The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-12-09
Washington Letter.

Washington Letter.
(From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. 26: 1897.
"After a careful and conscien-
tious study of the situation from
an impartial and disinterested, and
in the light of the observations
which I have made upon my tour,
it is my candid Judgment that the
change we have experienced from
universal depression and dissatis-
faction to general prosperity and
contentment in the short period of
eight months under the admins
tration Of Mckinley is phenomen-
al, incompatible and without pre-
cedent in our history" That is
the testimony of Assistant Secre-
tary of War Meiklejohn, who has
just returned from six weeks tour
of the military posts of the govern
ment from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc, during which he came in con-
tact with all sorts and conditions
of men, and had a good opportun-
ity to observe the general condi-
ton of affairs. The fact that Mr..
Meiklejohn travelled through the
same states and territories in De-
cember 1894, when the country
was just beginning to fully realize
the terrible effect of Clevelandism
and free trade, enabled him to
form more vivid Impressions of
the contrast between then and
now. Of the trip from which he
has just returned, he said: Il
made q point of conversing with
men in all walks of life, and
sought to get the views of those
who were engaged in a variety of
occupations. It was the universal
testimony, and my personal obser-
vation confirms 1t, that an era of
prosperity has dawned for the
United States such as has not
blessed our people since the good
times we enjoyed under the Nc
Kinley tariff"
Judge Day, Assistant Secretary
of State, settled all rumors con-
Meeting his name with the success
orship to Attorney General Nc
Kenna, when that gentleman sue
ceeds Justice FIELD upon the bench
of the U. S. Supreme Court, by
stating that he had for personal
reasons declined the portfolio of
Attorney General, which Presi-
don't Mckinley offered him. So
far as anything to the contary is
known in Washington, Judge Day
finds his present position congen-
ial and has no intention of leaving
it.
With few exceptions republican
senators and representatives are of
the opinion that President McKin-
ley's handling of Cuban matters
has been such as to justify con
gress in leaving it entirely in his
hands. Many who were in favor
of the House adopting the joint re-
solution, adopted by the senate, at
the extra session, declaring in favor
of the recognition of the belliger-
ency of the Cubans, now express
their willingness to leave the whole
business to be dealt with by the
president. Representative Can
non the veteran chairman of the
appropriation committee, said joe
ularly of the situation: II don't
know what in the world we shall
do for speeches, now that they
have turned all the Americans
Free"
Chairman Cannon of the house
appropriation committee, speaking
of the general policy of that com
mittee in preparing appropriation
bills at this session said: Il be-
lieve in liberal, but not an ex-
travagant policy in making appro-
priations, and until our revenue in
crease shall oppose entering upon
new enterprises requiring the ex-
penditure of government funds. "
As an expert upon financial mat
ters, there is no man in Congress
whose opinion carries more weight
than that of Mr.. Cannon. He says
that by the close of the present
fiscal year, the Dingley tariff bill
will be predicting sufficient reve-
nue. to meet the legitimate expend-
itures of the government. AS to
the probable length of the session
he said: eve should be away from
here easily by the first of june
He doubts whether any important
|legislation win be accomplished,
~