Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-03-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.

Democrats have been devoutly turned
during the past few days. Here the
first steps were taken towards the
great victory which is to be won this
year again by the party: The Demo
cratic National Committee which met
in this city to select the time and
place for holding the National Nomi-
mating Convention, held three days
meeting Of intense interest and every
rival city worked its hardest for the
prize.
| The only other business of impor-
tance transacted by the committee
was the election of Mr.. VIM. Steinway,
the piano manufacturer, OF New York
City, to fill the vacancy on the COM
mittee caused by the death of Herbert
o. Thompson. This election WAS a
great disappointment to the Republi-
cans, who confidently expected Il
great row in the committee over it.
Representative Scott, of Pennsyl-
vania, was in favor of holding the
convention before the Republicans
held theirs, believing that having
possession of the Government, it was
the proper thing for the Democrats to
take the initiatory steps in opening
the Presidential campaign. Senator
German, of Maryland, was opposed to
early convention, maintaining that
there Was no reason why the
Democrats should change their policy
OF following the Republicans: that
with late convention they could take
advantage of any mistakes of their
opponents, whereas, by preceding the
Republicans it would enable them to
make capital out of any blupders that
might be committed by the Demo-
Gratis. Senator Gorman's views were
shared by nearly two-thirds OF the
committee, hence the selection, at
first, of July Sd. The next day re-
consideration of this vote was secured
and Mr.. ScOtt's views accepted by
adopting June the 5th rs the date for
the convention. 1t was not until
near noon on Thursday, that st. Louis
was fixed upon as the place; up to
that hour it Was believed that San
Francisco was sure to win.
Mr.. Mills, Chairman of the House
Committee on Ways and Means, has
just returned from flying trip to
Providence, r. I. He says he is de-
lighted with the spirit of the New
England people in regard to the rev.
enue question. Throughout the man.
ufacturing districts the tariff for rev.
enue theory is popular and they are
pleased with the Presidents tariff
message.
1t is now said that little Phil Sheri-
dams declination Of the nomination
for President was q case of "sour
grapes" He is not eligible. "Even
granting that he was born as his
mother says, several months after the
arrival of his parents in this country"
said naturalized citizen of this city,
"that would make him an alien, I'm
der the law, us his father was not
naturalized, and no more eligible to
the Presidency than if he was born in
Ireland. know. because had son
born several months after my arrival
in this country, and he was obliged be-
fore he was allowed to vote, on reach
ing the age of twenty-one, to take the
oath of allegiance, as he was held to
be alien born. The same law would
apply to Sheridan's case"
Charges having been repetedly made
in number of Republican papers,
that the Commissioner Of Pensions
had given the soldiers of Democratic
States an advantage over those of Re-
publican States in the amount of
pensions allowed them, a table has
been prepared at the Pension Office,
which effectually disproves the silly
charge.
Another bad break is to be charged
up TO the Republican leaders OF the
House. They see it now, but it is too
late to stop the deluge. They pro-
posed and passed a resolution to in
vestigate the Government Printing, or
rather to investigate Mr.. Benedict, the
first Democratic Public Printer, prom
ising to show. up many startling
things. The proposition was readily
agreed to by the Democrats, after an
amendment was added providing that
the investigation should include the
four years term of Mr.. Benedict's Re-
publican predecessor. The committee
appointed under this resolution, has
already begun work, and enough has
been done to make the Republicans
very sorry that they started it, and
the indications are that their sorrow
will continue to increase. Here are
some figures taken from the books Of
the Government Printing Office, that
speak volumes, In January 1856
(under Rounds) there were 1852 per
sons on the rolls receiving $l6S, 1926.
and in January 1888, under Benedict,
there were 2,041 on the rolls receiving
$153,457. Notwithstanding the great
reduction in the number of employees
over 3OOAand the large saving in
cash-over $15, 900 in a month-there