Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-04-10
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Events Of Interest from Ahe Seat
of GOvePnment.
by j. f. JONES.
"Wait Until the Clouds Roll by,
Emma"

"Wait Until the Clouds Roll by,
Emma"
Since the course of true love was
never known to run smooth, it ought
not to be so surprising that the Dem
ocrats have been indulging in, a sort
of lovers quarrel" The partisans
within the party should not forget
that Democratic harmony was first
established in congress two years be-
fore the beginning of the present ad-
ministration, and that for more than
a year past its inventors have kept
the cogs of peace running easily.
1t is unreasonable to expect the
president to do all the thinking for
his party and if some of them go off
in an opposite direction at times it
ought to be their privilege under a
free government. Our Uncle Champ"
and our genial Oscar" think they
are right, and they certainly have as
much reason to support their judg-
ment as anyone else. Politically this
Panama canal tolls exemption matter
is very exciting, and while some of
the big steamship companies anc the
transcontinental railroads doubtless
nave axes to grind, yet there is no
evidence that they are becoming agi-
lated by conditions. Meanwhile it is
mistake to think that harmony has
been routed at the Washington wig
wan, and the more conservative ex-
pect to see the hosts of Democracy
breaking bread and singing glorious
hallelujahs in harmony in a short
time. 1t is only lovers quarrel.
The Broader Question.
1t has been several years since
Washington has become so perturbed
over a public question. Tariff bills.
currency revision, and the eoings and
comings of new political parties have
hardly caused such Disturbances as
the proposition to treat everybody's
vessels alike at Panama. The presi-
dent says the treaty stands for lust
what it says. Read it yourself and
you will agree that it is plain enoue :.
no matter what your political creed
may be.
. The opposition says that Ar erican
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade
can be exempted because they are not
engaged in foreign commerce"
which is the meaning of the Hay.
Pauncefote treaty. There are su-
preme court decisions and acceptance
es after sort of this claim from the
British. Still another argument is
that the treaty was made before the
canal was commenced and al The time
it was not known whether Britain,
France, America, or some other coun-
try would dig the ditch. However,
the time came when the canal zone
ceased to be a territory of Colombia.
but was acquired by the United
States, after which the canal was
built in domestic territory. EXPIRES
idents Roosevelt and Taft have taken
positions exactly opposite to that of
President Wilson. Add to this the
division of opinion in the senate and
house among the Presidents own
party and you have proof of the claim
that this is not so simple a matter,
after all. Undoubtedly it is a many
sided question.
Is 1t Conservation?
There are 1000 acres of coal lands
in Montana lying idle, and one of the
western railroads offered to purchase
this acreage from the government.
Senator Myers of Montana introduced
a bill to dispose of the land and get
the coal to the consumers and Incl
dentally stir things up in an indus
trial way. BY vote of 20 to 81 the
senate defeated the proposition. OF