The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-10-02
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

The better the news the harder well
work, is the motto which governs re-
publican headquarters, it is being lived
up to. The silver men are on the re-
treat in every state in which the Re-
publican National and Congregational
committees has made real fight fol-
Mckinley and honest money, but as
yet the retreat is orderly. By re
doubling their efforts, the republican
managers believe they can make it a
complete rout on the 3rd of November.
They are working with all vim and
energy they could put into the cam
paign if the chances for republican
victory were doubtful instead of the
victory being assured as it is. This
pleases all the visiting republicans, as it
enables them to 60 home and tell their
friends that there is no danger from
overconfidence on the part of the men
who are managing the campaign.
Chairman Babcock, of the Congress
sional committee, is now giving
special attention to the Congressional
districts, and by the middle of October
he will know about what the size of
the republican majority in the next
House will be. Two years ago when
Mr.. Babcock gave out his figures, they
were hooted at by the democrats and
many republicans were disposed to
smile at them, but when the returns
came in, it was seen that they we're
based upon direct information from
every Congressional district. Mr.
Babcock is proud. as he has every
right to be of his record as Chairman
of the Congressional committee.
He doesn't believe in the wisdom of
making his claim based on nothing
but hope, as the popocrats are now
doing. He thinks it possible always
to obtain information as to how at
least 80 per cent of the districts will
go several weeks in advance of the
election, and he wants the public to
take his figures as careful estimates
and not as mere bluff for effect.
The using of the official organ of
the Knights of Labor as campaign
document, by the Bryanite managers,
has been quickly followed by ugly
charges against prominent officials of
the K. of L. These charges are made
by responsible parties and allege that
drafts have been drawn on Mr.. J. L.
Norris, Assistant Treasurer of the Dem
ocratic National Committee, in favor
of Master Workman Sovereign and Gen.
Secretary-Treasurer Hays, who are in
immediate charge of the Journal of
the X. of L., published at Washington,
and similar drafts have been drawn
in favor of officials of the K. L. at
Chicago, Cincinnati and St. Paul, and
through a Washington Bank. The
stir created by these charges is by no
means confined to the members of the
K. of L. who do not appove of the
selling of the influence of the organi
zation to Bryan, but extends to all
who are opposed to bribery as political
agent, and may result in rumpus of
large dimensions in the X. of l..
About the most notable thing con-
nected with the appearance of Mr..
Bryan in Washington, Saturday night,
and his speech upon that occasion,
was his gall in making the farewell
address of George Washington the
basis of his speech which endorsed the
Chicago platform. Gwen the heavens
weep" said a gentleman present when
the rain storm put sudden stop to
Bryan's speech. Washington said !:
''In contemplating the causes which
may disturb our union, it occurs as a
matter of serious concern that any
ground should have been furnished for
characterizing parties geographical
determinations. Northern and South
ern, Atlantic and Western whence
designing men may endeaver to excite
belief that there is real difference
of local interests and views" Design
ing Mr.. Bryan is seeking the Presidency
through arraigning class against class
and section against section. Again,
Washington said; "As very import
ant source of strength and security
cherish public credit" Mr.. Bryan's
principle business is advocacy OF a
deprecated currency, which will injure
both private and public credit.
There have been some more or less
amusing stories in connection with
Mr.. Bryan's coming to Washington te
make speech. In the first place
there was no end of trouble in getting
a place for him to speak; then there
was more trouble about the distribu
ton of tickets for seats and about
music-the local committee seemed
to fear that some unauthorized bant
might get into the baseball park, II