Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-12-14
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

W COISLNCCj AI'oo SaO'AONAJ NASNR
pointed the Democrats. That is
why the whole menagerie Is snarllng.
They thought or had persuaded them
selves that they thought, the presl-
dent would announce q hide-bound
policy towards the Philippines in ad-
vance of the actual possession OF
those islands by the United States,
but the president isn't that sort OF a
statesman. He doesn't make up his
mind upon any subject blind-folded,
least Of all upon such an important
one as the future of 100000 help
less people. He has delivered them
from the evils of Spanish rnle, and
will give them a military government
that will be far better than any gov
eminent they have ever known. That
is far enough to go for some time to
come. He will know more about the
subject before recommending the next
step. There are other omissions
from the message that are equally
wise, and they are equally as nag
ging to the Democrats, who have no
other hope for future success than
the mistakes they expect the Repub-
llC6uS W 4 AAi1lOJ
possesses the faculty Of knowing
what not to say as we'll as what to
say. That is one reason his admins
tratiOn has been such a success.
Fighting over empty honors is an
old Democratic speciality. So the
wrangling between Bailey and anti
Bailey Democrats as to who shall
| lead the Democrats In the next house
is no innovation. Bailey leads some
Of the Democrats In the present
| house, and claims the right by
reason OF his having received the
Democratic caucus nomination for
speaker, to lead them all. NOtwlth-
standing the trouble it has brought
him, Bailey wants to hold the same
job in the next house; hence the
present wrangling.
Senator Vest has offered d resolu-
ton declaring that this government
has no constitutional right to
acquire or govern colonies, and given
notice of his intention to make II
speech on the resolution. The reso-
III lion is clearly intended as IL "feeler'
of the public as well as the senate; to
ascertain how d partisan Demo
cratic fight on expansion would be
received. Some Democratic senat ors
will follow Vest, but Senator Morgan.
who is one OF them, said Of the Vest
resolution: "The resolution IS IA
little late. The constiUutlonality Of
acquiring territory was settled when
We took Alaska. The annexation OF
T. 60 of ,.DlI cbn cd
50 that no question for consldera-
zion remains. For ore, [ do not
propose see the Republicans get
al the glory Of the results ofthe WAL.
1t was not Il partisan war to begin
with, and the American flag haYing
been planted in the Philippines. |
want to lie a participation in the
glory which attaches to its presence
here"
That congress will provide for
revival of the grades Of admiral aud
ce-admiral in the navy seems
reasonably certain. 1t has been rec
commended by the president and the
secretary of the navy; Senator Hale
has offered resolution providing for
this revival, and Senator Morrill, has
presented the resolution adopted by
the Vermont legislature, asking that
the grade OF admiral be revived, and
that Rear Admiral Dewey be pro-
NOTED thereto. There is no such OPP
position In congress to the revival of
these naval grades as there IS to the
recommendation Of General Miles
that in the reorganization OF the
Il 4 lion 70 MT
generals should be provided for.
Similar recommendations have been
made in the past by Generals Sher-
man and Srhoheld, but opposition in
congress has always prevented ac-
ton.
Speaker Reed had a very pleasant
conference this week with President
NJ Kinley and arranged for anot her
| to take place as soon as the speaker
| has conferred with his Republican
colleagues on the house committee
on rules and the other Republican
leaders in the house, and they have
agreed upon the legislative pro
gramme to be followed at this SEES
sion. AS soon as that programme
| has been determined upon the
speaker will submit it to the presi
dent for approval and amendment
The same harmony that existed at
the last session between the execu
tive and legislative branches of tine
government is to be continued, sc
far as it is III the power Of the Re-
publicans In the house to cOntinueit
The senate, on account Of it's present
make-up-no party with a majority
Is necessarily an uncertain quantity
in the legislative programme.
The only material difference
between the government of Hawai-
and New Mexico, Arizona, or Okla
homa, after the bill carrying out th'
recommendations of the Hawaiian
commission has become a. law, as /
is sure to in due time, will be tina
J in the former territory there will b
, a property and an educational quail
fcation for suffrage.
The bills which have been intro
duced to Doth house and senate TO
the reorganization of the army d
2 not follow the recommendations {
: General Miles, because it is not b'
lieved that bill carrying as man
! high officers as be recommends coul
b get through congress. The bills IL