The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-07-02
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular correspondent,

tLiiAi- NfN'' IL AiiN NhlNu6C SOlif1h-
tion is talked about by the politicians
of all paitics who are now in Washing
ton. All sorts OF guesses are being
made as to what the convention will
do, but nobody pretends to be able to
do more than guess. One thing seems
certain, if such democrats as Senators
Harris OF Tenn, and Jones of Ark,
are in touch with the controlling ele-
ment in the convention, as they are
believed to be. Thatis, that Senator
Teller will not be even seriously con-
sidered as a candidate for the Presi-
dental nomination. Another thing
which 4, seems probable, if not quite
certain, is that the South will not fur
nish the candidate. Senator Black
burn, who has been endorsed by the
Kentucky democrats, will, 1t is stated,
declare his appreciation of the COM
pliment and then decline the support
offered, because of his belief that it
would be unwise to nominate South
ern man.
1t is generally admitted by demo-
Gratis that the fight in the Chicago
convention will probably be the bit
terest since the convention of 500,
but they all hope that the result will
not be so disastrous; and all are GER
tain whatever the outcome that there
will not be two democratic Presiden-
tial tickets in the field this year.
Ample time is to be given for the
delegates to fully consider the platform
and the ticket, with the understanding
that when action is taken it shall be
concurred in by the minority. Not
withstanding the extraordinary efforts
which President Cleveland and his
friends are making to prevent it, the
general impression among all classes
of politicians is that the platform will
declare for the independent free coin
age Of silver by this country at the
ratio of 70 TO 7.
There was no surprise in Washing
when it was stated as coming direct
from Mr. Hobart himself that his
nomination for Vice President was
the result of an understanding months
before the convention with Mark
Hanna, but when Hobart's talk got
back to Hanna there was probably a
few remarks made which could not be
printed in family newspaper. One
republican remarked, when told what
Hobart had said, that he thought
Hanna might at least have selected a
man who knew enough to keep his
mouth shut.
1t looks like it may be ascertained
after while just what it costs to make
armor plate for warships. During the
last session OF Congress the Senate
Naval committee made bluff at find
ing out, but it made such bad failure
that the House committee announced
its intention to try, and meanwhile
insisted upon inserting in the naval
appropriation bill clause instructine
the Secretary of the Navy to make nc
more contracts for armor plate until
Congress acted upon the matter, and
also instructing him to have an inves-
tigation made by naval officers. This
week Secretary Herbert appointed q
board consisting of Capt. w. T.
Sampson, chief of the Bureau o.
Ordinance; 1t. Commander N. E
Niles, and 1t. A. A. Ackerman to in
vestigate and report to Congress
The general belief is that too much
has been charged for the plates by
the only two concerns in the county
which have the plants to make them
81 see," said man, who served ii
Congress with Mckinley and who
knows him too well to vote for him
"that Mark Hanna is reported tC
have said that Mckinley secured tina
nomination without making any prom
ises. If Hanna said that he mus
have been joking, for he must know
that making promises has always beer
weakness with Mckinley. Why, i
kept him in hot water nearly all tn,
time he was Governor of Ohio, and ht
even went SO far sometimes as t.
promise the same thing to two differ
ent men. In one such case, wher,
both men had too much influence t.
be turned down, he had to get tn,
legislature to help him out at the ex
pense of the State by making tive
positions at $1,000 year where onl,
one had existed when he promised i
to two men. Not made any promises
Why, I'll bet my very head that Nc
Kinley has promised away every posi-
ton worth having in the gift of th
President, and nobody knows it an.
better than Mark Hanna"
While the rumor mongers wer
firing off whole broadsides of Fourth
ofJuly war fireworks, based upon wha
they supposed would be the nature O