The times., 1898-12-15
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

son, the sage of Medicine Lodge, and
James HamiltohI I.evis from the House is
attracting attention. Neither one has put
in an appearance at the Capitol since the
opening of the present session. Under the
rules of the House any member VINO is
absent during the session without leave
forfeits his pay for such time as he re-
mains away. Mr.. Reed has been quite
strict In enforcing this rule and the
chances are that when Mr.: Simpson and
Mr. Lewis appear at the office of the ser
geant at arms to draw their monthly sti-
pend that they will find that CONSIDER
able portion of 1t has been deducted on
account of absence without leave Mr..
Reed has authority to remit. the fine In
such cases. but whether he Will extend
this favor to Simpson and Lewis Is an
open question. lie might consent TO do
so, 1t Is said, IL both gentlemen will give
u pledge to keep quiet during the balance
of the session.
It is reported that Lewis is tarryins
out In his State of Washington TO watch
the official canvass OF the vote. He mas
had an idea that tho official count may
show that he has been elected, but 1t is
probably a vain hope Representative w
C. Jones' Of Washington. who went down
to defeat with Lewis. has arrived in town.
over confidence, -" he declares, is the
reason for the Democratic disaster In his
State at the recent election. IF any one,
said Mr. Jones, had on the morning or
election day offered TO guarantee my eiec
ton for ten cents / should have dechned
the proposition on the ground that II
would be waste of money. II only iliu-
strates the truth OF the old saying tnat
there il nothing so uncertain as the SO
called sure thing Our people tnodgh'
that we had cinch and did not take the
| trouble to vote. We lost the State oy the
falling OFF in the Democratic vote. me
actual gain in votes on the hepuo'eAA'
side was very slight"
Several explanations are offered by his
colleagues for Mr. Simpsons absence.
| The one which is generally accepted mas
| a tinee of romance connected with II. II
| appears. so the story runs, that peau'i-
| full young woman became so Interested IN
| MIR. Simpsons canvass that she reckless
ly wasered one thousand kisses against
| one thousand steers with wealthy
ranohman that Mr.. Simpson would be
| elected Having lost the young woman
! II is said has appealed TO Mr.. Simpson 10
| relieve her of the embarrassment ot nav
| ing TO pay her wager. Negotiat ons ase
| said to be in progress with view OF Sc
curing that result, but what the final out
| come may be IS uncertain. II Mr. simp-
| son wins the case il is expected by MS
| colleagues In the House that he W II c'i-
lect a portion Of the forfeited wager -
his fee. ,s
Governor-elect Theodore Roosevelt, as
was anticipated, is keeping Senator Platt
and the leaders of the Republican organ
J ization in New York guessing as to what
| he intends to do after he becomes gov
| ernor He is proving TO be very hard
| man to manage. Already he has turned
| down some of the most important recon-
| mendations made by Mr.. Platt In the
name of the Organization" Several days
| ago. 1t is said Mr.. Plat handed Col.
Roosevelt list OF appointments he eS-
| pected him TO make upon his assuming
| the office of governor. 1t is understood
| that Col Roosevelt has ue-penc ! d Mr..
| Platt's list most severely, and that Nery
| few of the names submitted met with his
approval. The leaders, including. OF
! course, Senator Platt. are laboring with
! Col. Roosevelt with the hops, as they put
| 1t. of bringing him to his senses. bat
| apparently they are meeting with little
success. The indications point to stormy
times at Albany after the lst Of Janaa y.
Chauncey NJ Depews path to the
United States Senate has been apparently
cleared of all obstacles All of his possi-
| BILE competitors. even including Gov.
| Black have, ii is said. Withdrawn from
| the field Gov. Black has formed part
nership with law firm in New York city
| and will become a resident of Gotham
| after he retires from the gubernatoriai
| office. Mr.. Depew, according to the pres
ent arrangement, is to be elected senator
| by acclamation.
An enterprising reporter attempted to
interview Senator Quay in Philadelphia
yesterday. He located the senator in his
counsers office engaged in conversation
with his son and some personal friends
Say that father" the son is quoted as
saying, was here consulting with his
| lawyer regarding his case"
| Don't say that" spoke up Senator
| Quay. THAT would be - lie. The
- case is over"
| 1t is not likely that New York State
will again try the experiment Of permit
| ting her soldiers to vote when absent
| from the State engaged in military SER
| vice. The taking and canvassing of these
votes have proved to be no end of bother
and expense Less than five thousand SOL
diers' votes were voted. but they have
not all been canvassed yet, and there
| are several districts in which the result
depends on the soldier vote. 1t is esti-
| mated that these votes have cost the
| Empire State over fifty dollars apiece. In
| the majority of cases the soldiers only
| voted for governor and lieutenant gov
| ernor as no lists We're furnished to the
men of the minor candidates. So far az
heard from Judge. Van Wyck polled more
| of the soldier votes than did Roosevelt
| II the election had been left to the SOL
| diers the Rough Rider would have been
| defeated.
Senator Wilson of Washington will
| leave for his State this week. The legis-
| lature. which will elect his successor, will
meet early In January. Speaking of his
| chances of succeeding himself, Senator
Wilson said yesterday: 1T is going 10
| be a hot fight. There are five avowed
| candidates in the field, but only one of
| them is likely to give me any trouble.
He is rich and is said to be spending
| money freely However / am confident