The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-10-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, Oct. In. 1901

oIldhcu UP HOul center 10 ClrCulnler
ence by Mr.. Blainc's letter explaining
his position in relation to the McKin-
ley tariff bill. They appear to regard
the letter as Mr.. Blane's pronuncia-
mento, issued to inform his special
friends and followers that he is still in
the political ring. And if republican
opinion here is fair reflection of it
elsewhere, it looks very much like 4
gigantic Blaine boom was about to be
launched on the country, and that Bre'r
Harrison was to be crowded out of the
hurrah, if such a thing can be done.
One thing is very certain, Mr.. Blaine's
letter, which contains about nine parts
endorsement of the Blaine reciprocity
idea to one Of the Mckinley tariff act,
is not the work Of sick man, but Of a
very shrewd wide awake politician who
is more intent upon pushing his own
fortunes than upon helping Mckinley.
The fact is that Mr.. Blaine will never
forgive Maj. Mckinley for snubbing
him by ignoring every suggestion he
made when the original Mckinley bill
was being constructed, and while he is
too strict party man to oppose Nc
kinley's election he would not grieve
any to see him defeated.
The officials of the State department
are apparently never SO happy asl when
deceiving the public. After repeated
ly denying that our minister to China,
who by the way happens to be good
democrat-Gen. Denvy, of Indiana -
had been instructed to join with the
powers in the recent demand made up
on China for the protection of foreign
ers resident in that country, they now
acknowledge that such instructions
were sent to him some time ago. There
may be times when these officials
would be justified in temporarily keep
ing knowledge in their possession from
the public, but there is never any time
when misstatements by officials are JUS
tiiable, and least Of all are they justi-
fable in this case, which may involve
the country in war.
Civil Service Commissioner Roose-
welt is again at his desk, and he is ap-
parently trying to prevent the clerks in
the government service from being
bulldozed into giving up their money
to political collectors. He says he in
tends to have a bill introduced in the
next Congress to make it crime to
send circulars to office holders asking
them to make political contributions.
Mr.. Roosevelt may be perfectly honest,
but he should not have prolonged his
vacation until the departments had
been worked if he really wished to
put stop to this evil.
Mr.. Harrison made an excellent
short speech on International arbitra
ton to the Methodist Ecumenical
Conference Saturday. Secretaries No
bic and Foster also made speeches.
Representatives Mills and Crisp,
the rivals for the Speakership, spent sew
eral days resting in Washington last
week. They have both gone to fill
campaign engagements, Mr.. Mills to
Massachusetts, and Mr.. Crisp to OHIO.
The friends Of both Of these gentlemen
claim their man to be in the lead in
the Speakership contest, although &C
knowledging that neither have enough
votes to nominate, and there is more
bad feeling shown by some of their
followers than should exist in a friend
ly campaign. If this is not eliminated,
there is probability that neither OF
them will receive the nomination.
There is rumor that Mr.. Harrison
is trying to make some sort of a COM
bination to secure the support Of Gen.
Russell A. Alger, who is now in Wash
ington, it is said, by request of Mr..
Harrison. 1t seems queer to see so
much trouble being taken to capture
an empty honor.
A special train carried a large crowd
of Washington people to the funeral
OF the late Representative w. II. +.
Lee, which took place Saturday after
noon at his late residence, Ravensworth,
Virginia
Rev. James NJ. Townsend, the Indi.
ana colored clergyman who was in 1889
made Recorder Of the General Land
Office, has resigned, for the purpose Of
returning to Indiana. 1t was at first
rumored that the 'olored preacher
politician was going back home to
fight Harrison's denomination, but the
fact has now leaked out that he goes
at the special request Of Mr.. Harrison,
to See if he cannot quell the anti Har,
rison feeling which has of late shown
itself to be rather strong among the
colored voters of that State, as il
would seriously interfere with the Har-
rison programme to have it stated up
on the floor of the republican national