Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-03-27

ers of the two factions in congress.
If the ranks OF Republicanism Of this
country have made up their minds to
keep companionship no matter what
the leaders may do, then the poll
ticians say the split will be averted.
Some of the expressions of opinion
and some of the sharp criticisms or
conservative, or II you will. reaction
airy Republicanism, which are coming
almost daily from the lips OF the pro-
gressive Republican leaders in con-
gress, give color to the politicians
predictions that before another ma
tional campaign rolls around the Re-
publican party may find itself divided
again, unless the leaders of the two
factions manage to patch up a peace.
Three-Sided Battle Possible.
If some of the politicians. Demo-
Gratis and Progressives for the main
part, are right in this matter. and OF
course 1t may be that the wish is
father of the thought, it is possiple
that in the next campaign there VIII
be Progressives. progressive Repuph-
cans and Republicans to fight a three
sided battle against the hosts or De
mocracy There are men here VINO
say that there may be another party
or faction in the field and that Its
name will be that of the senior sena-
tor from Idaho. Mr.. Borah.
1t is pointed out here that the ldaho
senator seems to be about the only
progressive Republican in the senate
who seems to agree neither with what
the colonel's enemies call Roosevelt
ism, nor with Republicanism as
espoused by Smoot, Penrose and the
other generals. In other words, Mr.
Borah seems to be flocking by him
self Just at present. Perhaps this Is
to his liking. for standing isolated ne
can rap Colonel Roosevelt by rapping
as he has Mr.. Perkins, or he can rap
Mr.. Cummins by talking about the
futility of party convention for ANAL
gamation purposes, or he can rap MI
Penrose and men of his kind on gen.
eral progressive Republican prin-
ciples.
Why is It that some OF the poll
ticians think that there is danger of a
coming split in the Republican party?
Political observers here who hold that
split is likely say that the progress
sive Republican leaders while refusing
to ally themselves with the Progress
sive party, are nevertheless Just as
stanchly Progressive as ever they
were, and that they have become
restless under the continued associa-
ton with Republican leaders whose
views are absolutely counter to those
of progressive ReDublicanism.
Railroad for Alaska.
1t finally has been settled by
III. xH4 av,f
shall build railroad in Alaska
Whether or not Uncle Sam is to OPP
crate the road is left for future conside
Grafton. 1t is possible that one OF
the army engineers who did big work
on the Isthmus of Panama will be sent
to Alaska to undertake the job OF rail-
road construction.
1t is feared by some of the friends
of the plan for a government built
railroad in Alaska that the work of
construction will not be supported by
appropriations of suffi cient size to en-
able the engineers to complete the
work quickly. The money, $35,000.-
900, will be forthcoming, it is under
stood, in continuing appropriations"
and IL the amount allotted every year
or every two years is small of the
road of necessity will move forward
slowly.
Appropriations for the Panama ca
nal were forthcoming in quick time
and in large amounts. The pride of
every American seemed to be aroused
and the national legislators voted the
money in large sums and quickly. A
reluctant congress would have meant
protracted operations and the canal
today probably would be nowhere
near completion If the money had not
been voted without delay and with
out much debate. II like action is Ia
ken in regard to the Alaska project
the railroad will be built in fairly
short order.
viii Be Hard Job.
Congress never has been unani-
mously in favor of this government
work. In fact some men believe that
at heart the majority of the members
of the present congress are opposed
to the plan. 1t is felt that the unwill-
ing ones were moved to willingness
only by the apparent desire of the
country that the experiment should be
made. The job of building the Alas
kan road will be big one and hard
one. The engineers know all the diff
ficulties that will be in their way.
They know what they must do and
that they must have money to do 1t.
1t is definitely known that the corps
of engineers of the army feels that II
some of its members are to be put al
the work of railroad building. the
credit of Its chosen individual officers
depends upon willingness of the law
makers to do the right thing by pro
1ect which seemingly has the appro<kl