The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-03-01

Confederate congress came very near
running Robert Il. Lee and Jefferson
Davis while they were carrying on the
war for that side." But In spite Of
the criticisms II Is generally found
that the people do not differentiate be-
tween the government and the admin
istration In war time.
III IL were not fact that political
campaign Is already brewing. and that
the two great parties have begun n
struggle for control of the house of
representatives. IT Is doubtful II any
politics could be injected into the war
situation. But the campaign is on and
politics and the war are getting mixed
| together. This may account for the
character of the speeches recently
made In congress and the removal Of
the attitude Of Democratic politicians
who have been antagonlstic to the adj
ministration may be because they have
had new light on patriotism; but
the possibilities are that they have
been hearing from people of their own
party back home. and have come to
the conclusion that a successful poll
tician Is nearly always the one who
stands by the president of his party
through thick and thin.
Striking evidence of this govern
ment's big brother" attitude toward
the smaller American republics was
presented In the house of representa-.
tives when there was up for considera-
ton a bill to authorize compensation
from the Santo Domingo treasury Of
officers and enlisted men of the Unit
ed States navy and marine corps now
assisting In the administration of that
country's affairs. In the course Of
discussion Congressman Padgett OF
Tennessee, chairman Of the committee
on naval affairs, who recently visited
SantO Domingo with other members Of
the committee, summed up the work
done by these officers while speaking
in favor of the bill.
"They have" he said, "the whole ad-
ministration OF that government there.
They are organizing a constabulary,
looking after the civil administration.
They have displaced the legislative
body, and the president placed Admiral
Knapp in charge there as naval gov
ernor and we have the whole admin
istration Of the island and the repub-
lie Of SantO Domingo"
Padgett stated further that year
ago there was only $4,000 In the Do
minican treasury. while there Is now
on hand $1,250,OOO.
Since many radical or unusual or
with the war, it. is not surprising
that another should be suggested in
the line of relieving the condition In
Washington. The national capital in
its entire history never before had
such an experience as that which
it is now passing through. Not only
has the population been largely In
creased, but the winter has been
more severe than any ever known In
this region. There has been greater
demand for food and fuel than ever
before. The prices Of these absolute
necessities have been mounting higher
and higher, while it has been almost
impossible for people to obtain ade-
quate shelter owing to the comman-
deering by the government of many
apartment houses and other buildings,
together with the increased number Of
people In the city.
The radical suggestion Is now made
hot hn aII
come to Washington save those actu-
ally having business with the govern
ment or having business with people
living here. 1t has even been sug-
gested that the order go further and
that those who do not have any busi-
ness in Washington be required to
leave for some other place In order to
make room for those who must remain.
1t is not likely that orders Of this kind
will be issued. but II seems strange
that people will continue to flock TO
in spite of the high cost
Of living and the congestion that Is
found here.
effect and which will remove the neces-
sity of getting more clerks from other
sections Is to transfer the regular gov
eminent clerks working on routine
work, particularly that which might be
postponed for a year or two, and have
them employed in war work. Thou
sands of experienced clerks might be
for this kind Of service.
In Senator Chamberlain's dramatic
speech in the senate severely critics.
Ing the administration of the war de-
partment he made one allusion which
has received scant attention, although
It bore on an event important Mt the
time II occurred. It replied to that
Of Senator Arthur p. German Of Mary
land attacking President Cleveland.
The president had written letter
about the Wilson-G German tariff bill In
which he characterized the course OF |
4 number Of Democratic senators as
one of party perfidy and dishonor."