The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-12-06
Washington Letter.
WAsH1saroN. Nov. 80. 1883.


WAsHINaToN. Nov. 80, 1888.
Mr.. Cleyeland's last annual message |
to Congress is all complete. and has
been submitted to his cabinet at
meeting called for the purpose. but
what its contents are, nobody outside
knows or is likely to know until the
document is read at the Capitol Mon
day. The members ofthe cabinet will
only say that it will be worthy of a
place along with The other state papers
which Mr.. Cleveland has written
Speaking of this message reminds me
that Mr., Cleveland has been particu
larly fortunate in never having had
any "leaks" in his Administrations
through witch public documents 81 ch
as presidential messages have reach d
the public premaiurely His IL the
first administration in many years en-
tlrely iree from these leaks.
On theeve of the first Thanksgi iviDs
day after Secretary Whitney took
charg of the Navy Department, h.
inaugurated the pretty custom of pre-
senting each one of the four hundre,
employees of that department with q
big, fat turkey. The custom has been
regularly kept up ever since, and last
Wednesday the employees of that de-
partment received for the last time
this practical evidence OF the Secreta.
ry,s interest in their welfare. This
year Postmaster General Dickinson
followed the good example, and pre-
sented each of the employees of his de
partment with the finest turkey to be
had. These turkeys were greatly
enjoyed. 1t Is extremely doubtful
whether the new Secretary of the Navy
aud Postmaster General will follow
the example setthem by the democrat.
ic officials.
Believing In the old adage that .'the
early bird catches the worm," Repre-
sentative Cannon of Illinois has open
ed headquarters here and began an
active canvass for the SpeakershiP of
the next House of Representatives.
Messrs. Bntterworth, Mckinley, Bur
roughs, Reed and company. will how
ever make the fight interesting as soon
rs they get here. It is generally
thought that either Reed or Mckinley
will be Speaker.
Democratic members of Congress are
rs rule extremely reticent as to what
line OF policy they will adopt at the
coming session Of Congress; they
nearly all exprese desire TO confer
with their democratic colleagues be.
fore committing themselves. An ex
ception to this rule ia Representative
Springer, of Illinois. He insists that
one of the first things the House will
do will be to pass his Oklahoma bill,
and that the next thing will be to pass
bill for the admittauce of ut least
four Territories into the Union al
States.
The clerks in the Departments In
this city below the grade of Chief are
all in an easy state of mind just al
present. They have become convinc
ed that Harrison is a genuine civil
service reformer, aud that there will
be no clean sweep when he come In
The princil al Cause of this belief wa,
an article In our local pape 9, taken
from the editorial cofum, of the In
dianapolis Journal, paper which Ii
thought to be Harrison's home organ
which warned the republicans not Il
expect a" clean sweep" There may
not be . clean sweep, but in my opin
ion, at the clcse of Harrison's tern
there will not be one democratin Off1c,
here for each ten republicans drawing
Uncle Sans pay. In other words
djn't believe that Harrison will keel
one tenth as many democrats in ofiic'
ms Cleveland has kept republicans.
Harrison's Southern policy contin
use 10 be q subject of general discussion
here. The opinion Is almost unani
NOUS among the members of both par
ties. that Harrison's administration
will be very conservative one unies
something now entirely unexpecte,
should occur. / don't think the 5outt
HISS W tOoA 0t sAAS AA6hAS "
Harrison. If mauy things that nov
have q somewhat troublesome look sr,
now let severely alone they will adjus
themselves; chief among this class o
things Is the negro question. an
certain from Information derived from
republican sources, that Harrison vii
appoint no negro to any prominent
federal Office in the South. In fac
there is an undoubted disposition
among republicans to relegats the ne
gro to back seats In future. He is nj
longer of any practical use to that par
ty, therefore they will give him moth
3ng.
There ia growing belief that Har
rison will call an extra session of Con
gress soon after his Inauguration.