Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-25

has more heart-burning interest than
anything political or legislative. The
senators of the United States are de-
claring that they should walk ahead
of the cabinet officers at all the Off
cial and semi-oficial receptions and
gatherings of any kind which are held
IN Washington. II the senators gain
their point it will mean that as guests
Of honor at purely private functions
also they will have higher seats
than the cabinet officers.
Washington, in the capitol and in
the houses Of its people has made this
burning topic the chief one. Wash.
ington is the capital of great coun-
try, but despite its supposed metropol-
itan or perhaps, better, cosmopolitan
character, it is one of the most pro-
vincial places on earth. Seemingly
officials who are jealous of their rights
Of precedence, or of their assumed
rights of precedence, have q thought
that unless this matter is quickly set
tied the world at large will not be
able to attend to anything like its
Usual zeal ~ It's udi1y dAdlI y.
Sees Usurpation by Cabinet.
One of the senators maintains that
the cabinet has been put ahead Of the
senate in the line OF precedence and
prominence because of the assump-
ton of power IN legislative matters by
cabinet officers to which they have
neither constitutional nor personal
right. This senator says that in the
last few years members of the cab
met have attempted to influence leg
islation and that in some cases they
have succeeded, and that for this rea-
son they seem to think that they are
greater than the members of the leg
islative body.
Others do not look upon. the mat
ter in this light, but say that the cab
met members have taken precedence
in social affairs and in senli-otficial af
fairs because they are members of the
presidents official family, and there
fore are supposed to be as close to his
person in the social line as they are in
the daily business line. Whatever it
is, it is certain that cabinet officers by
custom are given the right OF way
and now senators are trying to get it
away from them, and Washington is
full OF gossip and of charges and coun-
ter charges of attempts to get in the
Gmelight."
Nobody yet knows how this matter
is to be settled. The chances are, how
ever, that the cabinet officers will con-
tinue to lead because of their position
relative to that of the president of the
United States.
lnsuIar Policy to Be Attacked.
When the Democrats take up leg
islation looking to giving freedom
to the Fflipinos, or take up in
fact any Philippine legislation, it
is believed to be the intention of the
Republicans and of some Progressive
members not only to attack the island
policy of the administration, but to
take President Wilson to task for his
utterance in his message on former
methods of government in Porto Rico
and the Philippines.
Former President Taft has defended
the course of this government in the
Philippines and has inveighed against
the proposal Of the Democrats to give
the islanders independence in short
order Dean G.. Worcester, formerly
a member of the Philippine commits
sion, and who was in the islands in
an official capacity for II years, it is
expected will attack the Democratic
plan and give answer to President
Wilson's words in lectures which he
expects to deliver throughout the
country this winter.
Members Of congress who are op'
posed to quick recognition of the in
dependence of the Filipinos because,
as they say, the islanders will not
be ready for it for a long time make
objection to the sentence in the mes
sage which reads like this: Such
territories once regarded as mere pos
sessions, are no longer to be selfishly
exploited; they are a part of the do
main Of public conscience and Of sery
iceable and enlightened statesman
ship
Lively Row May Result.
1t is altogether probable that II the
Republicans and Progressives move to
the attack on the administration, Mr..
Wilson and the Democratic leaders in
house and senate will be prepared for
defense, but the opposition says that
the reports of work in the Philippines
and Porto Rico turned in by officials,
both Democrats and Republicans,
CEo hat off L,a DO
in the islands to bring progress in
the government and in the betterment
of the people, and that the results will
prove that the presidential criticism
is unfounded and unjust. 1t looks as
if there might be a lively row on
island matters before spring.
Men opposed politically to the pres
ent administration are pointing to the
reports of the chiefs of the bureau of
insular affairs as proof that the is
lands are progressing and that Ameri-
can domination has done much for
them. Brig. Gen. Clarence r. Ed
wards, who formerly was chief of the
bureau of insular affairs, was an ap
pointee and a strong personal friend
of President Taft. The man who sue
ceeded him in office, Brig. Gen. Frank
Mcintyre. United States army, is an
ALBANIAN and a Democrat. General
McIntyre's reports on island condi-
tons show progress and apparently
good government. 1t is probable that
this Democratic officials report will
be used largely by the critics of the
words the president used In his mes
sage.
Dangers In Rare Beefsteak.