Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-09-07
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.

has certainly done number Of things
recently which Indicate that he does,
and quite number of shrewd observ-
ers of things political at the National
Capital have stated their opinions to be,
that Mr.. Cleveland would be glad to
see either the republicans control, or
the populists hold the balance Of power
in the next house His last act before
leaving Washington was to appoint a
long list OF postmasters, three-fourths
OF whom were opposed by the demo-
cratic congressman from their districts,
thus apparently adding all he could to
the difficulties already being eXper-
fenced by the aforesaid democratic con-
gressmen. He is also at the bottom of
the row in the democratic congress
ional campaign committee, which will
probably result in that committee not
sending out any tariff documents at al,
leaving every democratic candidate
free to decide for himself, whether he
will defend or abuse the sugar trust
tariff law.
The theory of those who Lelieve this
to be Mr.. Cleveland's position is that
he has had quite enough democratic
legislation and wishes to see congress
in a position where it can do nothing
for the next two years, eX 'ept to pass the
regular appropriation bills. He hopes
by that time that the people will have
forgotten the disasterons first two years
of his administration, and that he will
have at least fighting chance to be
reelected should he succeed in getting
the nomination again, which he is ego
tiststical enough to believe that he can
easily do, Notwithstanding his being on
bad terms with nearly every prominent
member of his party. There is one
little drawback certain to defeat this
scheme, even should all the rest of it
work-the people will not forget,
Secretary Gresham either has a short
memory or he thinks that the American
people have. When the tariff bill was
pending in the senate news was cabled
from Europe, that if the sugar trust
schedule became law Spain would re-
taliate by abrogating the reciprocity
agreement under which American pro-
ducts were given special rates by Cuba
and Porto Rico. SO great an impress
sion did that cablegram have on the
senate, that resolution was adopted
asking the secretary of state if he had
any knowledge of an intention upon
the part Of Spain or any other country
to retaliate upon the United States be-
cause of the tariff bill In answer to
that resolution Secretary Gresham said
he had no such information, and init
mated that nobody else had, and that
he did not believe any country con-
templatee such action. Now, when the
state department is in possession of the
official notification of the abrogation OF
the reciprocity agreement with Spain
for Cuba and Porto Rico, he says he i.
not surprised, and that he expects other
countries TO abrogate the reciprocity
agreements made under the Mckinley
law. 1t looks as though Mr.. Gresham
also allows the interests of the sugar
trust to regulate his official utterances
Mr.. Philip T. Colgrove. chairman OF
the State League of republican clubs OF
Michigan, is visiting Washington. He
says: The democrats will make q
poor showing in Michigan this year
The grand old party VIII sweep the
State by fifty thousand to seventy-fvC
thousand majority. 1t can beat the
combined opposition of democrats ant
populists, with the prohibitonist.
thrown IN. OF the twelve congress
sional districts, the republicans will
carry all but the first"
Senator Henderson is trying hard tC
convince Secretary Carlisle of the in
justice of his decision, that no more
sugar bounties should be paid. Sena
tor Henderson contends, and it is {
common sense contention, that the
sugar makers are entitled TO the bounty
on every pound of sugar made up tC
the hour that the tariff bill went into
effect, and he is not without hope thai
Secretary Carlisle will reverse his de
cision, as he has already reversed
several other tariff decisions he ha.
made. Whether he succeeds or not
that clause OF the tariff bill which re
peals the sugar bounty will probably
get into the courts sooner or later, a.
it is contended by many, that thu