The times., 1898-10-18
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

IAN uailleS diScloSeS the Interesting 1act
that only one of them, the Sun. is giving
Col. Roosevelt hearty and enthusiastic
support in his canvass for the governor
ship of the Empire State All of the So
called Republican papers appear to be
most Indifferent to the success Of the gal
liant colonel The Tribune, the chief or
gan of the G. o. p, questions Col Roose-
velt's eligibility, criticises the manage
ment of his campaign, "hopes" that he
will be elected. but plainly intimates be-
tween the lines of its comment that in Its
judgment he has no show on earth The
Press. the junior Republican organ. was
Il strong advocate of Blacks nomination.
and has not yet discovered that Roosevelt
is running The Naipa Express and
Commercial ADVERTISE are lukewarm.
while the Evening Fost. Herald. and
Times, representing ths independent and
mugwump Contingent are openly oppos-
ing the Republican ticket in their own
peculiar way. The only thick-and-thin
Re Jseveit supporter in the city of New
York is the Sun. .;
Some politicians are inclined to make
light of newspaper support or opposition
They claim that there is scarcely an in
stance where a single newspaper or COM
bination of newspapers has caused the
defeat or any man or party. They point
to the fact that the late Carter Harrison
was elected mayor of Chicago a few
years ago with only one newspaper (and
that was his OWN in the city advocating
his election; that Col. John X. Fellows
was elected district attorney in New YORK
in 1887 with the combined press of the
city, with the exception of the Sun, op-
posed to him. However, these are ,excep-
tional cases, and the friends of Col.
Roosevelt would rejoice greatly If they
could obtain the active support of the
leading New York newspapers.
There are signs of greater activity In
the New York campaign. Col Roosevelt
and Justice Van Wyck started out yes
terday on stumping tour OF the state.
Each will continue to make speeches from
now on TO the end of the canvass. II Is
understood that the managers of Van
Wyck challenged Col. Roosevelt TO make
joint canvass, but that the challenge
was refused. From present indications
the camapign in New York will wind up
in a flood of oratory. The Republican
State Committee has turned five hundred
SPELL binders loose on the unfortunate peo-
pie of the State, and the Democrats Will
have an equal number at work before the
end of the present week. To these will
be added large number of local orators
in each community. who will not charge
for their services. But unless the apathy
of the people can be overcome sufficiently
to induce them to get ont and register. the
work of the spell-binders will count for
very little. People who do not register
cannot vote.
Third Assistant Postmaster General
Merritt, who has just returned from a trip
through Western New York is confident
that Col. Roosevelt is just as good as
elected now. He declares that this is the
general impression among the Republi-
cans he met and talked with. which may
explain why so many of them apparently
have neglected to register.
The Republican Congressional Commit
tee is showing its appreciation OF the work
of the Alger Relief Commission in be-
half of the G. o. p. by having a resume
of the testimony taken by the commission
prepared in convenient form and sent out
as campaign document. Great stress is
laid upon the testimony of Gen Lee and
Gen. Wheeler as being complete vindi-
cation of the Administration by two lead
ing Democrats. As a delicate tribute to
Gen. Wheeler Senator Hanna gave orders
not to have any Republican candidate
nominated in Wheeier's congressional dis
trict. This was not such great sacri-
flee after all. as the Republicans could
not under any circumstances hope to elect
anyone in that locality.
Gen. Lee is making considerable head
way apparently in Virginia in the sena-
torial conest. Senator Martins term is
about to expire. and he is making a can
vass for reelection. Gen. Lees friends
have been very active however. and they
seem to be ahead up to the present time
An attempt will be made, 1t is said. to
embarrass Gen. Lee by introducing the
Chicago PLATFORM test; that Is, to have
resolution adopted declaring that any
man who did not indorse the Chicago
platform and vote for Bryan in 1895 ought
not to be elected to the Senate by the
Democrats of Virginia Some of Sena-
tor Martins friends have asserted that
form and that he did not vote for BRYAN
They claim that he stood by N-r. Cleve-
land. The friends of Gen. Lee however.
say that he did vote for Bryan. and that
he can stand all possible tests that may
be suggested in the matter of his De-
mocracy.
The West Virginia contest is getting
warmer and warmer as the fight pro-
crosses in that State. The announcement
of the candidacy of Senator Elkins's
father-in-law. Henry G. Davis, for Sena-
tor Faulkners seat has been a disturb
ing element. Although Mr.. Davis is
making his fight as an ostensible Dem
ocrat. the two leading Republican candi-
dates Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Scott and Gov. Atkinson, have taken
alarm. They are afraid that Mr.. Elkins
will quietly work to bring about the eec-
tion of his father-in-law. believing that
he would prefer to have him as a col
league rather than straight out Repub.
lican. 1t is conceded by these gentlemen
that Mr.. Elkins's influence may BE- suf-
ficient to turn the scale one way or ...e
other.
The reports from Maryland indicate a
probable gain of two or three congress-
men by the Democrats. The split in the
Democratic party which resulted in the
revolt against Senator German has been
healed and Democrats who were fighting
each other a year ago are now working
together in apparent harmony. On the
oil har han nd he 1inu-, far