Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-04-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
fFrom our Rsgul.r Correspondence

g0tling DOttor oYcIJ uoy "'hV"6
the republicans. The democrats
and populists are merely spectators
waiting to see il the game will
turn up any opportunities for them
to take advantage of. Although
four or Ave candidates are named,
tbs repu olicaDs are really divided
into McKIbleyites and anti-Mc-
Kinleyiies, aud tho fight has mar
rowed down to Mckinley against
the field. The McKinleyites still
claim that his nomination is assur.
ed, bat It is easy 10 see that they
have become badly frightened at
the terrific Hght which his opponents
are making on him. Unless the
politicians are all mistaken IN the
situation. the st. L1uis convention
promises 10 be the scene OF as
spirited a series of contests as
took place at Cincinnati twenty
years ago, and resulted in the turn.
ing down of Blaine and GIANT and
the nomination OF Hayes. C1rtaln.
IL the republican situation today
resembles in wany respects that
which existed 10 the early spring
of 20 The contest over the plat
form, especially he financial plank
may he qnite as spirited as that
over the cdnii Ia {.
At laet the end OF the Cdhan
resolutions is IN sight. Tnis week
the House will follow the advice
of the conference committee and
agree 10 accept the original senate
resolution. Then President Cleve-
land vill-plgeOn hole them, unless
his intentions are mlsrepI esented
by those who ought to know some
thing about them.
The date OF adjournment is be-
ing discussed. 1t Will not be as
early as Senator Platts resolution
puts it-May 2-but it is likely
to be within a month of that date.
unless the spirit which animated
the House when it took the bit IN
it's teeth, so to speak, and turned
down the leaders by refusing to
consider an appropriation bill
because it wanted to devote a day
to private bills, becomes prevail
ent and forces legislation to the
front against the wishes of the
leaders, thus DELAYING action on
The appropriation bills.
Senator Hill. of N. Y, has III
troduced q bill which bad it been
Tathered by populist, would have
been met with 8 concerted cry OF
The bill authorizes
and directs tho Secretary OF the
Treasury to detail sufficient num.
opr of revenue cutters to provide
Tor the safety Of the participants
q aud the spectators at lnteraa'
:ioual sailing regattas. There
would he Just as much common
sense in a bill directing the s Gre
AIRY Of War to detail a company
If infantry to protect the umpire
.t each and all of the games OF
seball that may be played be-
;ween American and Canadian
,lubs.
If members of Congress were
lot hard headed and difacult to
convince, the statement Of ex Sena
or Warner Miller, president of
he Nicaraguan Canal Company,
o the House Commerce committee
would have left no doubt OF the
reasons of the ex-
Senator Tor wishing Uncle Same to
10000, 900 of bonds to
" issued by the Canal company,
lor of the prejudice OF the govern
neut which made report which
lid not accord with the figures OF
he Canal company. Mr.. Miller
u so tried a little high and lofty
business, by telling the committee
,hat the canal company had never
1 ,ked for Congressional legislation
aud that all 1t now wanted was
or Congress to say whether it in
ended to taxa control or no t, as
private capital could easily be
secured If the Intention of this
government not to interfere be
made known. That sort OF
a bluff is worse than useless. Those
WHO know anything at all about
the scheme know that 1t was be-
cause of the failure to secure pri-
, ate capital that the plan Of having
bonds guaranteed by the govern
ment was brought forward.
1t 10 difficult to get facts enough
10 say positively whether the re.
nortad lntentiOn 10 rusl a bill