a few
Democrats agree ought to be eliminated.
The most interesting news from the
Canal Zone this year came with the dis
patches telling of the admission of the
waters to the Pacific on Sunday to the
channel of the canal. A blast of 49, $50
pounds of dynamite was exploded which
turned mighty rush of the western
waters through the displaced dyke below
the Mirahores locks, an event witnessed
amid great enthusiasm by many thou
sands of people. 1t brings wildly near
realization the splendid achievement of
Uncle Sans engineers and scientists.
Evidently the work on the canal will be
pushed with greater energy than ever.
The uncertainty of the situation in the
Orient, with growing political party in
Japan muttering against the United
States, because of alien land laws in the
Pacific coast States, is giving such con-
Germ as incites increased vigor in the
realm of public work.
The Offices most sought after in the new
administration are under the Postoffice
department. Something like two thousand
nominations of postmasters had not been
acted upon by the Senate at the expira-
ton of the Taft administration, includ-
ing denominations, and to fill vacancies
by designations and deaths. Postmaster
General Burleson, it is said, has sent to
the President about thousand names of
postmasters he has recommended for ap-
pointment, and he advises callers who
throng his office every day that it is no
fault of his that the places are not filled
promptly, as was expected.
The women folks of the Wilson White
House circle have made most pleasing
impression upon Washingtonians. They
are entertaining frequently and gracious
ly, and Mrs. Wilson is leading in mani
Testing interest in the social problems of
the national capital. She has been much
about the city and has marked the spots
on the sun of its beauty. Washington
has long been marred by the huddlings
of pauper humanity here and there, I'M
der conditions that menace the health as
we'll as disfigure the comeliness of the
neighborhoods. Mrs. Wilson, with a
number of other sensitively humane
women, is earnestly studying the situa-
ton with a view to some measure of
practical relief.
A company of seventy-ive school girls
took tea at the White House recently