Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. Jnly 90. 1897.

"Why doesn't John Sherman resign?'
asked one Ohio man of another, after
he had been listening to some of the
current talk about the manner in which
the old gentleman is sighted and hui
inflated by Mr.. Mckinley. That ques-
tion has become one Of the conundrums
of the day and it has been discussed
more frequently since the publication Of
the instructions given to Ambassador
Hay, concerning the seal fisheries nego-
| tiation. Although those instructions
were signed sherman" there are few
who believe that Secretary Sherman
wrote them, and some who openly eX-
press doubt as to whether he ever
even saw them previous to their publi-
cation. There is nothing Objectionable
from an American point of view in the
facts upon which those instructions are
based, but the language is not that
which one who has been SO long con-
nccted with things diplomatic as Mr.
Sherman has been, by reason Of his ser
vice on the senate foreign committee,
would be apt to use. One gentleman
whose long and close intercourse with
Mr.. Sherman has made him thoroughly
familiar with his style Of expressing
himself said II wi stake my eXis-
tcnce that sherman neither wrote nor
was given an opportunity to edit those
instructions; also that he knew nothing
of the intention to have them publish
ed" In view Of this sort of talk, is 1t
any wonder that men are asking why
Sherman doesn't resign? Assistant Sec
rotary Day has had charge Of all Cuban
and Spanish matters ever since he came
to Washington, and he is the man
credited with having written the Hay
instructions; also the man slated to be
secretary of state after the OHIO cleo
tion. when it is believed to be the intcn-
tion to use pressure to force sherman
out of the cabinet Mr.. sherman isn't
the sort Of man 10 have made warm
friends but he has well-wisherS who
would like to see him upset the Mckin-
ley Hanna-D Day arrangements by resign
ing now and telling why. But official
title is dear to sherman.
The expected has happened. The Re
publcans of the tariff conference CON-
mittcc have agreed to cut out the senate
sugar schedule and insert the house
schedule with several changes Of course,
in the interest of the Sugar trust The
result is Just as | stated it would be. 1t
is heralded as Il defeat of the Sugar
trust, and the agents of the trust are
doing their best to look disappointed,
while they are entirely satisfied, as the
amended Dingloy schedule gives them a
little more than they expected to get,
although, of course, not everything they
wanted; they want the earth and the
fight in conference has been concluded,
there is very little doubt that the con
ference report will be accepted and the
bill sent to Mr.. Mckinley during the
present week. There may be little
delay in reaching Il vote on the report
in the senate as Il number Of senators
wish to express their opinion on several
bunco schemes which were worked in
the conference, notably the restoration
of the 50 duty on white pine lumber,
which will put a tax OF something like
$40, 900 600 on the people for the benefit
OF the white pine combine, and the re-
placing of cotton ties and bagging on
the dutiablc list
What has the Carnegie armor plate
trust done to the senate? While Demo-
Gratis are glad to see even one trust hit,
they are at loss to know what it was that
caused the senate to limit the cost Of
armor plate to $500 a ton and senators
to inform members of the house that it
was useless to add cent to that limit
because the senate has fully determined
that no more should he paid. Republic
cans friendly to the Carnegie trust made
a hard fight for an increase in the house,
but failed, and the trust will have to
make armor for that price, or wait until
congress authorizes the payment Of
more. Mr.. Carnegie should apply to the
Sugar trust for pointers on how to man
age congress. Jerry Simpson says that
Carnegie is being punished because of
his lack of libcralty in contributing to
llanna's corruption fund in the last
campaign.
Terrence V. Powdcrly, the cX-labor
leader, has received his reward for max
| ing Mckinley campaign speeches last