The Press., 1897-12-09
Washington Letter.


Humanity is always greater than par
tisan politics, consequently sympathy for
the feelings of the sorrow-stricken presi-
dent is much greater today in Washington
than interest in the bustling scene which
attended the opening of the session of
congress. Duty is often stern, but the
duty which compelled President Mckinley
to leave the bedside of his dying mother
and come to Washington, in order to be
able to respond in person to joint COM
mittee of congress when it called at the
White House today, to inform him that
congress was in session and ready to re-
ceive any communication he desired to
make, seemed unusually stern. Having
performed this public duty, the president
at once started upon his sad return to
perform a sadder private duty.
Later the presidents message will be
freely discussed, but today there is no
disposition to do so, either in or out of
congress. It is this sort of thing that
shows the truth of Shakespeare's words
'One touch of nature makes the whole
world kim"
1t is no longer said in Washington that
the vice president has no influence with
the administration. 1t has been truly
said of numerous vice presidents, but
since the present administration entered
office, it has been shown almost constant
~ that the vice presidents influence is
strong. The latest evidence of Mr.. Ho-
bart's influence with the president, is the
selection of Gov. Griggs, of N. J. to sue
eeed Attorney General McKenna, who
will be nominated to succeed Justice
Field, who has just retired from the u. S.
supreme court, after having broken the
record of service upon that bench.
The ratification of the treaty for the
annexation of Hawaii isn't going to be
accomplished as easily as its friends sup
posed. Its opponents in the senate are
preparing to make an organized fight
against ratification, and, while they do
not claim strength enough to prevent
ratification on vote, they say they can
mite period. Their ability to do this is
recognized by some of the advocates of
annexation, who are already saying that
it may be necessary to bring about annex
alton by joint resolution, instead of by
treaty. The treaty must be approved by
two-thirds of the senate before it becomes
law, while a majority vote in the house
and senate and the signature of the presi-
dent makes joint resolution law. Sena-
tor Teller, whose attitude on this question
has been considered doubtful, has ann
ounced himself in favor of annexation.
Representative Allen, of Miss, who re-
joices in the title of ''Private John Allen,
sums up his opinion of the session Just
opened, as follows ''This congress will
doubtless adopt a programme of master
~ inactivity. There wont be great deal
doing at any stage of the session. Few
stirring scenes will be enacted, and the
scant contingent who would like to make
things real lively in the house will be
promptly squelched." Mr.. Allen does
not pretend to have any better sources of
information than others; this is merely
his guess.
1t isn't necessary to favor paternalism
on the part of the government to approve
of the action of the post office authorities
in deciding that newspapers carrying ad-
Vertisements of lottery schemes, under
the names of educational, p "missing let
ter" or other contests, should not be al
lowed the use of the mails. Such action
is in line with the overwhelming public
sentiment, which long ago recognized the
demorallzing influences Of lotteries of all
kinds, and caused the enactment of such
stringent laws against them as to drive
them out of business in the United States
Lotteries are as illegal under assumed
names as when conduetedOpenly as such.
Although Attorney General McKenna's
friends openly make light of the opposi-
ton to his confirmation by the senate, as
a justice of the supreme court, it Is known
that some of them are somewhat alarmed
about the protest against him, signed by
two U. S. judges and other prominent
lawyers at Portland, Oregon, and the re-
port that similar protest is being circu-
lated for signatures at San Francisco.
They charge the protest to personal en-
nifty aided by the A. P. A, which they
say is politically strong on the Pacific
coast. 1t is not considered probable that
this protest will defeat Judge McKenna's
nomination, but its nature is so extra
ordinary that it is likely to delay it, until
the senate judiciary committee has time
enough to make an investigation for it
self.
The demand from southern and western
members for bankruptcy law is so strong
that 1t Is likely to be effective in bringing
about congressional action at the present