Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21
5 REGARDED AS ABSURD
The Assertion That Senator Wolcott Will
Resign in Disgust.
Does Not Look on Secretary Cages
rositt0n as Representing That of
the Administration on Finance.

The story that Senator Wolcott is dis
Susted' with the administration and is
going to resign from the Senate because OF
the Presidents financial policy is regarded
here as absurd. Mr.. Wolcott il in New
York. but what is known of the situation
and of his relations with the President
seems to render unnecessary a denial from
him.
The story grows out of a misapprehen-
sion Of the situation.
Senator Wolcott is devoted to President
Mckinley. and either represents him or
misrepresents him with much warmth and
vigor. The senator makes distinction be-
tween Secretary Cages position and that
Of the "aGminstra ton" He feels toward
Mr.. Gage as does Senator Chandler and It
is expected that at very early day he will
take occasion to dencunce the policy of the
Secretary of the Treasury in his most
choice phrases.
A strange situation is developing with
respect to the administration and MIR. VOL
oott's commission.
comedy Of errors is being played. 1t
may result ultimately in Sir. Wolcott's re-
signing from The already d :unct commits
siCn, but not in lis departurt from the
Senate.
One cf two things is "A ract: Either Pres-
dent Mckinley and his Secretary of Treas
ury are at variance or else Nj. Wolco.t
and his sympalhizers are utterly deceived
as to the Presidents attitude. MIR. VOL
colt has talked long and earnestly with
the President since his return from Europe,
and yet he defends the President, while
taking a position of antagonism toward
Mr.. Gage.
Secretary Cages Position.
The assertion is made among Mr.. VOL
cots circle of sympat thizers that Secretary
Gage risreprese ents the inistration and
that if it we're not for the political disturb
ance it would cause. Mr.. Gage would retire
from the cabinet. This assertion which is
row made privately. or one of similar i'm
port, Is likely 10 pe made public before
loEg.
If this Is done, the issue will then be
raised, and the public will know the facts.
The result will probably be that Mr. VOL
cott will find that he has misunderstood
the position Of the President and will then
become drama tically offended at the ad-
ministratton. His undertaking to repre-
sent the administration after all he has
SAID IN favor of free silver appears anom-
alous and mischievous. The President can
hardly be in sympathy with both Secretary
Gage and the Colorado senator
as things are now tending the President
VIII probably have to break with one OF the
other OF them. and, unless the President is
misunderstood by the leaders of his marty
and the persons closest to him. the break
will not be with the Secretary of the Treas
ury. After Mr.. Wolcott has had his saw
about Secretary Gage and his financial pol
icy, il will be hardly consistent that both
Mr.. Gage and Mr.. Woicott should be sin
touch with the administration on the
financial question. The collapse Of the
commission is what is expected by most
people, and this seems the more probable
fhaf
and Senator Wolcott conferred together
over Secretary Cages statement about
committing this government more thor
oughly to the gold standard, and that the
two senators sympathize in their hostile
feeling toward the policy of the Secretary
of the Treasury.