The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. G.. May 2U, le92
Mr. Blaine is not playing the role OF a polltlca
sphinx for fun, He has purpose in exhibiting
himself every day where he knows his appear
ance will be commented upon, and Whlie ne re-
fuses to talk about the Republican nomination
further than to say he doesn't want it, he tells
everyone who calls upon him that ne feels
stronger than at any time in ten years past
and that his health is perfect. There is no
doubt that his health has greatly improved re-
Gently; that is plain to all who see him. and
there is good ground for the suspicion that he
is perfectly willing now to accept the nomlna'
tion, if he can get it without saying beforehand
that he wishes it, His health is not the only
reason for this change of mind. Mrs. Blaine.
whose wishes always exercise powerful in1u-
ence over him, has, it is said made up her mind
that she wants him to accept the Domihation,
lust to keep it away from Harrison. whose wife
she wishes to humble because OF some real or
fancied slight. The philosopher who said : a
woman is at the bottom of fevery thing. ;" was not
far out of the way.
Senator Hill regards the death of Senator
Barbour as great blow to his presidential
prospects, as it was undoubtedly to the party at
large.
pumber of prominent artists here in at
tendance upon tie first annual meeting of the
National Art Association, urged the Ways and
Means Committee of the House and the Finance
Committee of the Senate to report bill repeal :
ing the duty on works OF art.
Tho attempts TO tack a free coinage amend
ment to the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill. in
the House, was q failure. The chair-Repre-
sentative Lester, oil lGeorgia-ruled them out on
points of order. and On appeal the House sus-
tanned the chair.
The House adopted the resolution offered by
Representative Boatner. calling on the Attor
ney General for Information as to what action.
if any. his cfice had taken toward ascertain
ing whether the recent Reading railroad com
bine ha violated the antitrust law. The FIRE
quency with which resolutions of this sort have
of late been fired at the Attorney General will
probably convince that official that the able
Democratic lawyers of the House are carefully
watching his office, and that more than mere
pretense of fighting the trusts is required.
True to the policy of the republican party in
Regislating for favored classes, Senator Chand-
ler introduced bill authorizing Austin Corbin
and his associates, who propose forming
steamship company. to .! tain American regis
try for all vessels of 600 or more tons. having
a speed of not less than nineteen knots an hour.
which may come into their possession by pur-
chase or otherwise. provided: that the said |
company shall contract to have built one vessel |
or equal tonnage ana speed Win the 1ofelgn |
built vessels, in an American navy yard. Why |
should this favor be granted TO millionaire |
Corbin and his associates and denied to others? |
When this bill gets to the House an attempt
will be made to amend it by striking out the
names and granting the privileges named in
the bill to any citizen ior citizens who wish to
have them on the terms proposed.
Some alarm has been created among the re-
publicans who have been doing lots of shouting
about the successful manner in which the ad
ministration had secured acceptances from
Germany, Great Britain, Austria. Hungary and
Italy to take part in the proposed International
monetary conference. by an official letter from
the State department informing Secretary Fos-
ter in answer to an inquiry, that not single
acceptance has yet been received from any of
the countries to which invitations were sent,
Anti Harrison republicans are icharging that
information has been purposely
given out to help Mr.. Harrison secure the nom
nation.
Secretary Foster now wishes he had not been 3
o precipitate in writing that the work on the q
immigrant station on Ellis Island would re- f
main a monument to wisdom long after the o
criticism that assailed it had passed from the v
,ublic mind. The chairmen of the House and h
enate immigration Committees have sent F
sitter to the Secretary, from which the follow Fl
ng is extracted: "We suggest that immediate
epairs and Strengthening of the main support C:
, the upper floor of the main building at Ellis e
,Iand be made, in the interest of humanity n
.herwise the building will not last until the is
I'D of the present investigation, and it will be
tended by great loss of life and destruction al