Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-02-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHE MONITOR.
Washinnfon. Feb 2Oih.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
lsPEoIALooRREsPoNDKEc OF TAR MONITOR
Washington. Feb 2Oh.
The record Of the week i'm congress
is not so interesting as it should hav,
been. Our lawmakers managed {,
60 through with routine duties eacI
day with fair diligence, only inter
spersing them here and there with
little real work for conscience's sake
while much of their time was on pc
litical gossip, idleness and presiden
making.
The stir caused by Mr.. Blaine
retirement from the presidential race
has not yet died out here, and sever
al senatorial and other aspirants fo
presidential honors have had boom,
this week in consequence of the wa,
ha, ing been opened more FIRE, ly fol
them by his famous letter of declna
ton.
In this connection General Sheri.
dams name is mentioned as among
the likely ones, and the question as
to nativity bearing upon his eligibili-
ty is just now attracting a good deal
of attention. A cousin of Little
PhiP' says he was born i'm Ireland,
within a few yards of his relatives
house. General Sheridan himself
says he was born in Albany, n. Y.
The Generals mother declares he
was born in Somerset, Ohio. The
records of the war department credit
him to the same state, and the Cen
erals brother, Col. NJ. V. Sheridan,
says he don't know where he was
born and that he won't be questioned
about it.
1t is said that there is a good deal
more in General Sheridan prospect
i've candidacy than appears on the
surface, and that his friends who are
interested in it are biding their time
with view of giving him an enthusi-
astic send off, probably about the
time his memoirs are issued, which
will be in the coming spring.
Mr.. Blaines letter has had the eff
feet Of somewhat confusing the re-
publican leaders and senators, owing
to the prevalence of presidential aspi-
rations, in that end of the Capitol,
are not disposed to express opinions
or make predictions as to the nomin-
alton. Among those who may be
mentioned as candidates for the pres
idencv are Senator Sherman, who
makes no concealment of his ambi-
ton to head the national ticket of his
party. Senator Hawley will not work
for the nomination, but if his party
believes him TO be the man for the
occasion. he, like Barkis, sis willing"
Senator Evarts has friends and adj
mirers who maintain that he could
carry New York, and of late Senator
HiscOck has been doomed as the man
who could rally the republicans Of
the Empire State and lead his party
to victory. 1t is claimed that Senator
Cullom's interstate bill has made him
popular with the masses, and that he
is a favorite in western circles, where
western candidate is demanded.
The name of Senator Ingalls,, the
president of the senate, who is admir-
ed for his brilliancy, is favorably
mentioned, and Senator Allison is
the choice of Mr.. Blaine, who would
exert all his influence in behalf of
the candidate from Iowa. Senator
Edmunds is another prominent man
who would not refuse his country's
call, and Senator Frye of Maine, who
is the champion of temperance in the
senate, is spoken of as the man who
could bring back to the republican
fold all who have strayed off after
prohibition.
The most important measure pass
ed by the senate during the week was
the Blair Educational bill, which the
House will probably dispose of some
time in March.
The president and party will start
tomorrow about noon, by special
train, for a weeks trip to Florida.
The senators, representatives and
others who are going by the same in
vitation, will start on the regular
train an hour earlier than that which
carries the president.
Saturday was prohibition day at
the Capitol. A two hours hearing
was given to arguments on the Platt
bill for prohibition in the District of
Columbia by the senate committee.
Among those who spoke in favor of
the bill were Miss Frances Willard,
Miss Bal'enbender, national superin-
tendent of legislations and petitions
of the w. G. L. u, and Senator
Riddleberger, who declared himself
prohibltionist of long standing. The
latter said he wanted to see the bill
reported favorably to the senate for
the fun of the thing. Among those
who spoke against the measure was
DR.. Mary Walker, who said it would
be as easy to compel the women of
Washington by law to adopt the
dress reform in which she had led,
and to discard skirts for pantaloons,
as to suppress the liquor traffic by
law.
The national board Of promotion
of the Washington Permanent Expo
sition has made such progress that it
now has 80 members, representing