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JANUARY 25, 1907
The Commoner.
LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Washington, D. C, Jan. 21. The Brownsville
affair which resulted in the discharge of three
negro companies of the Twenty-fifth infantry in
the army of the United States, has excited the
blacks of this city and immediate section more
than anything that has happened since the former
slaves were set free. People who seldom visit
the capitol building have not the remotest idea of
the efforts made by colored men and women to
secure set seats in the senate galleries to listen
to the debates that have been provoked by the
Foraker resolution; Of course, the gallery ac
commodations are limited, and not one in a hun
dred of the negro men and women who apply for
admission are fortunate enough to even poke their
noses inside of the doors. When the galleries are
packed withall the people they can hold the
doorkeepers are compelled to tell the eager ones
outside that they will have to wait their turn.
For hours men and women of all races and na
tionalities since the discussion commenced would
stand in line hoping that the fortunate ones in
side might get tired and determine to come out
side; but the debates have been so interesting
to the public that precious few would give up
their seats as long as the question was before
the upper branch of congress.
This controversy "has demonstrated beyond
any doubt that a Heap of politics is behind the
"whole matter. As certain as the sun rises and
sets the friends of Senator Foraker are going
to press his claims next year for the republican
nomination for the presidency. It should be borne
in mind also that the backers of Secretary Taft
are losing no opportunity to keep him constantly
before the public for the same nomination.
Every careful observer of political events is well
aware of the fact that it is in this era decidedly
out of fashion to send very many negro delegates
to the convention of the "grand old party." The
common belief is that at the next national con
vention of the republican party there will prob
'. ably not be ten. negro delegates in the body. The
'. northern and western states have sent very few
in the past. The negroes who secured such recog
nition in former years came from the south. In
recent years, however, the "lily white" movement
has practically barred the black brethren even
...of the south from going to the conventions and
"receiving good,, cash money for the tickets dis
tributed, to say nothing of the larger sums re
ceived from republican -bosses if they would vote
for the candidate the powerful combinations had
agreed upon.
But even if there will be comparatively few
negro delegates in the convention of next year
there is a very heavy negro vote in many of the
states of the north and west, and which would
not stand solidly by the republican party if the
black men did not blindly support the party they
have an idea was solely responsible for their
emancipation from slavery. The negro vote is
especially strong in the state of Ohio. Senator
Foraker knows it. So does Secretary Taft. The
latter, according to the prevailing opinion here,
has been placed at a great disadvantage since
gj.thls rumpus commenced. Beyond any question
0j the supporters of Judge Taft from all the reports
9 j.which reach Washington are going to lock horns
with Senators Foraker and Dick in an effort to
secure the Ohio delegation for him next year,
j. In this correspondence some months ago the point
L. blank statement was, made that Judge Taft would
j. not accept the proffered position on the supreme
.-.court as the successor of Mr. Justice Brown, of
Michigan, and which- is now filled by former At-tf-.torney
General Moddy, of Massachusetts. Politi
cal opponents of Secretary Taft are busy this
very moment In declaring that he was then
"playing 'possum;" that he did not want to be
an associate justice, but was waiting for the
retirement of the chief justice, and then President
Roosevelt would be only too happy to name him
as the head of the great tribunal that was pre
sided over by Marshall, Taney and others.
While President Roosevelt was in Panama
Secretary Taft, as is well known, modified the
order of his chief in discharging with dishonor
the three negro companies. The negroes in this
city, in New York, in Boston and many other
centers of population in the north and west, were
unusually 'active in holding meetings to severely
condemn the president for his action. The man
they had idolized they suddenly turned against.
For the moment Secretary Taft was the one to
whom they turned with the fondest expectations.
But the president by cable messages was informed
of the situation. Then there .was a switch around.
Mr. President said he knew what he was doing
when he dismissed" those negro companies, he
had the power to act, and he did not intend to
take a back track. In short, to use tho expres
sion of tho late Senator Mark Hanna, tho head
or the nation served notice on congress and on
the negroes in particular that he intended to
"stand pat."
Since the discussions of the Brownsville
tragedy have been, going on it is noteworthy that
more negroes have had cards of admission to tho
private or select galleries of the senate than were
ever accorded them before. This may be on
account of tho great Interest they have taken
in the question, or it may mean that there is an
object in giving them this pointed recognition.
The negroes constitute nearly one-third of the
population of the District of Columbia. Among
them are many of fine character and attainments,
but as Justice of the Peace Terrell a negro him
selfsaid of the Washington black element in u
speech delivered in New York year boforo last, no
less than 25,000 are without visible means of
support. In other words, this respectable black
man who commenced life in a hotel as a bell boy,
and eventually became a member of the legal
profession, said that they live practically on what
the female workers are onabled to extract from
the larders of the homes in which they are em
ployed. Probably never In the history of the- congress
of the United States lias a majority party in
the house of representatives filibustered against
itself. As tho Hon. Champ Clark, of Missouri,
has often remarked this session, the republicans
are afraid of themselves. Representative Mann,
of Chicago, appears to be the favored individual
selected by the speaker to prevent consideration
of bills which "Uncle Joe" thinks should not be
passed. Mr. Mann has almost worn himself to a
frazzle in keeping watch for the presiding officer
of the lower branch of congress. His duties will
be more arduous as the session draws to a close.
He has a number of measures on the calendar
of the house that have been given preference, and
if the speaker thinks this or that proposition
should be butted out of the way all he has to do
is to signal the Chicago member and he will apply
the brakes. Mr. Mann evidently seems to enjoy
the job, and no one is more constantly in attend
ance upon the sessions of the house than he.
