The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-06-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.


reason to be. Democratic prospects
were never brighter, and nothing bur
the making of gigantic mistake by
the Chicago convention, and there
exists no reason for anticipating any
thing of that sort, can prevent the
democrts naming the next President
Of the United States. The Mimi
eapolis convention could not possibly
have done more to please the demo.
Gratis than it did do.
1t made the infamous force bill a
part of its platform; it nominated the
champion of that measure for Presi-
dent, and, as if the democratic cup of
joy were not already overflowing, it
nominated Whitelaw Reid for Vice
President. Mr.. Harrison is acknow-
ledged to be weak in States which the
Republicans must carry to win; but
Whitelaw Reid is weak everywhere.
He has for many years made war in
his paper, the New York Tribune on
all organized Labor, and particularly up
on the typographical Union, a fact
which will not be forgotten because
he for the purpose of getting himself
on the ticket, allowed the Union
printers to take charge of his Office un-
til after the election. The files of
his paper will furnish reason enough
to prevent any friend of organized
labor casting vote for the ticket
which carries his name.
MIR. Reid has another element of
weakness that will neither be lost
sight Of nor forgiven by the old stall
wart element in the republican party.
Some of the most bitter attacks ever
made upon Grant were written by
Reid during the Greeley campaign
when he was supporting the. demo
cratic national ticket. The Grant
men never forgive those who attacked
their idol, as one James G.. Blaine
could testify to, if SO disposed, and it
is certain that many thousand of them
will refuse to vote the ticket of their
party because Reid's name is on it. A
weaker ticket than Harrison and Reid
could not have been named.
The return of the republican bosses
who went to Minneapolis to "dowu'
Harrison, was much quieter than their
departure from Washington; but, not
withstanding professed intentions of
support,they are still bent upon down
ing him, and this time they will Sue
ceed, as the contest will be before a
tribunal that cannot be controlled by
Federal Office holders, and when that
tribunal shall render its verdict aginst
Harrison and Reid joyful chorus of
Il told you so's' will be heard from
Quay, Plat, Clarkson & Co.
The presence at the Minneapolis
convention of such large number of
Office holders, has revived the idea of
an amendment to the civil service re-
form law, prohibiting any Federal off
ice holder becoming a delegate or
alternate to any nominating convent
ion. There is no question that such
an amendment would be in the line
of real reform, and many think that
Senators and Representatives should
also be included.
The investigation Of the Census
bureau will not probably proceed much
further until after the Chicago con-
vention, as Representative Fithian,
chairman of the comttee has gone to
Chicago to remain until the convent
ion concludes its work. He says he
proposes making short work of the
investigation when he returns.
The conference committee on the
river and harbor bill held its first
meeting today. Its members are
confident Of reaching an agreement
and getting their report before the
Senate and House this week.
1t is understood that MIR. Harrison
is almost as much pleased at having
at last succeeded in getting rid of MIR.
Blaine as he is at being renominated.
He will take pains in filling the vac
ancy not to select man larger than
himself.
Representative Bryan, of Nebraska,
whose speech on the tariff made such
a wide and favorable impression last
winter, is delighted. He says: " Har-
rison's nomination will be especially
helpful to the democrats of the west,
because he represents all that is stall
wart in the republican party. The
young men are drifting to the demo-
cracy. and there is nothing about
Harrison to change the drift. He
represents all that is high in protec-
ton and all that is bitter in partisan
ship. This, together with the fact that
he is opposed to the west on the sill
yer question, will make his nomination
of special advantage to the democrats
of that section.
The death of Col. l.. l.. Polk,
President of the Farmers Alliance,
which occurred here on Saturday,
upset the plans of the leaders of that
organization to yery great extent, as