The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-10-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
Fromthe Regular Correspondent
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Fromth Regular Correspondent
Washington, Oct. Il, lses.
circumstances alter cases, In politics
ss well as in other thinge A week
ago the republicans were pointed to
tbs odds offered on Teddy Roosevelt
by betting men, as indicating what a
cineh he had on the governorshlp Of
New York Now, when odds are no
longer 10 be had and thousands OF dol.
lars offered TO bet even remain uncov-
cred, these same republicans are say
ing "the betting really has nothing to
do with the campaign" This complete
somersault Is one OF the most amusing
features of the campaign. As matter
OF fact, the change in the betting has
been brought about by the change In
the situation. When Roosevelt was
nominated, the betting men thought
he could be rushed through the cam
paign on the hurrah, and that the vot-
ers Of the state would forget every.
thing else but that be was brave
soldier n the Santiago campaign; con.
5 quentiy they back him for a winner.
They have discovered the slump in the
hurrah, and now they want to hedge.
Lots of things have shown up against
Roosevelt, not the east Of which
the almost solid oppos ian OF the Ger
mans, ore Of the most prominent OF
whom-Oswald Ottendorfer, editor OF
the Stats Eeitung-calls Roosevelt "a
big boy" and "a sensation monger"
The speeches mac e by Mr.. Mckinley
on his western trip we're not impromp-
tn by any means, ca the contrary
they were carefully prepared ot fore
he left Washington, a. result of
numerous conferences with Boss Han
ma and other party leaders, and, while
apparently non partisan were intended
to aid the republicans In the congr. s.
sional campaign, by hsrping on the
necessity OF the C untrys presenting
united front aud standing by the ad
ministration until the treaty Of peac
has been signed. 1t was a shrewd po-
litical dodge as IL Is certain that the
treaty OF peace will not be made pub
lie un:il after the congressional cleo
tions, even should 1t be con luded be-
fore then which is not at all probable.
One OF the witnesses, and, by the
way, he was the only naval officer who
has testified before Mr. McKinley's al
legged investigation commission, stated
that IL the navy had not gone to the
assistance of the army, the army rent
to Santiago W. uld never have been
landed. The witness, Lient. Frank
Il. Hill, who was detailed fr, m the
battleship Iowa TO take charge Of tie
debarkation OF Shafte,s army, con
tinued, without wal ing to be gu
TONED; "Gen. Shafter himself sal
that. The army came with but one |
ligh er, which was about the size OF |
this room. There were thirty six |
transports with men and provisions,
and the plan of landing was for the
Cubans to advance on Baiquiri while
the navy shelled the beach TO clear the |
way for the landing. The army did |
no come prepared to land and IL was |
necessary to call upon the navy for
transporta ion to the shore." Instead |
Of takirg advantage OF the lead thus
given TO ask something about why the |
army was not properly prepared to |
land, the Dom uissioners tried TO get |
funny by asking about bulldog dock |
for Gen. Shafter to be landed upon,
and whether they bad TO use derricks, |
etc. II this commission tumbles upon
anything that is not complimentary TO
Aleer, it will be done unintentioDally |
or told voluntarily by some witness
ike Lieut., Hill, who was temporarily
given chance toStalk without being
compe led to conhne himself to an
swer ng questions asked.
The style in which Mr.. McKinley's
commission started upon its juncket
of the army camps, beginning with
that OF Gen, Fitz. Lee, at Jackson
vile, Fla / dicates that the people
will have to pay an enormous bill for
this up to this time entirely useless
luxury. A special train Of five ears
two Pullman, private car, a dining
car and baggage car, was required
to carry the commission and its hang