SKETCHES FROM AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 77

SKETCHES FROM AMERICA.

By Maorilakda

"What does it mean?" America is asking herself now that the all-important question of the next President has been definitely decided. The response is quick. "It means a continuance of Rooseveltian policies; it means the revival of national credit." Already, say the optimists who hold their fingers on the pulse of the commerce of the nation, they feel the first tremors of a veritable boom. Then, too ? the Western crops are unusually good this year, which means that the railroads in their present state will be hard put to it lo cope with the goods traffic. Practically every trunk line in America is two years behind in its building operations. Ever since the panic new woik has been suspended, and worse- still, the renewing of rolling stock and even of tho road-beds has been cut down to a minimum ; hence energetic work will be necessary before they are in a position to deal with the expected tnffic. Orders, however, were placed in the workshops contingent upon the election of Mr Talt. Steel rails, cars, and locomotives are all to be rushed to completion. Money is easier. Already European financiers, who fix months ago looked askance at American securities and would only lend at exorbitant raws, are eager to be appioached. As for the heads of American trusts, they are relying upon Mr Taft";> judicial character, and say that lie will not consider a corporation illegal riiereh because it has an enormous amount of capital. Regarding tariff revision, it is to be of such a character that it will not interfere in any way with the return of prosperity. The duties to be imposed are merely to equalise the difference between the cost of production in the States and abroad, and every care will be taken to leave a reasonable amount of profit fox the manufacturer. It is expected that the new system will force reciprocity. Congress is to provide for tho establishment of a maximum and a minimum tariff, the minimum to represent the difference between American cost and that in other countries. -The decision as to which shall be applied is to Test with the President and the State Department, The countries which give America the benefit of their lowest rates will get America's lowest tariff. Others will have to endure the maximum until a give-aad-take arrangement can be effected. As to the election itself the laurels have gone to the victor with a vengeance. Mr Taft, according to popular talk, is the one and only man who could have achieved the victory. As for Mr Bryan — "Well." say the Democrats bitterly, "no man will ever run for the Presidency again on his windpipe alone. Bryan is out for good and all." Already they are casting about in their ranks foi a Democratic candidate for 1912 ! And yet they are hardly through paying their election bets ! One unfortunate young Democrat with more optimism- than foresight is at work with a lin brush. He lias undertaken to whitewash a ton of coal ! Another individual is groaning because he is obliged to subsist for a month on the "free lunches," provided with a glass of beer. Yet another is recovering from the effects of wheeling a friend 1701b -in weight through the cobbled-stoned streets of his city, accompanied by automobiles full of jeering friends, to say nothing of gangs of small boje. A friend jeered at one Bryanite for working for a "dead one," as he termed Bryan. 'Dead one!" he retorted promptly. "Why, after the votes are counted you Republicans will i c buried so deep that you can't be located with a diamond drill." "All right. We'll find out who the dead one is," came the hot reply. "If Bryan is elected I'll agree to get into a hearse and let you drive it in State next Saturday at noon. If Taft is elected it's you for the hearse and me to drive." And <-o it was agiced. In other parts preparations for weddings are being hastily made, also on account of the election, for three sUlwait young Delawarians publicly promieed to* pick brides from the countries giving the largest Democratic majorities. As for Mr Roosevelt himself the relief is great. He can look forward to the laying down of his task in the confident belief that his successor's views are his, and that no gr^at disaster will be wrought when he leaves the White House. Alleidy he has .settled the date of hi 6 departuie, and even the ship — the Koenig Albert,— wh'ch sails in March for Naples, via Gibraltar. His object seems to be to keep the party a convenient size. For this reason few are to accompany him. except his pon Kormit, who is to be the photographer of the camp; a naval official, i. nd a professor irom the Smithsonian Institute wuh a good knowledge of medicine, yix months will be .spent in that portion of Africa lying between Port Florehee and t tie coast. Congo territory is not to bs> entered. Mr Roosovtlt will cover some 3000 miles by boats on rivers ard lake? and afoot before Mrs Roosevelt joins him in Khaitoum. For the moment the President i-. working hard on his last message to Congress. he leaves office he wants to tee the .Sherman Anti-trust Act 1 {im-'iiued, the powers of the Interstate Corhini.-'-ion extended, a more complete Employeia' Liability Bill passed, the na\ y uici-ca^eii by" at 'ifbt two big battleships, if not tour: the inauguration of better Wiera! control over the water powers of the c(,unii\, ai.d the promise of a liberal apnioju-i.it'on for the enforcement of the pi<"j\ i-ioiib ot the llrp'iurn Act concerning the r.iilv-r.- Tlic-u. as an extra, h<? is ■ ;)• <-'.2ci t<". t.u 1 ,.'? tli3 f-'ibject of '"MNoFen luvtuno. ' SU nvin'^ tl.e dorm -tie affaiis of t!i<? country ,:re going on as usual. Bombs aro still exploding in tlw big cities, and the "gamblers' warfare" is still being waged in Chicago, where the twenty-fourth

I bomb has just demolished another saloon. As for the night-riders, 300 warrants have now been issued for the arrest of 100 suspects, and people are of the opinion that there will be "something doing" soon. As for matters of quieter interest, new j land is shortly to be flung open for seleci tion, and the principle of "first come first ! served" is again to hold good. To the end that she may be first an l&-year-old girl has pitched her tent outside the doors 1 of the United States Land Office, and intends to camp there for the five intervening weeks. Already she has six companions. It lookg as though the office door 1 would form the centre of a veritable city besfore the crucial day comes. i There seems to be almost a crusade to ! aid the children in many countries, and J America is in the van. She has sent ' out inspectors to examine the children in her large schools to ascertain what pro- , portion of them are underfed. The re- ' ports are now coming in, and as an immediate step towards coping with the | evil it has been decided, in Chicago at least, to give a pint of new milk every morning to children applying for the same armed with tickets supplied free by the , Bureau of Charities. The City Council ' School Board and the Civic Societies were the first to take direct 6teps. They were startled into action by the publishing of a statement that 5000 of Chicago's school children were starving, and 10,000 went to .school daily only half fed. One alderman put the probVm briefly. "Children don't go to .school because they want to, but because they have to, therefore it is up to the Board of Education to see that they are well taken caie of." As a temporary measure meals are to be provided, but there is some talk of instituting an inquiry to see whether the pensioning of the children's mothers would abolish the need for this. ' One school has bern trying to feed its pupils on its own account, and the principal has arranged to supply , them with a wholesome midday meal for the actual cost, which he has managed lat three halfpence a head. The improve- ■ ment of the children has been marvellous both bodily and mentally. If this plan ' could be- worked on the size now supposed [ to be necessary, the expense to the city of Chicago alone would be close on ■ 30,000d0l a" j-ear, and this, too, though rooms would be provided in the schools I and the teachers expected to assist so far as possible. It is small wonder that they have hesitated.