The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-04-26
NO. 19
ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent,

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 49, 1895.
The pressure on the administration,
to do something to head IF the silver
stampede which seems to have seized
the democratic party, is daily growing
stronger. Mr.. Cleveland is perfectly
willing to do anything to prevent the
capture of the democratic party by
the silver men, but up to this time he
has been unable to decide what he
ought to do. At first he was disposed
to try to stop the movement by going
to Chicago and making an anti-silver
speech, which should rally the Cleve-
land democrats around the single gold
standard, and the arrangements were
made to have him invited to do so by
committee of alleged non-partisan
business men of Chicago; but later he
became doubtful as to that plan, and
has given considerable consideration
to project suggested by a member of
the Cabinet for the writing of Il series
of letters by himself and all the MEM
bers of the Cabinet. to be made pub
lie by those who received them and to
he used as weapons against the silver
phaianx of the democratic party.
Other plans have also been considered,
but nothing has yet been definitely
settled upon.
Meanwhile, Senator Roach, of
North Dakota, who is silver demo
crat, fires this broadside right under
Mr.. Cleveland's nose, SO to speak: 81
am glad to see the Illinois State cen
trail committee take the initiative in
sounding the democracy of that State
on the silver question. We have got
to meet the issue of silver in the next
national contention, and we might as
we'll hear from the various States now
as not. The Illinois scheme is good
one. and / hope to see other States
fall into line and adopt the same
plan" That is treason against Mr..
Cleveland on the part of Mr.. Roach,
or he must have known when he
made those remarks that the admin.
istration was bitterly opposed to the
Illinois scheme, and that Hon. VIM.
R. Morrison ("Horizontal Bill,") is
now in that State, at the request of
Mr.. Cleveland, trying to lay plans to
prevent the convention declaring for
free coinage.
Secretary Hoke Smith likes Wash
ington so well that he wants to step
from the Cabinet to the U. S. Senate
on March 4, 1897, and he is now en-
gagged in pulling the wires which he
thinks will accomplish that purpose.
One of the principal drawbacks to the
accomplishment of Secretary Smiths
ambition is that Senator Gordon has
shown no willingness to retire. On
the contrary, he is credited with de-
string to succeed himself, ii the demo-
Gratis can retain control of the Georgia
legislature. An attempt was made to
make deal for the election of Cor
don to be governor and Smith to the
Senate, but Gordon refused to enter
it. Ex-Speaker Crisp is also willing
to go to the Senate.
Secretary Morton's serious announ-
cement of his intention to use the
machinery of the Department of
Agriculture to make an investigation
in order to ascertain if there is beef
trust, which is responsible for the re-
cent sudden and continuing rise in
the price of beef, is enough to bringa
smile to the face of the most solemn
COW. If Mr.. Morton was honest in
making that announcement his igno-
rance is greatly to be deplored, as it is
fact well known to thousands that
there is beef trust, composed Of the
big meat packers, which has for some
time been slowly but surely forcing
the local butchers IN all towns of con-
siderable size out of business, in order
that the trust could dictate prices
without fear of local opposition. That
time has apparently come, and the
trust is putting on the screws. There
is an antitrust law, which might be
used to annoy the beef trust, even ii
nothing more could be done under It's
provisions, if Attorney General Olney
so willed But the administration is
apparently satisfied to let the case rest
on Secretary Morton's promise to in
vestigate. Meanwhile, the people can
choose between paying the prices de-
manded by the trust or stopping their
beef supply.
Today is the last day upon which
returns can be made without penalty
by those who are liable for the judi
icially emasculated income tax, and
orders have been sent out that all
those who fail are Immediately pro-
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