The times., 1898-10-08
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

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playing in what may be termed mildly
as hard luck. just as they had got the
Alger Relief Commission fairly under
way and the whitewashing machinery in
good working order, the Pillager Indians
out in the Northwest had the bad taste
| to take ii into their heads to go upon the
warpath, thus forcing Alger and his
! sociates to undertake the management of
another campaign The War Department
has apparently learned nothing from its
| Cuban experience. Blunders and stupidi-
| ty are running a dead heat race in the
| War Department
AS an illustration: Indian Agent Tink-
er wired Secretary of the Interior Bliss:
'Re-enforcements Immediately; our force
annihilated." This urgent message was
promptly repeated to the War Depart
ment. Apparently it was the first inti-
nation that that department had receiv-
ed that there was any trouble with the
Indians at the point named The officials
OF the department We're evidently daZed
oy the news Probably they got adrift
over the word "annihilation" and its
meaning. There are numerous dictiona-
ries and encyclopedias in the War De-
partment library but no one apparently
thought OF consulting them At all events
lLter delay OF an hour or two this mes
sage was forwarded TO Agent Tinker
from the adjutant generals office:
What Is the matter at Leech Lake?
Wire particulars"
Meantime the soldiers who had not
been wiped out were fighting for their
lives and the War Department was help
ing them out by calling for particulars
Is 1t any wonder. in the light of the
above, that hundreds of the lives of our
brave soldiers were sacrificed In our re-
cent war with Spain through the incom-
petence, stupidity and perhaps something
worse which prevails in Secretary Ayers
department? Ii would seem to be In or
der, If there should happen to be any sur
VlVors or Gen. Bacon's command to sum-
mon them before the Relief Commission.
Ihey would, of course (under pressure)
say that the War Department had made
no mistakes and had rendered all the as
sistance possible under the eircum-
stances. If any of the men had happened
TO be killed ii was clearly their own
iault as tney had not with apologies to
Aiger) learned how to take care of them
selves.
There were unmistakable signs visible
that the President was very much dis
turbed over this latest ''break" of the
War Department It is calculated to
nave very depressing effect upon the
congressional elections in the Northwest.
where, by the way. Chairman Hanna has
been placing his greatest reliance in
maintaining a Republican majority In the
fifty-siXth Congress-and largely be-
cause or the assistance expected from
that astute political organizer, Archbish-
op Ireland.
The eloquent voice of the Hon. Charles
s Hartman, of Montana will be missed
from the Fifty-sixth Congress. Hart
man is silver Republican. He received
the Endorsement Of the Democrats two
years ago. and was elected by a good ma
1ority, but the Democrats refused to so
into combination with the silver Repub-
Hcans this year and nominated
straight-out party man. Mr. Hartman,
instead of sulking In his tent, as many
statesmen have done in the past under
similar circumstances, and running as an
independent candidate, which might have
resulted in the election of the Republican
nominee, quietly withdrew indorsed the
Democrat and has gone o1t on the stump
for him. By taking this course Mr. Hart
man has naturally made many friends.
and the chances are thatsh may succeed
Senator Lee Mantle, of Montana, upon
the expiration Of the latteg'S term.
Col. Roosevelt has had a serious hand
leap added to him in his race for The
governorship of the Empire State. in the
denomination of Timothy E. Ellsworth
for the State senate In New York Ellis
worth is the father and sponsor of the
press gag-law which was introduced in
rfaa Il larr rss-a,
The proposed law was most drastic in its
provisions 1t provided that no newspa-
per or periodical should publish the pic
ture or caricature of any man in public
life without first obtaining his consent
Other provisions of the bill were intended
to render il almost impossible for a
newspaper or publication of any descrip-
tion to criticise the acts of any State Of
fetal without running the risk of incur
ring as a penalty both fine and imprison-
ment. The newspapers of the State with
out distinction as to party were practi-
cally unanimous in opposing the Els
worth bill. They succeeded in killing it.
and while they have been almost as
unanimous in fighting against Ellsworth's
denomination. the Republican machine,
under the leadership of Mr.. Platt, has
seen fit to ignore their protests. The
result cannot fail to endanger the success
of the Republican ticket in the State
which has led some skeptical people to
the conclusion that Senator Platt, after
all was not particularly anxious to have
Col. Roosevelt elected. The game of pol
itics is indeed full of mysteries.
The political campaign is on out in
Ohio in dead earnest. The Democrats are
making a stiff fight. and are confident of
being able to gain two or three repre-
sentatIves in Congress if they do not sue
ceed in electing their State ticket. The
Foraker and Hanna factions are not
pulling together any too harmoniously.
Gov Bushnell is disgruntled, and is try
ing to save himself, whatever happens
In Cleveland. which IS Senator Hanna's |
home. Mayor McKisson has won de- |
cfded victory over the Hanna faction in !
securing control of the Republican or |
ganization of the county. Last year |
Hanna and McKisson locked horns in the |
senatorial fight at Columbus. Hanna won |
and endeavored subsequently TO have Nc
Kisson read out of the party and expelled |
from the Republican Club in Cleveland |
but he failed in both attempts, and Nc |
Kisson got beautifully even when he took |
the control of the county organization out |
of Mr. Hanna's hands. Down in Cincin- |
natl. Senator Forakers old friend, Boss |
Cox. is bobbing up again, after his defeat |!
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