The times., 1898-10-22
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP. P.
1t looks as II the President had decided
to abandon Secretafy Alger to his fate.
He has apparently refused the latter's re-
quest to make one little speech in Michi-
gan. However, Secretary Alger's friends
have not given up all hope of obtaining
Presidential aid in the Michigan contest.
They will endeavor to:persuade the Presi-
dent to make Mingstrip to Detroit when
he goes out to oThnton to vote. few
words from the Executive even on the
eve of the election would be hailed by
Secretary Alger Win delight. as they
would perhaps convince Gov. Pingree
that the Administration was with him,
and thus keep him from knitting the legis-
lative and Congressional candidates in
the Wolverine State. Private advices
from Michigan indicate possible gain
Of three Democratic congressman in that
State.
Col. Roosevelt seems to have lost his
mascot. His followers have been praying
for clear weather on, the last two days of
registration, but the steady downpour all
day yesterday all over the Empire State
and the prospect of a repetition of the
same thing today would seem to indicate
that Providence has forsaken the gallant
Rough Rider. 1t will certainly keep the
registration down far below the danger
line. so far as the Republicans are con-
cerned. Right on top of this discouraging
fact the that the President
may not, after all, go to New York from
the celebration of the peace jubilee In
Philadelphia next week, as had been
planned. Some close friends of the Presi-
dent have, it is understood, advised him
that Col. Roosevelt was certain to lose,
and that the President could not afford
to become identified in what was con-
ceded to be a losing fight The safest
course for the President to pursue, they
| argue, is to keep out of II altogether.
If the election of Col Roosevelt were the
| only thing at stake in New York this
year there is no question but that the
President would find the public business
too engrossing to permit of his going 10
New York at this time, but the fact that
the control of the next House of Repre-
sentatives may be decided within the con-
fines of the Empire State, not to mention
the election of a successor to Senator
Murphy, appeals most keenly to the Pres
ident, and will doubtless persuade him
to make an appearance in New York be-
fore election day.
Former Senator David B. Hill's reap
pearance in the political arena, for the
| first time since he walked out of the Chi
cago convention. in 1895, after having fail
ed to get his views Incorporated in the
| platform, is one of the incidents of the
| New York campaign. Mr.. Hill is appar-
| emily very anxious TO get back into the
| Democratic fold. His first speech. which
contained over Is, 600 words, was a labor
| ed effort and contained no direct refer
| ence to the Democratic candidate for gov.
ernor except in the closing paragraphs
| The consensus of opinion among New
| York Democrats seems to be that Hill
| has some distance to travel yet before
he can hope to be restored to full fellow.
ship in the codncils OF the Democratic
party, and that he cannot atone for hi.
| studied silence of the past two years by
! firing broadsides ofH25, 900 words. devoted
| almost exclusively to discussion of mat
ters of ancient history If he had said les.
and more to the point Judge Van Wyck'.
friends would have been better pleased.
The complications growing out of tn
failure of the Chicago platform Demo
Gratis to comply with the law and ge
their ticket on the official ballot in Ne.
| York are deserving of a passing notice
When the Syracuse convention adjourne
| without making 4 specific endorsement
of the Chicago platform of 1896 a move
ment was started to place an Independent
| fipE4r in Ia faf
sent the supporters of the principles c
the Chicago platform. Under the law
was necessary to get up petition wit
| 5000 signatures and with at least fit
| from each county of the State 30 entitl
the ticket TO a place upon the officis
ballot. More than Il, 600 names were OF
tanned and every county except Ulste
was represented. The Ulster Count
petition, containing fifty-seven name
was duly forwarded to Albany, but III
gentlemen having it in charge for SON
reason instead of taking 1t direct to th
secretary of state, went with it to NJ
Hills law office to hold a conferenc
Just why they thought It necessary
hold conference with Mr.. Hill regart
ing the matter is not quite clear.
transpired that some one. 1t is charge
acting under orders from Hill, destroyc
the petition. AS there was not time
get up a new petition within the tin
fixed by law for filing it with the seer
tary of state. the latter refused TO gil
the silver ticket a place on the offici
ballot Steps will be taken TO comp
the secretary of state to receive II
petition, but it is not thought that The
will be successful. In the meantime Il
leaders of the independent movement n
| highly indignant and threaten 10 thro
their strength to Roosevelt by way
revenge. II is not thought that Judt
Van Wyck need apprehend any serioI
danger from this quarter. however,
the majority of the 12,000 signers of u
silver petition are straight Democra
and would prefer Van Wyck to Roos
welt.
The most significant development
the campaign in Pennsylvania this WEE
is the change of front of the Pittsbu
t Leader from Quay's man, Stone,
jerks. the Democratic candidate. tt
Leader has been an independent pap
for good many years. but II has almo
invariably supported the Republic;
party around election time. 1t started
} the present campaign by advocating c.
r Stones election, but the revelations co
cerning the rottenness in the Republic:
| party in the keystone State were mo
, | than it could stand, and it has come o
sduarely for JenKs. The action of I
Leader in this instance is regarded as
t very healthy sign, and is hailed by n
e Jenks's supporters as sure indicat
, that the tide is strongly setting in
their favor The Leader is one of t
most influential papers published in We:
ern Pennsylvania.
There has been very little betting