The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-04-21
IS TABOO
VERY FEW PARTISAN SPEECHES
ARE MADE IN CONGRESS
THIS SESSION.
DIFFERENT FOUR YEARS AGO
Due to Certainty of Wilson's Renoml-
nation, Disturbed State Of Foreign
Affairs and Republican Desire for
Harmonious Convention.
ex eEoRoE CLINTON.

WdSulnsb OohbASo9 Ae'S Se-
ished the Washington correspondents
this year and presumably all Of the
other regular or fairly regular attend
ants at its sessions by its restraint in
talking politics. Ordinarily the ses-
sion just prior to the national conven'
lions splits just about half and half
between politics and legislation. This
year the snuffer has been applied to
the candle of politics
Why Is 1t? Well, for some time 1t
was thought likely that accident cou-
pied In part with design, was respon-
sible for the Withholding of all but q
few political speeches from the floors
of the two houses. Then reason be-
gan 90 be applied to the phenomenon,
for such It is, and finally Washington
has made up its mind as to the real
cause for the tabooing in large meas
ure this year party politics from the
debates in house and senate.
The Democrats at present have but
one candidate for the nomination for
the presidency = Woodrow Wilson.
The party men In house and senate
seem to think that in the whirl OF
events as they are happening. both
in domestic and in foreign affairs, the
arguments for and against their party
are made by the action or the inaction
of the administration. II IL perfectly
true that Democrats In congress make
more than occasional speeches in be-
half of the policies of Mr.. Wilson, but
as most Of these policies are outlined
in legislation, the sustaining speech
efforts of the Democracy have more OF
legislative than party character
Not So Four Years Ago.
Four years ago in congress things
were different so far as the Democrat
ic party was concerned. The Demo
Gratis were in power in the house but
not in the senate during the last yeal
of Mr.. Taft's incumbency. Then there
were some half a dozen Democratic
aspirants for the nomination for thu
presidency, Wilson, Clark. Underwood
Harmon, Marshall and one or two 9th
ers. The prospect was considered
bright for the election OF a Democra
to the highest ONCE In the land, ant
as q result the house and senate SUP
porters of the different candidates 10
the nomination frequently mad
speeches almost wholly political. an
all of them more or less tinged wit
the color Of friendliness for this car
didate or that candidate for the nom
nation.
Foreign affairs all through the SCI
sion and for some time previous there
to have been in q somewhat ticklis
condition. It has been the custom fo
all time In America when the country
foreign relations have been at tn
straining point for men Of all partie
to refrain from attacking directly, e.
cept on rare occasions, the policies
the president. The desire OF all me
in congress irrespective Of party whe
things were getting near the dangs
line seems always to have been
make q showing at least OF unanimi'
of support for the administration.
II is not far to seek the reason 4
the Republican reticence to talk ar
more politics than necessary durir
the daily sessions Of congress. The
. has been an uncertainty In congre
.. sional circles as to just what the fe'
ing OF the masses of the people Is
,, the great issues Of the day, foreii
, relations and preparedness. Republi
ans apparently want to have as mu'
harmony as possible in the delibei
! lions OF their convention.
Literary Gem In Dry Reports.
There has been considerable COZ
ment In Washington recently on
pamphlet issued by the interior
: partment on the subject OF our ma Q
. al parks. 1t has been said that seldo
has such q finely descriptive artic
I of real literary character, found
place in the ordinary publications
), government.
The appearance of this pamphlet q
: the appealing manner in which 1t "
written has called to mind the p'
!. lIcation of an article In one OF
= daily consular reports. II was hidd
I, away amid mass Of commercial
! terial and few persons at first motto
= It. Finally the attention OF discrimin
ing persons was called to It and
:, was lifted from its obscurity and CIV
= a place in the light
!, The article was written BY the ]
!. Albion w. Tourgee, who was then
! American consul at Bordeaux. Fran
- This article OF Tourgee's stands to-
= in the estimation of students as
= finest BIT Of description ever prin
= IN an ordinary document OF the
= eminent. The government ofiicials
not realize It's merit as BIT OF 1T
W. ture and failed to call attention to
- IL never would have been known
- student Of the excellent writing
=, not happened upon II In It's place
"a hiding.
Tourgee's article vas called sin
aReforestation in France II told
'is story Of planting Of maritime pines