Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
In the Event of War.

The Administration is not organ
lied on a war basis; but in the event
of war it might he recognized. We
might have to suffer a little till a
practical demonstration could be
made of the need of stronger men at
the head of the Departments, but war
is state in which sacrifices of one
sort and another always has to be
made. A little time would demon
strate to some of the gentlemen who
are now conspicuously members of
the Government establishment that
crisis: that they might scrape along
in time of peace, but would find pri-
waite life more congenial and conduc-
i've to the public welfare in the face
of hostilities. There is an amiabte
pawnbrooker from Chicago who is
now at the head of the Treasury De-
partment-not nominally, but actual
ly at the head, because it is intimated
that the President doesen't care to
take the trouble to be at the head of
anything. He finds the Presidency
an attra ctive and innocent dive rsion.
He enjoys the brass ornaments and
the opportunities for the exercise of
his splendid manners, but does not
care to be bothered with Government
business.
To return to Mr.. Gage. He is most
amiable, excellent gentleman in hi s
way;but his way is not that of great
financier, who could grasp the money
necessities of war. Every theory of
finance which he has advanced would
be knocked silly" if Mr.. Gage will
allow us to use phraseology that will
be generally understood, at the first
clash of arms. Talk about retiring
greenbacks The facilities of the Blu
{ reau of engraving and printing would
have to be quadrupled to turn them
out fast enough. And silver! Its coin
age couldn't be free enough to meet
the demands of war. And bonds!
Morgan and the other capitalists
would take as many of them as they
could get, payable in anything the
Government might have to redeem
them with some time in the future,
just as the present bonds are paya-
BILE. They would assume to be doing
the Government q patriotic service,
but in fact they would be feathering
their own nest. A time of war would
not be an occasion for the cultivation
of the theory of the single gold STAN.
dard.
Mr.. Gage would soon have to go,
along with Day, Sherman, Alger,
Teddy Roosevelt and Long. Presi-
dent Mckinley would stay, of course.
He is composed gentleman who
would not be much disturbed by war.
Indeed, war is his strong suit" He
was soldier-he was He command
ed a company in the Twenty-third
Ohio Regiment during the civil war,
and served with great credit, though |
he preferred bareback and sidemeat |
to eating rebels for breakfast every !!
morning. With the right men in the
right place there is no reason why he
could not carry on war as we'll as
4'most any other old President
Mark Hanna would not have to re-
sign, either. Indeed, war would be
to his advantage. 1t might divert the |
attention of the pestiferous Ohio in
yestigators. Mayor McKisson is a.
young man, in robust health and am
bilious. There 10 great career be-
fore him. 1t war breaks out he will
be likely to seek ''the bubble reputa-
ton even in the cannonSs mouth" If
his.impetuosity does not lead him to
violent death he will come out of
the conflict with so much honor and
advancement that he will not care to
pursue the contest for the Senator
ship, and Hanna will be safe and con-
tent to vote for appropriations to
carry on the war. Or, if McKisson
gets killed, it will be still better for
Hanna. 1t would be a pity to lose
him, but there are very few men who
cannot be spared. The country might
get along even without McKisson ION
a pinch;' but the Government would,
of course, be a void without Hanna.
1t is our judgment, though, that
with the exception of President Nc
Kinley and Senator Hanna, about the
whole Administration would have to
Hgo.'-Cincinnati Enquirer.
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1t has cost the Government of the
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