The times., 1898-10-20
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

partment is being made the basis of a
political issue outs in Il Nebraska Col.
Bryan's friends claim bat he has been
badly used; that the Administration has
taken an unfair adyanfige of it's power
to humiiitate and bottle up the gallant
Nebraska colonel. SThy seem to think
that the War Department should have
mustered out Col. Bryan right after the
signing Of the peace protocol so that he
could have taken a hand in the present
campaign. That, In their judgment.
would have been the only fair and decent
course for the Administration to have
pursued. However. Senator Hanna and
the Republican leaders are quietly en-
joying Col. Bryan's predicament and
make no attempt to conceal their salts
faction over ii. They assert that Col.
Bryan was not sincere in his proffer OF
his services to the Government; that he
was actuated largely by political motives
and a desire to keep his name before the
public, and that they can see no good
reason now why they should trouble
themselves to relieve him of his embar-
rassment Col. Bryan's enlistment read
for two years or tie duration of the war.
The War Department can Insist upon Col.
Bryan's remaining in the military ser
vice until the treaty of peace is actually
negotiated with Spain and formally rati-
fled by the Congress, which may not be
for six months or longer. OF course, If
Col. Bryan should tender his resignation
it would probably be accepted, but his
friends are opposed to his taking such
step, believing that 1t would injure his
future prospects. What troubles Col.
Bryans friends as much as anything in
the present situation Is that in the event
of big Democratic victory in the coun-
try next month. their fayorite will not be
able to reap much personal beneht out
of 1t as his voice has not been heard In
the campaign.
Col Bryans friends are almost willing
to concede now that perhaps he made
mistake in volunteering his services 20
the Government but II may turn out
eventually to have been wise after all
| 1t is sometimes darkest before the dawn.
Senator Hanna and his associates are
plainly paying a great deal of attention
to the Nebraska campaign. They are par
| ticularly anxious to defeat Bryan In mis-
| own State, believing that II would prac-
tically eliminate Bryan from the Presi-
dental contest of 1900. 1t was a great
personal disappointment TO Mr.. Hanna not
| to be able to carry Bryan's state IN lSs''
| He had set his heart on doing 1t and sent
more money to Nebraska that year, 1t is
said, than TO any other State in the west.
| Mr.. Hanna perceiyes in the present sit
| uation an opportunity to get square for
| his disappointment In 1896, and he evident
| " intends TO make the most of it. A Re-
publican victory in Nebraska this year
will be heralded by the Republican leaders
as the death knell of Bryanism. Dr.
| Chauncey NJ. Depew will be especially
| commissioned to advise, the courts of Eu-
rope of the fact.
| It is said to be the intention of the War
| Department to send Col Bryan and his
regiment to Cuba early next month. This
would take Col. Bryan out of the country
| during the discussion and settlement of
the important questions growing out of
the war. Some people may see in this
move another deep laid plot to suppress
Col Bryan. but so long as Col. Bryan re-
mains in the service OF the United States
he must obey orders and keep his own
counsel
Secretary of War Alger was little slow
in putting in his request 10 the President
| to come to the rescue of the Republican
|
speeches. but the Secretary, perhaps,
| ought not to be blamed for that. as he has
had so many other things to occupy his
| mind during the past few weeks. Il is
| just possible, however, that the President
may not be able to comply with Mr. AL
| gers request, as all of his dates up 10
| election II is understood, had been filed
| by the thoughtful Senator Hanna before
| Mr.. Algers belated appeal was received
MI
/ consents. the matter may yet be ar
ranged to Secretary Alger's satisfaction.
If Michigan should happen to go Demo-
| cratic next month Secretary Aiger's posi-
tion in the Cabinet would be most uncom-
| Portable; in fact, it is quite generally ad-
mitted by MIR. Alger's friends that in that
event he would in all probability be forced
| to resign. He would be compelled to ac-
cept the verdict as plain condemnation
| of himself and his methods. Ii has been
limited several times of late in high Ad-
| Ininistrat ton circles that in anticipation of
| defeat at the polls next month that the
| President had already selected a scape-
| goat to put the blame upon. His name,
it is said, is Alger. This may or may not
be true. but politicians of the Hanna type
are VIGOROUSLY cold-blooded. An old
| fashioned Republican victory throughout
| the country on November will do more
| of the President and his managers than
all of the white-washing reports that the
Alger Relief Commission could prepare in
| lifetime.
! Members of the Democratic congress
| sional committee, in speaking of the
| widely published statements in regard to
| the anticipated political complexion of
| the next Congress, which purported to
| be an official statement from them. are
| emphatic in their denials that they had
given out any estimate whatsoever on the
subject.
II appears that the forecast of the next
| House which was given out on Tuesday.
as coming from Democratic congressional
| headquarters. was not authorized by the
| committee. The policy of the committee
| is not to make official forecasts at this
| time, as they would only serve to dis
close their hand to their opponents. At
| the same time it can be said that the fig
ures published very fairly represent the
actual situation as observed from the
Democratic point of view. There has not
been a time since the present campaign
opened when the Democratic managers
| 10 elect good working majority of the
confidence has been strengthened as the
| campaign progressed.
| Politicians. however, find it extremely
| difficult as a rule to make any reliable