8 
THE : 
National Capital 
Events of Interest from the Seat of 
Governmen 
By J. E. Jones 
The Breeze Bureau, 
Washington, Feb. 23, 1915. 
Republican Publicity 
A new unofficial Republican’ or- 
ganization, at the head of which is 
former Senator Bourne of Oregon, 
ceelares that it haS organized itself 
for the purpose of taking the case 
cof the Republican party before the 
country, in the hopes that it may 
convert voters to help it win the 
election in 1916. It is claimed that 
many rich Republicans are support- 
ing the movement; and since the 
regularly organized committees are 
very much handicapped in their ac- 
tivities because they are compelled 
to make statements of their expen- 
ditures, it may follow that Brother 
Jonathan Bourne and his band of 
political pirates will in time over- 
shadow the work of the accredited 
representatives of the G. O. P. 
Fitzgerald’s Sting 
Representative Fitzgerald of New 
York holds the important position 
of chairman of the appropriations 
committee in the House of Repre- 
sentatives. Because he is a Tam- 
manyite things have been made un- 
comfortable for him in a number of 
instances. Fitzgerald, like a true 
and patriotic Irishman, has been in- 
chned to fight baek on occasions, 
hut he saved his real wrath until the 
last day of the past session, when 
he prevented the appropriation 
from being made for the new fed- 
eral trade commission. The board 
will get a few thousand dollars 
extra on the first of July, but, it 
starts out on its work greatly ham- 
pered for want of funds. The trade 
commission is a favorite of the 
President, and Fitzgerald is ‘‘chuek- 
ling up his sleeve’’ because he has 
tied up this work for many months 
to come. The new commission has 
organized, but it cannot engage in 
any extensive work. 
All Doors Closed to the White 
House 
President Wilson has practically 
become a hermit in these days, 
since he has denied himself to all 
visitors. For three weeks he will 
give bis entire attention to a study 
of intricate problems connected 
with the European war. This is the 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
Mount Wernon 
THE HOME OF WASHINGTON. 
By J. HE. Jones 
A pretty little story of visits to Mount Vernon on the Potomac—‘‘im- 
pressions and sentiments like yours and mine,’’ explains the author to those 
who have seen our country’s greatest shrine. 
Bound in colonial blue and buff, with hand illumined cover design, and 
colonial ribbon book mark; profusely illustrated with handsome half-tones 
and pen drawings, it is a dainty and invaluable reminder that will instantly 
appeal to every person who has been to Mount Vernon, while to those who 
have not had that good fortune this clever, happy little story of our beloved 
George and Martha gives a clearer view and understanding of their colonial 
home, which is today the pride of Virginia and the Nation. 
As a souvenir or gift book, for young or old, there is nothing to approach 
the elegance of this little volume, and it will make one feel more like a 
patriotic American to possess it. 
Now Being Printed. 
Send $1 for a copy to be delivered to your address at Easter. 
U. S. PRESS ASSOCIATION 
Bond Building, 
Special Note: Mr. Jones is the Washington correspondent of the Breeze, 
and if you will state that you are a reader of this paper, an autographed 
copy of the first edition will be furnished on the regular order. 
first time in the memory of the old- 
est Washingtonian when the Presi- 
dent has entirely excluded the pub- 
lic. Of course, this is the first time 
there has been so big a war, and as 
the United States has been involved 
in so many ways, the President has 
determined that he will take per- 
sonal charge of the situation. 
Squeal of the Express Companies 
Representatives of the American, 
Adams, Southern and Wells Fargo 
Express companies have told the In- 
terstate Commerce Commission at 
Washington that the low rates of 
fare prescribed by the commission 
have been ‘‘disastrous.’’ The com- 
panies set out that in ten months 
under the new rates there has been 
a deficit of $2,760,804. It took Uncle 
Sam a long time to teach the pluto- 
cratic express companies their les- 
son—and perhaps the learning of it 
has been rather hard. 
Death of Colonel Crook 
A faithful old attache in the 
White House has died, and the Pres- 
ident of the United States, who on 
account of important affairs has 
secluded himself from the public, 
found time to attend the funeral. 
Colonel William H. Crook served 
with Lirteoln and all of the other 
Presidents down to the present day. 
He undoubtedly had a more inti- 
mate knowledge of the affairs cf the 
Presidents and their families during 
the past fifty years than any other 
living American. 
Washington, D. C. 
Public Lands Opened 
During the first two and a half 
months of the present year, 1,571,- 
890 acres of public land have been 
restored to entry and 52,843 acres 
have been withdrawn. The with- 
drawals have been chiefly for the 
protection of water power sites. 
The Spy Industry 
Since the outbreak of the Euro- 
pean war there have been no end of 
activities uf spies of foreign powars 
in the United States, and as Wash- 
ingtoa is the headquarters of the 
naticn, the principal attenticn of | 
these foreign agents has been 
directed toward the seat of govern- 
ment. Washington has been de- 
scribed as the ‘‘clearing house of — 
conspiracies of the world.’’ The 
United States government has ig- 
nored the spies, but has concerned 
itself regarding the safety of the 
representatives of foreign countries, 
since there has been a feeling that 
some overt act might be committed 
that would embarrass our position 
as the greatest neutral in the 
world. 
Freedom of the Press 
The editor of the New York 
Times protested to a special investi- 
gating committee of the Senate 
against many questions directed to 
him tending to show that his publi- 
cation had taken a position favor- 
able to the shipping,,trust, and in 
support of the lobby, and has at- 
tracted a great deal of attention. 