In tho old days the minority members did
the filibustering. Or at least they did most of
it. These tactics were used vigorously by the
late Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania notably
when he defeated by dilatory motions away in
the seventies the original "force" bill which was
aimed at the south in order to whack the demo
cratic party. And the democrats filibustered
most energetically during the Forty-seventh con
gress when General Keifer, of Ohio, was speaker.
The common cry of the republicans then was that
it was wicked and nonsensical for the democrats
to engage in such business.
The truth of the matter is that the republi
can leaders realize to the fullest extent that they
have a wild crowd to deal with, and as a great
contest is to be waged next year they do not
want it said that they have spent too much of
the money of the taxpayers of the country. At
the same time they are doing things which are
rankly unjust. For instance these leaders of tho
majority have absolutely muzzled the committee
on war claims. At great expense the govern
ment has a court of claims. This tribunal was
organized for the purpose of having honest claims
against the government carefully and properly
considered so that people might get what Is due
them. It Is generally conceded that the five
judges do their work well and impartially. They
send the just claims to congress with a recom
mendation that the money ought to bo paid.
Hundreds and hundreds of them have been favor
ably recommended, and the house committee
unanimously joined in framing what is called an
"omnibus" bill to- be put through at this session.
But "Uncle Joe" and his lieutenants want to
smash the measure. They realize that Uncle
Sarii is carrying a big load in having to build
the Panama canal, in supporting a big navy, in
maintaining a large army because of the insular
possessions, and ever so many other things that
worry the rulers of legislation.
The ship subsidy question continues to agi
tate the republican managers of legislation. The
terrible pressure that was brought upon Speaker
Cannon lias apparently brought him around to tho
support of a modified proposition which seeks to
do more for lines running to South America and
carrying mails than for the companies operating
in the European countries. This does not suit
the fellows who own the "greyhounds" which
ply tho waters of tho Atlantic. It Is not satis
factory, either, to tho New England concerns.
Senator Gallinger is understood to feel quito
grumpy over the latest turn of events. Ho put
the bill through tho senate last session. That
Is a bill that pleased tho Now Englanders im
mensely. They thought they would got many
millions a year out of Uncle Sam to help them in
their prlvato enterprises. Senator Fryo Is also
grieving over tho turn of events. He hOjB been
working on tho scheme for twenty years or more.
Indeed, Senator Fryo might aptly bo called its
"daddy." Mr. Frye, however, kept in tho back
ground this time and allowed Dr. Gallinger to do
the heavy work.
With but few exceptions the democrats in
the house are unalterably opposed to granting
any sort of ship subsidy. They are going to op
pose stoutly tho proposition. And at this writing
the indications are they will have a lot of help
from the republicans of tho central west and
the northwest. Mr. J. J. Hill, tho railroad mag
nate, and who also owns a line of steamers that
go to tho Orient, is reported to be down on
the plan that has been hatched out by Congress
man Littauer, of New York. The subsidy advo
cates are moving cautiously. Just now they do
not know whether it is best to force the issue in
the next week or ten days, or wait until after tho
big river and harbor bill Is passed. A serious
complication has arisen. Some of the subsidy
supporters think that if they wait they, can make
trades which may enable them to carry out their
program. Olhers want the issuo forced right off.
Tho latter class seem to fear that Speaker Can
non may cool down and not give them recognition
towards the fag end of the session, and their
contention is that it is better to strike while
the iron is hot. Then again they are very much
afraid of Mr. Burton of Ohio. That keen and
skilled legislator has been making no end of
trouble for his political brethren in the house.
Mr. Burton, though, is being diligently labored
with. The men trying to pacify him have called
his attention to the fact that the-headquarters
of the combination asking for ship subsidies are
located in his own home city of Cleveland, and
that he ought not to antagonize them. Mr. Bur
ton is violently opposed to a big navy, and his
attitude in that respect is another thorn In the
sides of the men who. dominate things in con
gress. He Is entirely too independent to suit tho
notion of the combination in the habit of ramming
through legislation which suits them, and of
killing measures which they do not approve.
Logrolling is going on with a view of pass
ing the Philippine tariff bill so long tied up in
the senate committee, although it easily passed
the house at the last session of congress. It is
too soon to predict with any degree of accuracy
what the final result will be. The failure to do
anything with this measure Is most embarrassing
to the administration, for the Filipinos have been
promised time and again that there would bo
legislation to enable them to increase their trade
with the United States. The republicans are en
tirely responsible for the situation. If the ma
jority of the senate wished to act one way or the
other all that is necessary would be for somo
one to make a motion to relieve the committee
from further consideration and call the bill up
and put it upon its passage. Any attempt of that
sort would raise a howl from the beet sugar
crowd, and then would come a fight so bitter that
the majority in the upper branch of congress
would not forget it in many a long year.
ALFRED J. STOFER. .
AND NOW THE CANAL
Having given, us full Information concerning
the mosquitoes, tho "cottages, the amusements,
the steam shovels, the personnel of the employes,
the drinking water, the schools, the boarding
houses, the food and other things of that nature,
perhaps the president will take time to tell us
about the comparatively unimportant matter that
took us into Panama the canal.
THE WOOD OF DREAMS
Here in the Wood of Dreams, be still, be still!
I weary of your passion and your sighing,
For I would hear the silent, joyous laugh
That mocks all anxious men afraid of dying.
There 1b a knowledge hid among the trees;
Philosophy amid the grasses glistens;
I think I hear, "There's no such thing as death"-
Be silent silent! All my spirit listens.
Scribner's Magazine.
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