Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-03-26
It seems to be true that the indica-


airy Republicanism, which are coming
almost daily from the lips Of the pro-
gressive Republican leaders in con-
gFess, give color to the politicians
predictions that before another ma
tiona1 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 it may be that the wish is
father of the thought, it is possible
that in the next campaign there will
be Progressives, progressive Repubil-
cans and Republicans to fight three
sided battle against the hosts of De
mocracy. There are men here who
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.
It is pointed out here that the Idaho
senator seems to be about the only
progressive Republican in the senate
who seems to agree neither with what
the coloneps enemies call Roosevelt
ism, nor with Republicanism as
espoused by Smoot, Penrose and the
other generals. In other words, Mr..
Borah seems to be 1ocking by him.
self just at present. Perhaps this Is
to his liking, for standing isolated he
can rap Colonel Roosevelt by rapping
as he has Mr.. Perkins, or he can rap
Mr. Cummins by talking about the
futility of a party convention for ANAL
gamation purposes, or he can rap Mr..
Penrose and men of his kind on gen
eral progressive Republican prin-
cfples.
Why is it that some of the poll
ticians think that there is danger of
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 Republicanism.
Railroad for Alaska.
It finally has been settled by
legislative act that the government
shall build a railroad in Alaska
Whether or not Uncle Sam is to OPP
crate the road is left for future consid-
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 sufficient size to en-
able the engineers to complete the
work quickly. The money, $35,00O,-
900, will be forthcoming, it is under
stood, in continuing appropriations"
| and if 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. If like action is ia
ken in regard to the Alaska project
the railroad will be built in fairly
| short order.
Will 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 a 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 it.
1t is definitely known that the corps
of engineers of the army feels that if
| some of it's members are to be put at
| the work of railroad building, the
| credit of it's chosen individual officers
depends upon a willingness of the law
makers to do the right thing by pro-
| ject which seemingly has the approval
of the people. 1t is limited in Wash
| ington that many Of the conservative,
| not to call them reactionary, members
Of congress, would be glad if the gov
| eminent construction plan should be
failure. 1t is within the power of
| congress to make it failure or at
any rate to drag the work out so long
that the people will be led to believe
that it is failure.
The Panama work has shown that
army engineers can undertake almost
any task Of magnitude and push it
| through to a successful ending. A
| railroad, however, cannot be built
without money and the engineer who
goes to Alaska as chief of construc-
ton will be a man depressed in spirit
in advance unless he is certain that
| congress is to be with him in his en-
deayor.
Cleopatra's needle should be named
after Thotmes III.