The age-herald., 1897-12-25
HOLIDAY GOSSIP
 FROM WASHINGTON
Special to The Age-Herald.

and congressional circles over the murder
 ing of Col. Ruiz by the Cuban rebels, and
 they have certainly weakened their cause l here by their action in the matter Those
 who have always contended that the Gu l bans were little more than savages, and
 unable to carry on warfare in a civilized 1 way, point to the Ruiz matter and call it
 nothing more than was expected. The 1 friends of the insurgents, while they try l and justify the murder in one way or an- l other, all agree that it was, to say the | least deplorable just at this time when
 sympathy for the rebels was on the wane. 1 anyhow, and stringent efforts are being
 made to revive interest in the question again, and with some little show of sue
 cess. There Is little stock taken in the
 report put out by the Cuban junta that
 the message of Col Ruiz was one of brib- 1 cry and not of peace offering. The opinion
 here is, that no matter what his mission
 may have been. and how odlous the terms of surrender offered by him may have been | to the Cubans, they should have respected his flag of truce and permitted him to de- 1 part as he came. Whether he had a for
 nal safe conduct or not does not appear; 1 but that he had what his superiors sup posed to be one is clear. Otherwise he would not have gone to certain death. 1 It is clear, however that the Cubans have I done their cause measurable harm. It | has always been contended by those in | a position best able to know that the war l fare carried on by the Cubans was not one | whit more humane or less brutal than that of the Spaniards which has so shocked | the civilized world. The reason we have | heard more of the latter, and so little of | the former, they say is due to the perni- cious activity of the "Yellow Journals who send men to the scene of action with
 instructions to report In favor of one side | only. In regard to the non-action of the administration a good deal of amusement is indulged in among statesmen and poll ticians here at the expense of the sensa- | tional journals. About a year ago, the report was promulgated by the apostles of truth that unless the president (Mr. Clevc- land) at once took action In favor of the. Cuban rebels Consul General Lee would resign, that he could not stay in Ha- vana and see the horrible cruelties that were daily being committed, while his gov ernment stood idly by. It is noticeable that although a year has passed, and ac- cording to the friends of the rebels here
 
 Gen. Lee is still in Cuba, and, so far as we here can learn, willing to stay there and draw his salary so long as the present administration permits him to remain. One of the most absorbing questions here today Is what the outcome of this
 financial fight will be, and what side of the fence MT. Mckinley will be found on when the final lining up comes as it is bound to do pretty soon. Immediately following the report of the late bi-metallic commits
 sion, which will soon be presented, there will be howl from the silver wing of the republican party that something must be done for the white metal, and the presi- dent must not come out in support of Mr. Gage's gold standard ideas. What McKin- ley will do in that case is problematical It is said that he is just now trying to carry water on both shoulders, as it were, with respect to the financial question: When he is with MT. Gage, it Is said, the president will laugh and scoff at the late commission, treating 1t all a huge joke | But when he talks with Senator Wolcott, chairman of that commission, he pats him | on the back and gives him to understand | that he will not indorse MT. Cages posi- | tion. It looks very much If this could l not be kept up for great while longer | If the president comes out unequivocably | for the gold standard, what will the silver | men of the Wolcott-Chandler stamp do? | They cannot afford to go over to the gold people with the president, for that would | mean political death. Will they do as | Senator Teller did, and cut loose from | the old party and whoop things up for | silver? No one seems to know.
 A dog fight in the rear of Senator Gull | lom's stable the other night, which was | witnessed by number of Washington's | sports Is the subject of gossip here this week. It seems that somebody gave the snap away to the police, and they swooped down on the place capturing several well | known Washingtonians, and among them young lady who. of course, gave fc- ticious name, and was released at the sta | tion on collateral furnished by her com panions. As usual the principals were al- | lowed to escape, but bench warrants have | been issued and the affair will be aired in the police court Saturday. One of those arrested. after the whole thing was over, | is the son of Senator Cockrell of Missouri, | who, however denies his whole connection with the matter. There Is a severe pen | alty for fighting dogs in the district, the | maximum being a fine of s250 and eleven | months and twenty-nine days in jail, or l both, and the participants are holding 1 their breaths. Senator Cullum is fond | of fighting dogs himself.
 Although such things are seldom given l the notoriety this case has assumed, dog l fighting and kindred sports are by. no l means rare among the congressional and | local sports of the district. There are | some high rollers among the sons of the l prominent officials here and they dc not l mind little thing like a raid. especially | If it happens across the river. where most l of these take place. The Virginia authori- | ties have more reverence for the son of a l senator or cabinet official than Washing | tonians. and are not ioathe to hush the whole matter up on the payment of small l fine and drinks all round. One of the l celebrated sports of this city in spite of