The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent,

| washington, ~. u, July ~, 1901.
There is no longer room for doubt
that Mr.. Blaine's friends propose max
ing war upon Mr.. Harrison's candi-
dacy. They have come to the con-
clu7ion that there is no other way of
lencing the masked batteries of the
Harrison forces which have been per-
sistently shelling Blaine at every op-
portunity. A republican whose re-
lations to the republican machine are
iGtimate and influential said to re-
publican friend here: Blaine doesn't
want the nomination, and he is pei
fectly willing that Harrison shall have
it but his friends are not. They have
received but little recognition from
Harrison, and that little under pro-
test. during his first administration.
and they know that they may expect
less should he be again elected there
fore they propose taking the matter in
their own hands by seeing that Blaine
is nominated, even if it is against his
| wishes.'
This movement is the direct out
come of the belief that has been a
systematic effort on the part of Mr..
Harrison's immediate family and
close friends, first to belittle the
work which Mr.. Blaine has done as
Secretary of State, and later to drive
him out of public life by misrepre-
senting the state of his health, and it
is difficult to find an intelligent man in
| Washington, no matter what his po-
litical opinion may be, who does not
believe that such an effort has been
made, and not 4 few Of them believe
that Mr.. Harrison was fully cognizant
of what was being done, notwthstand-
ing his profession of the most cordial
friendship for Mr.. Blaine.
Treasury department officials seem
to have no difficulty in interpreting
the law just as the leaders of the re-
publican party wish it interpreted. A
case in point is the decision OF the
Commissioner of immigration that
skilled tin-plate workers may be
brought to the country under contract
without violating the law. Such de-
cision was necessary to bolster up the
manufacture of tin-plate, which has
grown SO rapidly, on paper, since the
Mckinley bill became law, and it
was promptly given on the ground,
to quote the official language OF the
Commissioner, that ''the law plainly
intended that skilled labor may be i'm
ported into the United States to do
the work of any industry not yet es-
tablished, provided skilled workmen in
that industry cannot be found among
our own people" II that be the
proper construction of the alien con.
tract law it is now in order for the
Chicago merchant to inquire why he
was compelled to send the two Jap
anese iinrickska men back to Japan.
The continued absence of Commits
sioner Raum from his post of duty is
exciting much unfavorable comment
Up to July 1, he had been away from
his Office 24o days, and on the
sd Of the month he went away and
has not yet returned. All this time
he is supposed to be devoting to his
private business while he draws a
salary Of $4,000 year to devote his
time to the business Of the Pension
bureau; but it may be set down as
certain that his superior officers be-
lieve that he is also doing some work
for Mr.. Harrison among the old sold
iers or he would not be allowed to
spend SO much time away from his
| Office.
A number of republicans of promi-
nence have been trying to persuade
Indian Commissioner Morgan to re-
verse his recently announced anti
Catholic policy in running the Indian
schools ; they told him that his action
would cost the republican party thous-
ands of Catholic votes, and that it was
justified by the facts, which show that
much good has been done in the In
| dian country by Catholic priests and
schools, but he. continues obstinate,
and has intimated that his course is
fully approved OF by the administra-
tion.
According to story told here a
committee of prominent republicans
OF Philadelphia went to Cape May
Point few days ago for the pur-
pose of suggesting to Mr.. Harrison
the advisability Of his getting rid of
Mr.. Wanamaker, not because they be-
lieved that gentleman to be dishonest
but because of his misfortune in hav-
ing been on such very friendly terms
with so many dishonest men. They
were told by Mr.. Harrison that when
he needed their advice about his cabi-
net he would send for them.
The awarding Of the contract for
Cruiser number IS to the Cramps OF
Philadelphia, by Secretary Tracy may
raise big row, as the price which is
to be psid-$2, ,6oo, 900 was not the