Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-15
MAKING READY.
A REVERSAL OF THE ORDER OF
THINGS.

Work Senator Wellington
SqueIched Political Frost In
Ohio for the Admintstr tiOn-Mc.
Kinley Favors Platt-Etc.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1897.
A week in Washington without the
launching of new war scare would
seem quite strange, it has been so long
since there was one. The war scare of
the present week was based upon the
million dollars worth of smokeless
powder for the Navy, as soon as the
money could be available to pay for
it. This is really the most war-like
step yet taken by the administration.
and it is not surprising that it should
have created sensation. 1t may be
bluff, and there may be no intention
to purchase such large quantity of
of smokeless powder. There would
certainly be no use for it, except for
fighting purposes. 1t is the belief of
some very cool-headed men that I'M
less the administration can bluff the
new Spanish ministry it will be in
position where it must choose between
fighting and backing down, and
the strongest opponents of the adj
ministration do not believe it will
back down, simply because to do so
would be to arouse such public in
dignation that every member of the
administration would be driven in dis
grace to private life. Americans can
stand a lot, but they wouldn't stand
backdown from Spain on the part OF
McKinley's administration.
The country is beginning to see that
those who charged Ex-Secretary of
State Foster with making mess of
his sealing negotiations with Great
Britain knew what they were talking
about. England's notification to this
government that it would take no part
in the sealing conference to be held
in Washington has opened the eyes of
the world to Fosters bungling. Repre-
sentatives of Russia and Japan are
now on their way to Washington to
take part in the scaling conference,
those governments having accepted
the assurances of Foster that England
had promised to also take part, when
it had not done so. Months ago Prof.
Elliott said that England had no idea
of doing so.
When man gets down everybody
seems disposed to give him kick.
The case of Senator Wellington, of
Maryland, is an instance. Months
ago, before Wellington had made that
fool exhibition ON the floor of the Sem
ate, Boss Hanna asked him to make
some speeches in the Ohio campaign
and he agreed to do so. Several days
ago Wellington was given hint that
it would greatly please Hanna if he
would cancel his Ohio engagements
on account of his health, of any other
old reason, and the announcement was
duly made that Senator Wellington's
health had compelled the cancellation
of his Ohio engagements to speak.
One of Hanna's Ohio friends, speak
ing of Wellington, said: "Hanna has
been afraid of Wellington ever since
he made that monkey-speech in the
Senate, and was determined that he
should not be allowed to speak in
Ohio. His adoption of n gentle hint
prevented embarrassment to all con-
cerned."
A well-known newspaper man, just
from Ohio, said: During the past
two weeks, l have been campaigning
with Senator Hanna. The audiences
that have turned out to hear him have
not been large, nor, to tell the truth,
have they displayed a great amount
of enthusiasm. The first weeks meet
ings were in the nature of a FROST
but lattcrly the attendance has inn
proved. The fact is that the Re-
publicans, for some cause, seem apa-
thetic."
Mr.. Mckinley is very anxious to
have the country believe that he is
not taking sides in the hot fight now
going on in Greater New York's mu-
nicipal campaign, and statements to
that effect are being sent out from
Washington. But these statements
fool nobody except those who are
easily fooled or those who wish to be
fooled. Mr.. Mckinley is with Boss
Platt, and every Federal official in
New York knows it and is acting ac-
cordingly. He wants Boss Platt to
win, and doesn't care snap whether
it be with Tracy for candidate or
with compromise candidate secured
by the withdrawal of both Tracy and
Low. He wants Plat to win because
that would give him a stronger hold
on the New York delegation to the
next Republican National Convention,
which Platt has pledged to the sup
port of Mckinley for second term.
Nobody in Washington will be greatly
surprised if the Democratic National
Committee should declare Henry
George to be the regular Democratic
candidate for Mayor of New York.
1t is unofficially stated that the
board of naval officers charged with
the duty of investigating and recon-
mending to the Secretary Of the Ma, "
the best place all things considered to
locate a government plant for the MAX
ing OF armor for naval vessels has
practically decided that the best place
for the plant is in the south and that
their choice is between Alabama and
Tennessee, with the chances slightly in
favor of their recommending the latter.
This recommendation will 90 to Con-
gress, which will decide whether the
plant shall be established. Dem.
COsMOPOLrTAN's PREsIDENT.-In a
DreyiOus issue of tho STANDApD wa OIL