The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-17
THE POLITICAL WORLD
A Warm Ante-Republican Con-
vention Campaign.
MKNLEY AGAINST THE FIELD.

Plans OF . Certain big Four" Combine
tion - Mr.. weilman Says There Was
Nothing Crooked In the Big Bond Bids.
Mr.. Halls Explanation
wAsHIxsToS. Feb. ,7-lSpecial. lin
the political world matters are Assuming
a decidedly interesting phase The ante
convention campaign within the Repub-
lican party is now becoming warm II
has been discovered that once week
Messrs. Plat. Quay, Manley and Clarkson
hold q conference at the house Of Senator
Quay In this city. 1t has also leaked out
that they are making plans which may
have an important bearing upon the de-
alterations of the st. Louis convention.
They are at present bending their energies
toward bringing out as many candidates
as possible for the Republican nomination.
This Is true because they are opposed TO
the nomination Of Ex-Governor Mckinley
and because the canvass of the situation
which they have made tells them Mr.. No
Kinley Is In the lead In fact. as one OF
them expressed IL TO me, 1t Is low NC
Kinley against the fleld." This docs not
mean BY any manner of means that Mo-
Kinley is sure of the nomination He Is
the leader, however. and unless something
be done to weaken his following he Will
stand a good chance to win.
The Political Game.
The plans which the big men OF the
party are now making look TO the intro
duction of as many favorite sons as can be
induced to enter the race. These mana.
gers encouraged Senator Davis to take the
field. They were instrumental to some
extent In bringing Senator Cullom out as
bidder for the votes Of the Illinois dele
cation. They have encouraged Senator
Elkins 10 take the field as the candidate OF
West Virginia. They have tried TO induce
General Alger TO pose as the favorite son
of Michigan. The same Establishments
have been resorted to for the purpose OF
making Governor Bradley the favorlte son
Of Kentucky. There has been talk of ex-
Senator Henderson or Senator Thurston
entering the race as the choice OF Ne
braska and of ex-senator Spooner as the
chosen one of the Republicans Of Wiscon-
sin. 1t will be noticed that all these can
didates, actual or embryo, hail from states
In which the Napoleonio candidate Is be-
lieved to be very strong. The friends OF
| Mckinley say the managers want to have
| the field divided up as much as posi- BILE,
SO that they may have the better chance to
make combinations and play politics
| They do not much like the tactics which
the big politicians are pursuing. but claim
that all these maneuvers ore a tribute 10
McKinleys strength with the masses Of
the party.
The Recent Bond Bids.
Letters received here by senators and
representatives show that throughout the
country there exists general suspicion to
the effect that there was something crook
ed In the recent bond bids in the treasury
| department. So general is this suspicion
that more than one member OF congress
has felt Ii to be his duty to write his
friends at homo explaining the matter. Ii
appears that in the present state OF the
public mind q suspicion has fertile soil in
which to grow and spread. The masses or
the people are quick to believe evil report
concerning public officials at the national
capital The public remembers that 1t
was j. Pierpont Morgan who made pri-
vate contract with the administration for
q large sale of bonds year ngo. a contract
which 1t Is admitted put millions OF mon
ey into Mr.. Morgan's pocket or those or
his associates. Another bond sale comes
along this time public one, and Mr..
| Morgan waits till the last minute before
| putting In his bid, and when the bids are
opened 1t is found that the sbrewd hnan-
cier has captured a large share OF the bonds
by virtue of having bid trife higher than
his chief rival. Therefore the popular
conclusion Is that Mr. Morgan must have
had some information concerning the Did
Of his rival and that this information
must have been given him corruptly by
officials of the treasury.
II there had been any wrongdoing oil
this sort readers may be sure the Repub
lican senators and congressman would
have ordered an Investigation long before
this. am wholly within bounds when
say that the suspicion OF wrong Ia thu
matter is not entertained by single he
publican congressman Of experience and
Judgment. 1t Is not entertained by any
one l am at pains TO state this mattel
plainly and positively because In the opin
ion of many public men 1t is n shame &c
have an unfounded suspicion creeping
through the public mind. 1t Is loss &c
the country II the people cannot have faith
in the honesty of their officials at Wash
ington
Banker Morgan Not In High Favor.
These facts must put at rest forever al
suspicion that there was any wrongdoins
on the part OF treasury officials. Another
thing not generally known but whicf
should be borne In mind. Is that Mr.
Stewart is now on much more friendly
terms with the president and the secretar.
of the treasury aud their subordinate
than Mr. Morgan is. The latter Is not II
high favor with the administration be
cause he made such hard terms In the pri
yate contract of last year and because si'
weeks ago when he was asked to hoat an
other loan be declined TO make price 10
| the bonds which the president though
| reasonable The fact Is, Mr. Morgan
thought he could force the president =
sell him the bonds at l05 but atterwar'
was glad TO bid nearly Ill for the Who'll
issue.
, Andrew Carnegie, the famous iron mil
, lionaire Of Pittsburg, was in Washington
a few days ago aud while here attracts
much atten on by remark which b
made concerning Cuba. He said he wa
in favor OF ths acquisition Of Cuba by III
United States and thought u to the inter
est of this country to buy the island out
right OF spain The same opinion Ia
since been expressed 10y number OF prom
ineut men, and In case spain fails 10 sup
press the revolution and concludes to SCI
: Cuba II IL net impossible the United State
will come forward as buyer.
A somewhat extraordinary personal ex
planat on was made in the house fes
days ago MIR Hall OF Missouri rose an
said Mr. Speaker. In speaking itti
while ago made a statement which wa
misunderstood When l referred TO IN
fact that the lower animals never chang