River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS, 10Th DISTRICT

washington, ID. e., Jan. ~, l9l4.--
A gold laced, jewel bedecked crowd
of 2073 diplomats, congressman and
officials, great or near great according
to standards, together with their wiz
es and other relatives, bore down on
President Wilson at the White House
last week at the Diplomatic Recep-
ton. He arrived after a two days
hard trip from the gulf, held cabi-
net meeting and several lesser con
ferences and then stood three hours
in a stuffy atmosphere while two
thousand people pumphandled his
arm. | stood in line in the East
Room over one hour by actual time,
before reaching the President, yet
had no complaint to utter when | saw
his tired face.
1t is an imposition that ought to
be discontinued. He invited the PEG.
pie because it is the custom, and
they all went because an invitation is
equivalent to a social command; yet
both parties to the contract were par
ticipating in an antiquated custom that
is neither democratic in character nor
humane to the man who represents
all the people. 1t is worthy of re-
mark that no man without previous
football experience has any business
in a reception crowd of that size,
even at the White House.
Last Wednesday was field day for
Alaska in the House. The bill for a
government railway in Alaska had the
right of way, with Delegate Wicker
sham on the floor for five hours argu-
ing for it's passage. Among other
things concerning Alaska he said, 1--WE
raise the finest potatoes in the world
We raise barley and oats that cannot
be beaten in any climate in the
world" Making allowance for terri
torial pride it did not seem necessary
to say that Wisconsin is the onlJ
commonwealth that enjoys this hon
orable distinction, but it is interest
ing to know that the land of ice,
grows other things. Wickersham
made another interesting statement
supported by much data to the effect
that the greatest obstacle to the de-
velopment of Alaska by the Alaskans,
is the Alaskan syndicate. This syndi-
cate he asserted, is composed of the
Morgans, Guggenheims and the Close
Bros. of London, with the Guggen
helms as the real power that drives
all other interests to the wall.
The writer is not prepared to ac-
cept unquestioned, the statement that
,the present business depression is
caused by the new tariff bill, although
that has been argued by Republicans
and even Progressives on the House
floor; however, a most significant
statement made by Humphrey OF
Washington, taken from the Daily Iron
Trade a business journal is creating
much thought. That journal gives
Jan. 1st there were 123 furnaces and
steel manufacturing establishments
closed that were running a year ago
These factories produced 12,95S,000
tons, amounting to SO per cent OF
the entire production of the country,
and employed year ago more than
a million men. That journal further
states this is a loss in wages of
$62,000,000 per month.
In connection with some statistics
on the closing of the lumber mills
during the year in Washington, Hum
phrey took up agriculture and read a
clipping to the effect that 100000
bushels of corn had been contracted
for in Argentine under the new tariff
rates which wipe out the former 15C
duty Copley, q Progressive, inter
rupted to say that corn dropped ten
cents on Chicago Board of Trade due
to expected importations. The state
ments and statistics are found or
page 1920 of the Record for Jan. 14th
Additional statistics were furnished
on the preceding day by Green OF
Iowa and other members to the same
effect
Mr.. Underwood defended his law
vigorously claiming tariff legislation
was not responsible for the depression
and promised an awakening of bus
mess with the new year. The writer
has always believed the tariff is ar
economic question that ought to be
handled intelligently and primarily BY
a commission, to be readjusted SEIZED
ule by schedule; and in view of tn,
other schedules contained in thu
new law, no possible justification wa
offered for wiping out all agriculture
duties. This is becoming a subjec
for hot arguments and rises up lik,
Banquo's ghost about once ever,
week.
The remains of Archie Reynold
were brought here for burial in Green
wood cemetery last Sunday. The fur