The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINGroN. d. G.. March is. 81

itical surprises if the peculiar success
of Gen. Palmer in Illinois would work
a revolution in the election of United
States Senators generally. The idea
is infectious. and threatens to start
an epidemic of popular Senatorial
elections. In New York. the Buffalo
Express has already made suggestion.
in advocacy of such a policy, to the
Republicans. In Ohio, the idea has
taken more definite and decided shape.
The Commercial- Gazette has already
propagated several pOnderous editOri-
ais, urging the adoption OF the Pal-
mer idea by the Ohio Republicans.
The Toledo Blade falls in with the eX-
humed fad of triple leads, to express
its enthusiastic concurrence. Thus
incubated. the idea may blossom into
wings. The plan in brief is this: The
Republican State convention this year
shall nominate candidate for Unit
ed States Senator, heading the ticket
with his name, in fact, and allowing
the candidate for governor to come
second. and then make his election
the issue in the choice of members of
the General Assembly. Palmer's elec-
tion is, of course, urged as prece-
dent. If the plan is adopted, an in
teresting sequel is involved. Who
will be the nominee, Mckinley, Sher-
man, Foster, Foraker, who?
Just now when the reciprocity idea
occupies the thought of the Ameri-
cans, the reported negotiation with
Spain touching the sugar trade of this
country with Cuba is Of prime impOr-
lance. 1t appears that Cuban sugar
finds IN Europe so serious COMPETITOR
IN the beet sugar produced there that
the Cuban planter turns an eye or
longing to the United States. OF the
81, 000, 900 value of imports here from
1.-The ever faithful isle" nearly $40, 0O0,-
900 is credited TO the item OF sugar
alone. Her principal market is in
this republic, and hence any measure
to promote the sugar impOrtatiOns in
TO the United States from Cuba is ma
tuyally welcomed both by the intelli-
gent Cuban and Intelligent Spaniard.
Spain desires TO repreSs the desires Of
her colonial subjects for independ
ence, and this is only to be done by
policy Of wise providence in regard to
the interests of the colOnistS. The
reciprocity policy of the administra-
tiOn farthered and furthered by the
able head of the State Department., is
one whose foundation is laid in COM
mon sense and far seeing patriotism.
1t is one which, building up the ma
tional interests of the United States,
promotes the national interests of
the nations Of the hemisphere with
whom the friendly trade relations are
established. Naturally, as the south
ern products, sugar, hides, ETC., are
larger in bulk and value than those of
Canada, and as the scheme Of polity
is more practically beneficial TO this
republic, our statesmen are more in
terested in securing reciprocity Of
commerce with the people Of Latin
America than with the more hOmoge-
neous population on our northern bor-
der. But if genuine unlimited re-
ciprocity could be instituted between
the United States and Canada there
would be the greatest encouragement
extended to the project on the part of
the government and people of this
country. The only trouble is that the
plan of Sir John Macdonald's govern
ment is so far as it is understood, a
jug-handled scheme intended to bene-
lit the Dominion altogether.
An interesting fight over post
maStership in Kansas is the moving
cause of the visit to Washington of
eX-GOV. Thomas A. Osborn Of that
State. He registered last night at
Wizards. Some days ago III SIS john
son was appointed pOStmaSt at Sill
yer Lake, Shawnee county, KanS., to
fill vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton of the Republican incumbent.
The outgoing official recommended
the appointment Of man named
Richards, but Representative Kelly,
in whose district the office is situated,
selected Miss Johnson. Her papers
were already on file, for she had pre-
yioUsly been an applicant for the
place, and her endorsements included
the names Of nearly 300 citizens of the
town. Since the appointment was
made it has been found that Miss
JOhnsOn'S male relatives were all Al
lance men in the last election and the
straight-out Republicans declare that
she is not entitled to the office. EX-
Gov. Osborn comes here to plead with
the President for the appointment of
an Out-and-Out Republican, while the
Alliance mensay that they want some
of the offices and that this is good
time to begin the fight. The contest
will be watched with good deal of
interest to see if the Straight-out Re-
publicans or the Alliance people win.
As there has been considerable dis
cussion as to why the President went
ducking lately, your correspondent
has Investigated the matter and found
out the following: Mrs. Harrison did
not want the President to go, and he
was wayering somewhat, for Mr.. Har-
riSon tries to take good care of his
health. but when the morning papers
came in he learned that he had two or
three more important offices to fill
than he had expected, and as Just then
he saw a fresh delegation of retired
statesmen marching up the broad
path. he hesitated no longer. but re-
tired to his room and donned his cord
urOys. top boots and shooting Jacket.
and left Col. Halford to meet the mob.
Acting Acknowledgement Taft said
on Saturday, in response to an inquiry
on the subject, that the United States
Government would take no steps. SC
far as he was advised, to secure the
dismissal of the proceedings institu,
ted by the British Government in the
United States Supreme Court inyoIv.
ing the Jurisdiction of this Govern.
ment over the Behring Sea fisheries