The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-11-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, D. c. Nov. 3-Spec-
ial Correspondence ajority Lead
er Underwood of the House of Rep
resentatives, characterizes the tariff
and currency legislation under the
present congress as the greatest leg
islative progress of a decade. Secre-
tary of the Navy Daniels adds to this
Legislative program of the present ad-
ministration four all-important fea-
lures of an executive program. He
mentions President Wilson'S epoch al
utterance at Mobile that this country
will never again seek to obtain one
additional foot of territory by con-
quest as a logical and necessary addi-
ton to the Monroe doctrine. Con-
tinuing in an outline of these execu-
tive achievements Secretary Daniels
said:
1.-THE first of these was the Mobile
declaration, that this country would
not voluntarily acquire another inch
of territory. The second feature Of
the program was the recognition by
this country of the republic OF China.
America always has been beaton
for republics and will assist any re-
public founded upon constitutional
liberty.
"a third feature of the admins
trations executive policy was the
sending of Burton Harrison to the
Philippines with instructions which
showed it to be the policy of this
country to go forward with Philip
pine independence as quickly as can
be wisely done.
"The fourth feature was the propo-
sition of Secretary of State Bryan,
now accepted in principle by score
of nations, for the holding of confer
ences prior to a declaration of war.
with no increase in ornaments dur
ing the discussion of differences
TO this might be added President
Wilson's strengthening Of the diplo-
matte service by the appointment to
the foreign embassies and legations
of men of high Intellectual attain
ments, without regard to the size of
tn cir purses, and of his application
of the merit system to the consular
service, SO that trained men should
remain in the consular positions and
advance to the more important places
where the nation would reap greater
| benefits from their experience and
ability.
Mr.. Wilson is working hard at his
Job as president. He gave up his
vacation to work the summer through
at his desk in the White House Of
| fees. Where in former years Oyster
Bay and Beverley were made famil-
lar places to newspaper readers by
the frequency with which they APP
peared in the date lines, Cornish, \.
H., and Windsor, VT, the two towns
near the place selected by President
Wilson as the summer White House,
are little known, because President
Wilson remained at his desk and still
remains there long hours fulfilling
the tasks which less earnest and
less conscientious executive would
delegate to others.
The tone of newspaper comm ent
over the country, and reports brought
to Washington by members Of con-
gress who have been mingling twith
the people or their districts, prove
that President Wilson's administra-
ton is growing in popular favor. The
latest observer to bring reports to
the White House of public approval
of the administration policies is
Congressman Ben Johnson Of Ken
lucky, who has just returned from
California and other western states.
|"I found President Wilson far
stronger in California and in the
western states than when he was
lelected president" said Congressman
Johnson. "The people believe in him
and lean on him. He is decidedly
stronger than his party, people of all
parties and political thought wish
him we'll and express a purpose to
stand by him.
congressman Pepper, Connolly
and Kirkpatrick, the three Iowa
democratic members receive similar
reports from home. Their mail has
been flooded with letters commenda-
tory of the administration policies
and of the constructive legislative
program put through by congress.
The favorable tones of these advices
from home is reassuring to the con-
gressmen, as it gives the strongest
indication that they will have added
strength when they 60 before the
people next year for reelection. 1T
indicates, too, that Iowa will increase
it's strength in the house at the next
election, as is prophesied by State
Chairman Reed, and send members
to the house and senate who will be
in sympathy with the policies of the
administration and in position to
render greater service to the people
of the state by cooperating with the
dominant party in carrying out the
constructive legislative policies for
which the Wilson administration is
earnestly striving.
J. x. Dougherty.