The times., 1898-11-05
GENERAL POLITICAL. GOSSIP

|
Fish Commi3ioner George w. Bowers,
of West Virginia, appears to be most
extraordinary parsonage. He is chal-
lenging the record for stupidity and ig-
norance. 1t h&s-been a very open secret
that he knew absolutely nothing about
the propasaticifi OF fishes ut the time
Of his appointment as chief Of the Fish
Commission. He might have escaped
notice and fgSred An history as a great
scientist II he had kept quiet. But men
| of the Bowers type never DO keep quiet.
They are always insisting upon showing
themselves to the front and exposing
their limitations. Mr.. Bowers has shown
that he is as ignorant Of the law. ap-
parently. as he is Of fish culture. But
unless all signs fall. Mr.. Bowers is in a
fair way now to learn something about
the laws OF his country before he Is
many days older. He stands self-convict-
ed OF having violated the civil service
law and also the postal regulations On
each count he has rendered himself la.
BILE to both fine and imprisonment. 1t is
the general opinion that Mr.. Bowers is
IN very tight place. 1t il said to be
the intention of the Civil Service Com
mission to make an example OF Mr.
Bowers. 1t Is believed that the Pre.i-
dent will be forced to call for his resig-
nation, In any event. II for no other
| reason than that he has made the fatal
| mistake Of being found out.
II the Civil Service Commission fail to
take cognizance of the open and fragrant
violations Of the civil service law by the
representatives of the Mckinley admin
istration it might just as well go out of
business and shut up shop. 1t has been
notorious for several weeks that the Re-
publican managers were levying political
assessments on the clerks In the gov
ernment departments in plain defiance of
the CIVIL service law. Any person of the
most ordinary intelligence could have
easily secured all the evidence necessary
10 make out case for the Civil Service
commission without half trying The
matter mas been common property for
weeks, and yet the members of the Civil
Service Commission claim that they are
stiil looking for evidence. ~he Com
missioners evidently expect the guilty
parties TO come forward and own up 10
their wrongde.ag. In no other way, ap-
parentiy. will the Civil Service Commits
sion ever be able to make out a case
The political outlook in West Virginia
Is said TO be far from being satisfactory
TO the Republicans. They complain of
their inability to arouse the people In
| spite Of the fact that Senator Stephen B.
Eiklns has been on the stump for over
two weeks. Mr.. Elkins is In u rather en-
barrassing position. AZ the only Repub-
ncan Senator from West Virginia he has
| the exclusive distribution of most of the
Federal patronage in the State He would
| be compelled TO share this honor with his
colleague II he happened TO belong to his
party Mr.. Elkins's father-in-law, Henry
G. Davis. is Democratic aspirant for the
Senate. IL Eikins can elect Father-in-law
| Davis he would keep the Senatorial plum
in the family. and at the same time have
| no rival in the distribution of patronage
| favors. The best Information obtainable
Is that the Democrats will control the
West Virginia legislature. and will also
carry two OF the four congressional dis
tricts of the State.
Col Roosevelt has evidently recovered
his mascot. The betting in New York
yesterday changed from ten to seven and
ten to six in favor. of Van wyck TO even
| money on Roosevelt. The only apparen,
| explanation of the change In the betting
odds is found In a speech delivered by
| Carl Schurz at Cooper Union opposing
| Roosevelt. The gist OF Mr. Scnurz's
speech was that he regarded two years
| o: Tammany domination OF the State of
| small consequence when compared to the
| evils that would result from the carry
| ing out OF Col. Roosevelt's expansion
| ideas. In other words. in his judgment
the annexation of the Philippines and
/ other outlying territory formerly belong
! ing to Spain would work more injury 10
| public morals and the general welfare OF
| the United States than a lifetime of Mr..
| Croker,s reign in New York. Mr.. Schurz
| declared that he hated Tammany just as
strongly as ever but he loved the United
States more; therefore he wanted to see
| Col Roosevelt beaten, as his election
| would mean the carrying out of the OBJ
| jectionabe expansion idea II is hard to
follow Mr. Schurz's logic and method of
reasoning There is not man running
| on the Democratic ticket in New York
who is not known to be in favor of our
| holding on TO the Philippines and every
| bit of Spanish territory over which the
| American flag has been raised. II Col
Roosevelt can persuade Mr. Schurz 10
q
he delivered at Cooper Union. 1t Is gener-
ally conceded that he will come mighty
| near being elected.
Secretary Alger is said to be very much
concerned over the latest reports from
Michigan regarding the political outlook.
The defeat of Pingree for governor and
Julius Caesar Burrows is now indicated.
| The fight between Pingree and Burrows
| has become so bitter that each is trying
| to save himself regardless of the other.
Pingree does not care rap which party
controls the legislature SO long as Bur-
rows gets left. The latter has given or
ders to his friends to cut Pingree to the
quick. Pingree may pull through, as he
has strong following among the Demo-
Gratis, but Burrows's defeat seems GER
| tain. Former Senator John Patten, of
Grand Rapids. stands a good show of
succeeding Mr.. Burrows in the Senate.
| The defeat of Pingree would upset the
| deal entered into some time ago to trans
fer Senator Mcmillan to London as am
bassador and Secretary AIger TO the Sem
ate as his successor. Secretary Alger's
friends seem to be very nervous over the