The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-01
COL. LESTER BACK HOME.
MUCH IMPROVED IN HEALTH Az
TER HIS LONG ABSENCE.

! VIII Remain Here Until the Open
Not Expect Much of the RepubIi-
can Congress In the Way of Finan-
ciaI Legislation or Otherwise-Be-
Iieves Van WyeIS VIII Be Elected
Mayor of New York and That
Bryan and Free Silver VIII BE the
Issues in 1oOO-McKinIey Has Not
the Grit 10 start a Row with
Spain, He Thinks.
Hon. Rufus f. Lester, accompanied by
Mrs. Lester, returned to Savannah yester-
day, after an absence of several months.
On account Of ill health, Col. Lester did
not return to Savannah on the adjourn
ment of congress. Acting on the advice
of his physicians he spent the heated term
in Canada, mostly in Montreal and Que
bee. Returning from Canada in the fall,
he spent some time in New York, and
more recently has been at Norfolk and
Fortress Monroe. He was at Saratoga in
the late summer.
He is looking quite well and, with the ex-
ception of a slight thickness in speaking,
appears to have entirely recovered from
his severe attack of a year ago He will
remain in Savannah until the opening of
the approaching session of congress in
December.
In speaking of political matters, Col
Lester said that he sees nothing of especial
interest in the coming session of congress.
1.-THE republicans will doubtless present
some financial legislation" he said "a
currency bill probably, which will in
clude some plan for the retirement of the
greenbacks 1t is not likely that they will
undertake any measure looking to COM
plete revision and reform of the currency
question. Of silver legislation there will
be none of course. The republican manu-
facturers are so well satisfied with the
present tariff bill that they will hardly do
any tinkering on 1t this fall They ought to
be satisfied with 1t. 1t is the worst we
ever had"
Col. Lester said that he had been keep
ing an eye on Mr.. Bryan and the part the
latter is taking in the fall campaign, and
was pleased to see that his hold upon the
people appeared as great as ever
The people who thought Bryan would
sink into obscurity after his defeat In the
presidential race will be disappointed. -
said Col. Lester. Bryan is a really great
man, and will be a prominent figure in
our national politics for long time to
come. The silver issue, instead of dying
out, is becoming more prominent every
day. 1t will be the issue in 1900. The re-
publicans will meet in st. Louis and the
democrats in Chicago, one will renomi-
nate Mckinley, and the other will NOM
mate Bryan; the democrats will indorse
the Chicago platform, and the battle will
be fought out in 1900 on the same lines as
Wi n a
Senator Teller of Colorado stated the sit
uation in a nutshell the other day. when
he said that the gold democrats would 90
to the republicans and the silver and in
dependent republicans to the democrats. -
Col. Lester has taken a lively interest
in the Greater New York mayoralty cam
paign. He believes Van TWyck will win.
though he thinks the greater part of
Georges support will go to Low
The fight has been on Tammany and
the republican organization" said Col
Lester. Henry George had imbued his
followers with such a spirit of antagonism
to both that do not think either will gain
much by his DEATH Mr.. George was
really great man, though a great crank.
His heart was with the people, though 1
do not agree with his theories. He was
making remarkable campaign, though l
do not think he would have succeeded"
OF Judge Van Wyck, the Tammany can
dldate, Col. Lester said: ivan Wyck is
really a very able man. He is a native
New Yorker, and graduated at Columbia
College, being one of the brightest men in
his class He practiced law in New York
for while, and was elected to a judge
ship, which he has since held. His oppo-
nents have been able to bring no charge
of any weight against him. The report
that Van Wyck was at one time a resi-
dent of Savannah is, I think, unfounded.
He is member of one of the old Dutch
families, being descended from Dutch an
cestry on both sides, in fact, his mother
having been a Polhemus, one of the best
known of the old Dutch families of New
York.
Col. Lester said that he did not think
there was much possibility of the United
States getting into a scrap with Spain on
account of Cuba He did not know that 1t
would be a wise thing to do, and, besides,
Mckinley hasn't got the grit to do any
thing of the kind" he said
Col. Testers friends will be glad to see
him looking so WELL and he will be as
sured of a hearty welcome on the streets
to-day.
LOCAL PERSON