The Opelousas courier., 1896-05-16
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May II, 1896.
That President Cleveland has it in
his power to upset the campaign plan
of the Republicans was fully shown ey
the CONSERVATION among them Over a
rumor that President Cleveland pro-
posed to issue a proclamation calling an
extra session of Congress within thirty
days of the adjournment OF the present
ton. If President Cleveland really in
tended to take such action, he wouldn't
be likely to talk about it now. But
even if nothing more was accomplished,
an extra session would compel the Re-
publicans to come forward with IL def
mite financial plan in advance of the
presidential election, or acknowledge
their inability to agree upon one, and
i'm either case the Democrats would ne
cessarily be the gamers.
After consultation with President
Cleveland, Secretary OlDey notified the
Spanish authorities that the men cap
tured on the recent tilibustering ex-
petition to Cuba who claim to he Amer
lean citizens, snd who have been sen
fenced to death by a Spanish court in
Cuba, must not he executed before this
government has fully investigated their
claims to citizenship, and their guilt.
Such men as Senators Brice and Cor
man-men who never allow their hopes
and wishes to warp their Judgment, are
Kinley by the Republicans will give The
Democrats more than a fighting chance
to elect the next President, and Nc
Kinley's nomination is now regarded as
certain as anything not accomplished
can be. Consequently there is IL lively
sprucing up among Democrats, and Il
quiet but strong movement looking to-
wards party unity at the Chicago Con
vention has been started. Upon the
success of this movement largely de-
ponds party success next November, as
it ia only by unity that the party can
possibly win. This movement hasn't
got down to details yet. 1t only seeks
to impress upon the mind of every
Democrat the necessity for the minority
of the National Convention to loyalty
support the decision of the majority,
leaving details to be worked out later.
1t has been suggested that every dele
gate to the Convention be asked to
pledge his support to the candidate and
platform before he takes his seat That
brought about by voluntary action of
lllc avs &c III NAIct "
exacting such a pledge.
The air is full of gossip concerning
the Supreme Council Of the A. P. A. in
Washington this week. II some d the
charges concerning the use of mQGeyto
influence prominent A. p. A. MN for
and against McKinly are bratkght up
and su bstantiated, as it is said they will
be, there is likely to be a red hot fight
which may result in a disruption of the
organization.
Secretary Herbert has issued an order
directing that all results of the testing
of armor plates and guns for the Navy
shall be kept secret. This action has
been Aken because European govern
ments have declined to allow us to
know e4e RESULTS of similar tests made
by them, although we have allowed
their officers to be present at those
made by this government.
The Republican House capped the
climax of this acknowledgements
neutrality-suspicious. : bills session
by voting $1,000 a year to each member
for clerk hire. Even if the members
really paid this money to clerks for as
sisting them this would have been an
uDjustifiable extravaganza, but it is
we'll known that many of tho members
have pocketed all or a greater part of
the 800 a month allowed them during
the sessions of Congress for several
years past, getting what clerical assist
ance they needed from their wives,
their children or IOm some constituent
they had put into some small place
around the capitol and believed that
they will continue to pocket the in
creased sum-.