The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-19
o.. WASHINGTOr. LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March 1G, 1896

sensational matter than to tell the
truth that the Republicans IN Con
gress who support the several gen
tlemen who are willing to lead the
Republican party to victory this
year are going around Sowing at
each other, ready to quarrel and
fght every time one of them says a
word in favor Of his candidate.
This is all tommyrot. There never
has been a contest carried on with
friendller words than the present.
mp to this time. Every one of the
candidates tor the nomination has
friends in Congress who lose no OPP
portunity to talk up the fitness Of
their man. and it is common to find
in a group of half a dozen Republic
cans the champions of three or four
candidates, but the discussions are
thoroughly good natured. There is
no Safeguarding. Every one is
willing to concede that all the other
candidates are good men, but Of
course, his is the best. 1t is doubt
full If single case could be given
of Republican member of either
branch Of Congress saying d word
derogatory to candidate for the
Republican nomination. although
every one of them is pulling all the
wires at his command to elect dele
gates for his choice. The Senate
divided the past week between talk
ing about Cuba and Col. Dupont's
claim for seat in that body, and
incidentally heard four hour anti
administration silver speech from
Senator Cockrell, of Missouri.
With the exception of unseatlng
Robbins of the fourth Alabama dis
trict and listening to q rather start
ling exposure of Democratic meth
DDS in that state, the House has
been devoting itself to the approprIa-
ton bills.
Senate committees have been au-
thorlzed to make favorable reports
on Senator MltchelPs resolution to
amend the constitution so as to pro-
vide for the election Of Senators by
direct vote, and on Senator Gears
bill for the admission to statehood
of New Mexico.
There is little doubt of the ami
mostly of the administration to-
wards General Miles. Mr. Cleve
land only gave him the promotion
to which he was clearly entitled be-
cause he could not deprive him of
it without such manifest injustice
that even Mr.. CLEVELAND would not
he guilty Of. Now this animoslty
has been shown in new way. Sec
rotary Lamont has written letter
to Senator Hawley, Chairman of the
committee on Military Affairs,
against the bill which has been in
PRODUCED in both branches Of Con-
gress, to revive the grade Of of Lieu
tenant-General of the Army for Gen.
Miles. There would have been moth
ing improper in the administration
opposing this bill, although no fur
ther back than IN the last Congress
it favored indentically the same bill
for the benefit of Gen. Scofeld; but
there is no question about its hav-
ing been improper for Secretary La
mont to imply that he opposed the
bill for no other reason than that
he did not consider Gen. Miles wor-
thy of the distinction. However,
Gen. Miles ought to be able to stand
that sort of thing if the administra-
ton can.
Neither Chairman BOdcock, Of
Wis, nor vice chairman Apsley, Of
Mass, had any opposition for thell
old positions on the Republican
Congressional Campaign Commit
tee. Nor did they deserve to have
any. Their work in the last Con
gressional campaign has meyer beer
excelled for thoroughness. How
thorough it was may be judged from
the fact that just week before the
election of "a, Chairman BabCocR
wagered fine supper for nine news
paper men that the Republican
tbo Hrnra oE Al,