The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-05
CAPITAL Chat.
Gossip About the Coming
Presidential Campaign.

Men Named rs Possible Candidates In ths
Three Parties-The Museum of Postoffce
Curiosities-Mourning For Fred Doug.
lass.
WASHINGTON. March 4.--[Special. l.
Our 400 or 900 statesmen of high and low
degree are preparing to leave Washington
for their homes. As they go their talk
naturally Is of the winters work, and
while many arc well satisfied with what
has boon accomplished the majority are In
anything but pleasant frame of mind.
During the last few days the gossip about
the capitol has been chiefly about the COM
ing presidential campaign, and all along
through the winter legislation has been
more or less controlled with a view to the
coming battle Among the senator's and
representatives and other officials OF the
government we have great number OF
presidential aspirants On the Republican
side Senator Allison Is the most conspicu.
Gus of the ambitious men. At the other
end OF the capitol the only avowed presi-
Dental candidate is big Tom Reed Both
have a large following, and their friends
are hopeful for their success. Senator Gull
lom Is also talked about I'm this connection
In Democratic circles the gossip chiefly
concerns Vice President Stevenson and In
terstate Commerce Commissioners Morri-
son. The Democrats agree that either
would make good candidate, and their
friends in Illinois are ranging themselves
on one side or the other preparatory to tho
struggle for control uf the state. Score
tary Carlisle is also somewhat talked of in
connection with the presidential nomina-
tion, but Is not believed to be as strong as
he was year or two ago. Oddly enough,
there is more or less talk here, especially
among eastern Democrats, Of nominating
Secretary Lamont for president The lit
tie secretary of war is as popular as no Is
capable in tho discharge Of official duties.
1t would be an odd thing 10 nominate for
president man who had boen private Sec
retary to the president, but tho unexpect-
cd sometimes happens in politics.
Third Party Candidates.
The third party people also have their
candidates for president. They talk OF
nominating the famous bewhiskered sena-
tor from Kansas, Mr. PETER, who has
shown great loyalty TO the Populist cause,
and who is man of considerable ability,
besides possessing an admirable character.
The Populists talk also OF allying them
selves with the silver party, which, they
think may possibly be formed out of Re-
publican and Democratic elements which
are favorable to the white metal In case
such party shorfti be constructed an ef-
fort may be made TO nominate for presi-
dent Senator Teller Of Colorado who IL
conceded to be the leader OF the silver
forces in congress-. There Is also talk OF
nominating Senator Cameron Of Ponnsyl-
vania, who, though an eastern Republican,
is very much in earnest In favor OF free
silver Mr.. Bland, who has been the free
silver prophet for 90 years, and who is
now going to take the lecture platform for
the cause, is also suggested for this honor.
For the vice presidential nominations
about half of the prominent men In con-
gress have been suggested by their friends.
The postoifice department. is collecting
in building devoted TO that purpose q
most interesting museum of postofiice
curiosites. Some of the articles were ex-
hibited at the Worlds fair, where they at
tracted the attention of millions of visit
ors. One of the most attractive articles Is
well mounted mail carrier, or pony ex-
press, which is not an artificial horse, but
an actual skeleton, with the real skin
drawn over It. Near by Is q working
model of the great United States mail
steamer, City OF Paris. This model is per-
feet in every detail and cost $1,000. A
fully equipped postal car, with all modern
improvements, a model of an old side
wheel steamer an Indian mail sledge,
with dogs driven tandem by n half civil
iized rcdskin on snowshoes, together afford
the visitors good idea of the various
means of carrying the mails adopted by
the department. The stamp collection Is
ono of the finest In the world and includes
specimens of all stamps ever made in this
country, from the common 1 cent blue to
tho $50 Columbian stamp.
A Travelled Postal Card.
IN this museum ono may SEQ a postal
card that made tour of the world in 100
days, the accounts kept by the first post
master general, Benjamin Franklin, in
his own handwriting; exhibits of fixtures
| and appliances used In the old days and
pictures Of frontier postofllccs where the
postmaster virtually carried letters in his
| hat; portrait of Thomas Beardsley Of
North Lansing, n. Y, who Is the oldest
living postmaster In the United States,
and who was appointed ~ years ago, and
a series of interesting photographs show
|ing n woman mail carrier who used To
|drivo her own coach among the wilds OF
the Rocky mountains. The collection of
foreign stamps is one of tho largest in tho
country. historic coach which formerly
carried tho mails on the plains is one OF
tho most interesting articles in the mu-
scum. 1t was captured by tho Indians in
1s77 and rccapturcd after hard fight, in
which n largo number OF tho redskins biz
the dust, by General Howard. Among
he persons who have travelled by this old
vehicle arc General Garfield before ho be-
came president, President Arthur OH his
visit TO Montana In 1883, and General
Sherman. When tho last named was
passenger, the coach mado n record trip
rom Fort Ellis 20 Helena, distance OF
0s miles, In eight hours. Six horses were
sed i'm each relay.