The daily Alaskan., 1916-08-24
PARTY GOSSIP
 AT CAPITOL

WASHINGTON. Aug. 24 - (Spe,
 cial correspondence)-The free
 trade Democrats in congress suf,
 ferod a severe shock a few days
 ago when they read the tr4de re-
 port rom Great Britain for the
 mcpth Ot July. This shows that imports into Great Britain in-
 G eased only $0,v0O.0O0 while eX-
 pol inoreased $6U,0OO,UO0. Demo era ic leaders have been arguing all
 the time that We have no need to fear trade war after the military conflict in Europe has ceased, but repurS5 such as this will very quick ly cause the rank and file of une Democratic party to lLse confidence in the assuranqes given by their inexperienced leaders.
 Probably there is on feature of the Hugues campaign that gives Pregiucut Wilson, more concern than the criticism ut his appointments to the diplomatic service. AS soon as he came into power, President Wilson proceeded to turn out of office the men Who mad devoted many years to the consular aud dl- plomatic service, many Ot them hay ins risen to n.Eh positions at i'm poY'Nnt posts as a result of efficient service in lower places. Turning out the iucumbentS would not have been so bad, if their places had been filled with men who had some degree of qualification for the work. As 8 matter Of fact, most o' the men appointed were men en- tirsIy without experience in either diplomacy or foreign businesS.. One of them was d Texas farmer-and doubtless d successful farmer. An other was q preacher, who had been serving rural parishes for thirty years. He was quite likely a sue cessful country preacher, buthe ac- kaOwleugeu Luut he knew nothing abCu. the work ot d diplomat. These appointments were m~de at the beguming of the Wilson admin istratiUn ana and were mucn crltl- cised at tue time hy the CFlI Service Reform League, q non-partl- san organization, but President Wilson mas been hoping that the. matter naQ been forgotten. ReViYal O. the shameful story will undou0t- edly cost Wilson the support ol tnousanus ot men. and women who desire efficiency, especially. ln the service upon which We depend 1ol. national respect among tue nations Of the world.
 The car strikes in New York anu Philadelphia and the tnreateAe0 strike ou steam roads serVeu to en- phasize the tact that wage earners arE uO- mIsled by the soIJ of pros peIity We nave been enjoying. WLha Jhey have been getting somewnat Iucredseu wages, Luls Ads been ac- comVanled by muom higher prices, also que to the war, anu the work- nen ale coming to the conclusion that ir is onIy q Lanporary revival and that they were out getting tneir share in the benefits.
 There was great satisfaction among public men at the national capital over the news that the Re pubiiCans of Missouri have nominat- cd d substantial business man ot demonstrated ability as candidate against Senator James Reed, who has made himself few friends and uo admirers by his long-winded har- rauguos without any constructive legislative results. Reed is one Of he most persistent takers in the senate. On both sides of the chamber there will be rejoicing when walter s. Dickey succeeds him 1
 Among the recent visitors to the capital was former Congressman Fred C.. Stevens of Minnesota. Speaking of the outlook in his state he said: ''If the Democrats ever had any idea of carrying Minnesota, thev have abandoned |. The only Questicu is the size of the Republi- can majority. The entire national and state tickets will be elected. Frank B. Kellogg will be chosen United States Senator. l look to- see Mir. Hughes get a tremendous majority, for he is very popular with the voters of cur state. Min mesota will be back in the Repuhli- can camp with the old-ttme majori- ties"