Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-03-21
ITIs A FRIENDLY CONTEST.
Cleveland Don't Like Gen. Miles
Chairman Babcock's Good Work.

| OHdlELIfdN DdDCOSk OOO0 w OEks
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, March lot might
be inferred from the stories sent out
from Washington by those more anx-
ious to furnish sensational matter
than to tell the truth that the Repub-
llcans in Congress who support the
several gentlemen who are willing to
lead the Republican party to victory
this year are going around scowling
at each other, ready to quarrel and
fight every time one of them says
word in favor of his candidate. This
is all tommyrot. There never has
been a contest carried on with friend
lier words than the present, up to
this time. Every one of the candi-
dates for the nomination has friends
in Congress who lose no opportunity
to talk up the fitness of their man,
and it is common to find in group
of half dozen Republicans the cham
pions of three or four candidates, but
the discussions are all thoroughly
good natured. There is no black
guarding Every one is willing to
concede that all the other candidates
are good men, but OF course, his is
the best. 1t is doubtful if a single
case could be given of a Republican
member of either branch of Congress
saying a word derogatory to candi-
date for the Republican nomination,
although every one of them is pull
ing all the wires at his command TO
elect delegates for his choice. The
Senate divided the past week between
talking about Cuba and Col. Dupont s
claim for seat in that body, and in
cidentally heard four hour anti-ad-
ministration silver speech from Sena-
tor Cockrell, of Missouri.
With the exception of unseating
Robbins of the fourth Alabama dis
trict and listening to rather start
ling exposure of Democratic methods
in that State, the House has been de-
voting itself to the appropriation
bills.
Senat committees have been au-
thorized to make favorable reports on
Senator Mitchell resolution to amend
the Constitution SO as to provide for
the election of Senators by direct vote,
and on Senator Gears bill for the adj
mission to statehood of New Mexico.
There is little doubt of the animos-
ity of the administration towards
General Miles. Mr. Cleveland only
gave him the promotion to which he
was clearly entitled because he could
not deprive him of it without such
manifest injustice that even Mr..
Cleveland would not be guilty OF.
Now this animosity has been shown
in a new way. Secretary Lamont has
written letter to Senator Hawley,
Chairman of the committee on Mill
tary Affairs, against the bill which
has been introduced in both branches
of Congress, to revive the grade of
Lieutenant General of the Army for
Gen. Miles. There would have been
nothing improper in the administra-
ton opposing this bill, although no
further back than in the last Congress
it favored identically the same bill
for the benefit of Gen. Scoffield; but
there is no question about its having
been improper for Secretary Lamont
to imply that he opposed the bill for
no other reason than that he did not
consider Gen. Miles worthy of the
distinction. However, Gen. Miles
ought to be able to stand that sort Of
thing if the administration can.
Neither Chairman Babcock, of Wis
consin, nor vice-chairman Apsley Of
Massachusetts,. had any opposition
for their old positions on the Republi-
can Congressional Campaign Com.
mittee. Nor did they deserve to have
any. Their work in the last Con
gressional campaign has never been
excelled for thoroughness. How
thorough it was may be judged from
the fact that just week before the
election of "a, Chairman Babcocl
a wagered a fine supper for nine news
paper men that the Republican mem
! bership in the House Of the fifty
fourth Congress would exceed aga