Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-29
Washington Letter.
rom our Regular Correspondent. I

WASHINGTON, December "a. 1897
There is no probability that the at
tempt which is being quietly made
by the representatives OF several
European countries to get this coun-
try to interfere with the partition Of
China by Germany and other Euro
pean nations will be successful.
President Mckinley and his advisers
are too shrewd to allow this country
to be embroiled in a matter which
concerns us so little. American in
terests in China will be protected,
and that is as tar as this administered
ton will go 1t Is perfectly satisfied
to leave England, Germany. France
and Russia TO settle their acquisition
OF Chinese territory among them
8 Ives.
Hon. j. II Brigham, assistant
secretary Of agriculture, has lust re-
turned from Ohio, where he was
about ten days. In reply to Dues
tiOns as to the sentiment of the party
towards the election of Senator Han
ma, which he says Is an absolute GER
talnty, he said: "In conversation
with leading Republicans throughout
the state found but one expression,
and that was that there is no ques-
tlOn about the senator's election
There are undoubtedly a few men
who are prominent In the politics of
the state who would like to see Mr..
Hanna defeated, but | do not believe
that a single member elect as a Re
publican Will commit political suicide
by refusing to be governed by the eX-
pressed wish OF the state convention.
No man can hope for political pre-
ferment who betrays his party in an
emergency like this" Senator Hanna
went to Ohio this week, and expects
to remain there until the senatorship
Is settled. He is confident of winning
Secretary Wilson this week notified
senator's and representatives that
the seeds for free distribution had ar.
rived and would be sent out as fast
as the addressed franks OF the con-
greSSmen are received at the depart
ment OF agriculture. If your readers
want any OF these seeds they should
jog the memory Of their congressman
before he has disposed of his share.
Hon D. K. Burton, OF Kansas, who
knows the politics of that state like
a book, saln: Speaking fgurative-
ly, Kansas is now wearing it's Sunday
clothes every day. Our people have
been paying off debts with rapldity
that has no parallel. This year after
dlscharging a heavy total of obliga-
tons, they have been able to save
SloO, 900, 900, and have lived we'll
besides. There has been improve
ment all along the line, agricultural,
commercial and political The Re-
publican party, after battling hard
since 1890, and with Il constantly
increasing vote, at last can see su-
premacy IN sight. 1t has been hard
fight against the combined opposi-
ton forces, but | regard it as certain
that the party will triumph at the
polls next year and in 1900. AS
fusion will soon be a thing of the
past, so will populism That had a
bigger run in Kansas than anywhere
else, but il is dying out everywhere"
Secretary Sherman has been consid-
ering a plan for reorganization
and betterment of our consular SER
vice, and the result of his study will be
embodied IN some recommendation
that will be submitted to congress.
One Of these recommendations will be
that American citizens be placed in
charge of those consuIates now held
by foreigners, and another that sal
aries be increased at the small and
unhealthy ports.
Each member of the cabinet will
send separate answer to the senate
resolution asking the heads of the
executive departments to give their
opinion OF the working OF the civil
service law and rules and their advice
as o what might be done to improve
existing conditions. 1t is known
that Secretary Gage ~ill recommend
the taking Of number of places in
his department from under the civil
service rules and that Secretary
Wilson will do the same as to most
OF the positions in his department
which require wide experience as we'll
as technical knowledge.