Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-05-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May IL. 1897

What made Mr.. Mckinley lose his
nerve That ques ion has been asked many
TINES within the last two or three days.
Last week Mr. Mckinley sent for the mem
heIs Of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relat ons, ard aiser aging before them
official communications from Consul-Gen'l
FL zhugh Lee aud other consuls showing
horrible state of affairs in Cuba, announced
that he had made up his mind to send an
immediate message TO Congress, recon-
mendiug aetiCn for the relief of starving
American citizens in Cnha, and incidentally
tor the aid of Cuha Before the great re-
,icing that followed this announcement
had a chance to get fairly started, Mr.. Nc
Kiney telephoned to the Capitol that he
had changed his mind and would defer the
message until this week. What brought
about that sudden change of mind is not
positively known, but differences were
drawn from visit to the White House of
Mr. Atkins. wealthy Cuban who axes
his home in Boston, and who is credited
with having shaped the Cleveland-O lney
Cul an policy. Later Mr.. Mckinley had a
conference with the Spanish Minister, and
is said to have asked him if his government
would object TO our sending aid to starving
Americans in Cuba. just think of that.
And that is all he now recommends.
Senator Morgan was one of the members Of
the Committee who went TO see Mr.. Nc
Kinley. He will not, of course, discuss the
conference for publication, but he makes it
plain that he dosen't think Mr.. Mckinley
intends taking vigorous stand, unless he
is compelled by Congress to do so, and ex-
presses his opinion OF this man Atkins and
his eff ,rts in behalf of Spain in unmis-
takably plain language. He adds that it is
his intention to endeavor to have Congress
bring the administration to a point where
it will be compelled to do something, and
that President Mckinley must either
fish or cut bait in regard to Cuba"
Senator Deboe, of Kentucky, seems to be
really greatful to Dr. Hunter for having
given way for him and then helped him
10 get elected to the Senate. Knowing
that DR.. Hunters contest for a seat in the
House had nothing more substantial to
stand upon than the partizansnip of ma
iority of tn House, Mr.. Deboe has secured
the promise of a good appointment for
Hunter from Mr.. Mckinley and still further
to show his gratitude, he worked the Ken
lucky contingent OF Republican office
holders and would be office-hnlders for con-
tributions TO the extent of $e40, and in
vested the money in two diamond studded
watches which were duly present d to DIR.
Hunter and his wife. OF course it is
nobody's business If some of the contrib
utors to the watch fund are little behind
with their board bills They have helped
Deboe pay Apart of his debt OF gratitude.
Elk Congressman S. R. Mallery, who has
been elected by the Florida legislature to
fill the vacancy in the Senate from that
State, which has existed since March 4th, is
well known in Washington as good fellow
and good Democrat. He will be cordially
welcomed by his Democratic cOlleaguesand
be will add one more vote to the silver
majority already existing in the Senate.
The talk Of Senators on Senator Aliens
resolution asking Mr.. Mckinley not to
pardon Chapman, the broker who was
sentenced TO monthss imprisonment for
refusing to tell the names of Senators who
speculated in sugar stock, resulted in a
change of programme. The sugar trust, as
we'll as its friends in the Senate became
thoroughly alarmed and decided that Chap
man should serve his term in jail, helping
thereby to hush the talk about new sugar
investigation in the Senate. The members
Vi tuC sugar b1u0b WlO ntO un0CA tbO cotAAC
sort of indictment will trust to their money
and pull to escape Jail by legal methods.
The past week has been a bad one in other
respects for the sugar trust. 1t has been
demonstrated that thesugar schedule, which
The trust had attached to the Dingley tariff
bill can not POSSIBLY be gotten through the
Senate, not to mention the House. These
things have resulted in greater activity on
The part of the big sugar trust lobbl and
money will be spent freer than ever to Sc
cure sugar schedule in the tariff bill, as it
finally passes, that will be fairly satisfactory
the trust. Ante-election pro Misses have
some of the most prominent Republican
bound hand and feet to the wheels of the
sugar trust chariot
The second tariff comparative statement
prepared by Treasury officials for the Re-
publicans of the Senate Finance committee,
is little better than the first one, but it is
full of inaccuracies, and the charge has
been made that the sugar schedule has
been purposey mixed up The Democrats
will be prepared 10 point out the badness of
the bill, as well as the errors of the COM
parative statement by the 24th inst, to
which date the opening of the debate was
voluntarily postponed by the Republicans.