The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-09
WASHINGTON AT
LAST AROUSED
clty's Mongrel Population Actually
Takes 40 Interest 10 Polit les.
WILL CONTRIBUTE A CAMPAIGN FUND
Unique Campaign Literature in Many
Tongues Will BE Distributed
Throughout the Country. Governor
Bradley Places Kentucky in the
Republican Column. Effect Of the
Third Ticket.
Bureau Of The Tribune,
Enr 1att, c. NJ w

Bureau Of The Tribune.
sol 14th ST., N. W.,
Washington. Sept. 8.
When the District Of Columbia rises
to the point Of being politically inter-
ested in anything. the point at variance
must indeed be OF interest. Never
since the days Of "Boss" Sheppard has
this mongrel population been so inter-
ested as 1t Is now. AS a general thing
all that interest these people Is how
much money Is paid out here, and how
much will be spent in Washington;
whether or not the new president will
entertain elaborately and If the cabi-
net officers have pretty wives.
Strange as 1t may seem, any discus
sion Of politics here seems to be an un-
wonted and frivolous outburst, and the
best people will tell you candidly that
they take no interest in congress at all.
and never know what important legis-
lation is being discussed. The old
Georgetown aristocracy go so far as to
snub official life and point with pride
that 1t has never met a representative,
and would not know Senator Hill from
Senator Tillman. This much to the
backwardness of District folk. This
fact Ia merely set down to bring out the
antithesis in the present situation. The
District is aroused by the money ques-
tion. 1t has gone at 1t with an earnest
ness that shocks the ancient denizens
Of Georgetown. 1t has even fallen SO
low as to hold long meetings and In
dulge in prolonged discussions. And
lastly, and it does seem incredible,
and Is certainly unprecedented, the
District Is now subscribing to the cam
paign fund.
This may not be startling to the out
side world, because the outside world
does not know Washington. The aver
age Washingtonian thinks 1t the duty
Of the government to pay the expenses
Of the city, and support the citizens be-
sides. The government Is natural
prey. The government divides the ex-
pense account Of the city with the citi-
zens, but the latter think that 1t should
assume all. So one can readily see why
the foolhardiness Of raising a campaign
fund should have caused a shock to the
city as great as that which would have
followed the fall Of the Washington
monument. But this people are awak-
ened at last to danger. Just as are the
people of the entire country. Their
sloth in politics may come from their
lack Of suffrage. But they are now
stirred up to a degree that makes them
watch closely every line of the politi-
cal volume.
Last Saturday a number Of represent
tative citizens gathered at the rooms of
the board Of trade to consider ways and
means Of furthering the cause Of sound
money. 1t was felt that this year it
was not altogether a matter Of politics,
and among the number who expressed
regret at their inability to be present,
though sympathizing earnestly with
the movement, were many Democrats.
In the remarks made utterance was
given to the opinion that the triumph
Of Bryan and the election of a free sill
yer coinage congress would destroy the
best interests of the city and retard its
growth for many years to come. 1t was
resolved that not only the prosperity Of
the nations capital, but Of the country
at large. depended very much upon the
election Of Mckinley and Hobart, and
such as had hitherto affiliated with the
Democratic party were urged to set
aside party for the time being that the
cause of honest money and good gov
ernment might be advanced.
Before the meeting adjourned 1t was
resolved that an organization be per-
fected for the purpose of aiding In the
movement to elect Mckinley and Ho-
bart and to oppose the election of any
ca1didate for congress, Republican or
Democrat, who should favor the free
coinage Of silver.
CAMPAIGN LITERATURE.
The campaign committees are making
decided departure this year in the
way Of literature. They are not only
issuing any quantity in English, but
are having speeches translated into
German and Scandinavian to reach the
foreign vote. The Republicans are
reaching the Germans largely in this
way and the Democrats are turning out
Scandinavian literature by the express
wagon load. The question has arisen
as to whether parts of the Congress
sional Record can be franked after its
translation. The committees are only
waiting for a decision on this point to
flood the country with a foreign Ian
guage.
AS the campaign wears on the Re-
publicans are more confident and the
Democratic leaders correspondently de-
spondent.
The corps of Washington correspond
ents who have been TO Indianapolis,
and who went out into the state to
study the situation have been ques-
toned very closely at headquarters.
There are number Of free silver mn
among them and even these admit that
Indiana is safely for Mckinley. -.
Harry l.. West. the political editor of
the Washington Post, says that he
made thorough tour Of Indiana. 'Tf
my political experience counts for any
thing 1t tells me that Indiana will give
its vote for Mckinley. The farming
element, while it is largely for free sill
yer, will vote the Republican ticket.
They are q queer set, those Indiana
farmers. and they have somehow got
1t into their heads that free silver would
be dishonest. and injure the reputation
Of this country. This idea. whether
right or wrong, will throw almost that
entire vote to Mckinley. have also
former will elect a Republican COVER
nor and will go by q large majority for
Bryan. Illinois Is just as sure to give
its electoral vote for Mckinley"
Mr.. West IL. personally, favorable to
Bryan, but says 1t il not in the cards
for him to be elected.
KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN.
Governor Bradley has written let
ter to Chairman Babcock, Of the Con-
gressional campaign committee. to the
effect that Kentucky can with certain
ty be put down in the Republican COL
umn. Governor Bradley insists. with a
speck of humor in his letter, that II
Kentucky isnow in the doubtful column
he authorizes II to be placed where it
rightly belongs, along with Pennsyl-
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