NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 37 
National Capital 
Events of Interest from the Seat of 
Government 
By J. E. Jones 
The Breeze Bureau 
Washington, May 19, 1914. 
LIND AND O'SHAUGHNESSY. 
John Lind and Nelson O’Shaugh- 
nessy are atnong the curiosities of the 
Capital—that is, if there are such 
things as a physical curiosity in 
Washington—where the frailties of 
the great have caused them to be 
catalogued among other classes of 
ordinary clay. The correspondent of 
the Breeze sat opposite the “watch- 
ful waiter” of Vera Cruz, in the din- 
ing room of a prominent hotel a few 
days ago, and had a splendid oppor- 
tunity to study the strength of char- 
acter and the deep battle scars that 
furrow the brow and face of Minne- 
sota’s former governor, John Lind 
looks the part that he played in the 
important affairs of Mexico; and 
Washington regards him as a man 
who has made a success of a very 
difficult job. Ina short talk with our 
late representative at Huerta’s court, 
the impression came home strong to 
the writer of this article, that in the 
affairs at Mexico City, the American 
government was particularly fortun- 
ate in having a live wire like O’- 
Shaughnessy. His policy of using 
“molasses instead of vinegar” with 
Huerta evidently was the only way 
to secure fair play for American citi- 
zens. O’Shaughnessy was a _ real 
“hit” with Huerta and he used the 
advantage by backing his demands 
upon the basis of his own personal 
relations with the crafty old Indian, 
with whom he usually ended up: 
“You surely do not want to put me 
in a bad light with my government?” 
By these persuasive methods O’- 
Shaughnessy secured personally what 
he could not have obtained in the 
name of the government. The sup- 
posed friendship with Huerta has 
brought no end of criticism upon 
O’Shaughnessy, but Washington has 
joined officially in the popular praise 
accorded O’Shaughnessy. 
Gotp Bricks AND RAILROAD FINANC- 
ING. 
The interference of Attorney Gen- 
eral McReynolds with the New Hay- 
en railroad investigations has brought 
on a serious clash; and Commissioner 
McChord, backed by Senator Norris, 
whose resolution was responsible for 
the New Haven investigations, were 
practically ordered out of the office 
of the Attorney General because of 
their insistence that former President 
Mellen ‘and other high officials of the 
New Haven should not be excused 
from testifying before the Commis- 
sion, as requested by McReynolds, 
who gave as his reasons that the dis- 
closures of Mellen and others would 
interfere with the prosecutions now 
being carried on by the Department 
of Justice. For a number of months 
there has been an impression that 
McReynolds has been settling too 
many big cases out of court, and his 
interference with the Interstate Com- 
merce Commission, which is consid- 
ered as a sort of judicial tribunal, is 
not at all relished, and has stirred up 
something of a muss. McReynolds 
may have a fight on his hands to re- 
tain his portfolio in the Cabinet. As 
the New Haven and other railroad 
investigations proceed it is found that 
when the get-rich-quick schemes are 
all written up, it would be an inex- 
cusable oversight to exempt some of 
the operations of railroad promoters 
from the stories telling of the artti- 
fices of gold brick dealers. 
ParceL Post AND EXPRESS. 
The Buffalo Chamber of Com- 
merce has “got a rise’ out of the 
Postmaster General, by passing a re- 
soulution opposing any increase in 
parcel post weight limit, on the 
ground that such action would drive 
the express companies out of busi- 
ness. ‘he Postmaster General de- 
clares that the parcel post is a unt- 
versal service, increasing trade be- 
tween cities and farms, and that its 
rates are based on the cost of operat- 
ing in both profitable territory, which 
is defined to be the extent of the sys- 
tems of private express companies, 
and unprofitable territory, into which 
the express companies never go. The 
Postmaster General says that the ex- 
press companies will not be driven 
out of “profitable territory” as their 
limited field of operation gives them 
the advantage over the parcel post, 
which is loaded down with “unprofit- 
able territory.” | Now that matters 
have settled down somewhat is is ap- 
parent that ther is plenty of room for 
the parcel post and express compan- 
ies, and the American people are 
carefully distinguishing between the 
two. 
THE REALIGNMENT. 
Most of the leading Washington 
politicians in the Republican and Pro- 
gressive parties are very anxious for 
a realignment that will bring them to- 
gether in a united attack to recover 
control of Congress. ‘Two years ago 
it was asserted that the Republican 
party was left with only the stand- 
patters to run it. Today it is claimed 
‘reason 
that “‘standpats” are in absolute con- 
trol of the Progressive party in Dela- 
ware, while the Republicans are the 
Progressives. The Delaware situa- 
tion is pointed out as illustrating a 
condition existing in many sections 
of the country. Most of the Repub- 
lican Senators and Representatives 
who supported Colonel Roosevelt two 
years ago have declared themselves to 
be members of the Republican or- 
ganization, although they. insist the 
position of Colonel Roosevelt was 
right—and they declare they will con- 
tinue to support him. The get-to- 
gether sentiment is strong, but in con- 
trast there are a few political officials 
who, like the Secretary of the Re- 
publican Congressional Committee, 
helped to send Taft to oblivion, and 
now consider it their mission to ex- 
communicate all “bull moose” from 
affiliation with the Republican party, 
even though they had worked with 
the latter organization for a lifetime. 
If the Capital offers the keys to the 
situation, there are plenty of signs 
that a solid front may yet be present- 
ed, resulting in a working arrange- 
ment between Republicans and Pro- 
gressives this fall. On the other 
hand, the Democrats declare that 
never before in the history of the 
country has so great an amount of 
constructive legislation been enacted 
as since President Wilson went into 
office, and that therefore there is no 
reason for a change of control. If 
the Democrats should lose control of 
Congress it will be because they are 
too cock-sure of their position. 
Forcinc A REcoRD ON Booze. 
The committee of Congress having 
in charge the resolution providing 
for national prohibition, has passed 
the matter directly up to the House. 
Representative Underwood says that 
the members must meet the issue, and 
that the Democratic party will refuse 
to assume the responsibility of fur- 
ther delay. Of course what Under- 
wood says goes—everyone knows 
that in Washington—and that is the 
why many members from 
close districts are in a panic. There 
are a large number of Representa- 
tives who have been dodging for 
years, but unless something inter- 
venes, they will be obliged to come 
out in the open upon this question. 
An effort will be made to bring the 
proposed Constitutional amendment 
before the House at this session, but 
it may be “staved off” till after elec- 
tion. It takes a two-thirds vote to 
carry a Constitutional amendment 
through Congress, and even the Pro- 
hibitionists admit they cannot expect 
a victory. 
