The times., 1898-11-06
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.
The President has been kept fully ad-
vised regarding the congressional outlook
from time to time throughout the cam
paign.- During the past week Col. Bah
cock. chairman of the Republican Con-
gressional Committee. has been almost a
daily visitor at the White House. and he
has giNeh the President the latest bulle
tins from the doubtful districts. Mr., Nc
Kinleys it is said. has insisted upon being
told the exact truth. the good and bad
reports were to be submitted to him with
out any discrimination. AS rule q
President only hears Favorable news
the other kind is kept from him. and as
norance of the real sentiment of the
country on matters of current and timely
interest. He is surrounded by an atmos-
phere of sycophany and adubation.
When he asks question the pc. son i'd
dressed epdeavors to learn what answer
the President would like TO have before
he replies. and then he frames his re-
sponse to conform to what he thinks
would be most agreeable to the Pres.-
dents ears.
What time it it?" said Louis XVI Of
France to his first lord of the he'd cham
ber. 1T is any time you please. your
majesty" was the obsequious answer.
Things have never reached quite this
pass at the White House. and 1t must b.
put down to Mr.. McKinley's credit that
he has succeeded In doing away with
great deal of the ridiculous subseryiency
that has surrounded the Office of the
Chief Magistrate of the nation In the
past He can at least learn the time OF
day without throwing any of the attend
ants into a panic.
President Mckinley has proved himself
to be a good politician in his handling of
public men since he became President
He has kept the leaders of his own party
in line. and he has won the personal re-
spect OF the leaders OF the opposition.
During the Administrations oil Harrisoh
and Cleveland there were hundreus Oh
senators and representatives IN Cong ess
who were not on visiting terms at the
White House. They absolutely heid aiooi
from the President. but there Is seaiceiy
today a prominent man in either party
President at any time and unbosom his
mind upon any subject. Mr.. Mckinley
has tried to make IL known that partisan
| shin would not interfere with his personal
relations with anyone. one oil the ie-
| suits of this policy Is that a personal re-
| Quest from the President receives cour-
| teous and respectful consideration at the
| Capitol.
| Mr. Mckinley is credited with having
heen one of the first to perceive that the
| drift of public sentiment was against ms
| Administration. and that the control Oh
| Congress was likely to pass into the
hands of the Democratic party. Before
| ne started on his recent western Trip
| is said, the President had become con-
| yinced that the Democrats would eject
| ma aiority of the next House OF Represeht'
! atlyes unless some issue could De pro
| duced which would appeal to the senti'
| ment of the country and overcome th'
| hostility that was manifesting hsei
against his Administration The Presi
dents tourney across the country had for
one of its chief objects the discovery o.
a new issue that would. for the time be
ing. at least, overshadow everything els'
| In sight This is the inside explanation
| of Mr. Mckinley's sudden conversion u
the policy of expansion, the retention o
the whole group of the Philippine Islands
by the United States.
Ii is an open secret that the Presiden
from the beginning has been averse Il
the acquisition of the Philippines by thi
country. He has said frankly that h
thought that 1t would be a mistake TO
the United States TO annex the Philip
pines. but he was deeply Impressed witt
the expressions of public sentiment h
heard on his trip. and returned practi
cally convert to the extreme idea o
expansion. The change on the part o
the President regarding the Philippn
question has been industriously circulate
throughout the West. and II will undoubt
edly save number of Congressional dis
tricts to the G.. o. p. that would hav
otherwise elected Democrats. II is no
believed. however that the ''gains in tn
West will sufficiently offset the losses i
the East to keep the Democrats fror
gaining control of the next Houser Th
indicated losses in New York and Penn
selves deprive the Republicans of the con
troll of the Fifty-sixth Congress.
|
| oShatot SpttCH against tle
expansion idea is not calculated to helI
the Democrats in Maryland TO any extent
Senator McComas and the Republican
leaders in Maryland believe that it viii
insure the election of "a solid Republican
delegation from Maryland in Congress
A few days ago they were prepared t,
concede two out of the six Maryland dis
tricts to the Democrats.
1t was reported yesterday that a com
bine was being formed among the sena
tors to prevent the confirmation of any
treaty looking to the acquisition of tn,
Philippines This combine, 1t is said. i.
not to be organized on party lines. bu
will take In any one who does not favor
the expansion policy irrespective of poll
tics. Senator German. Sena,or Hoar ant
Senator Hale are the leaders in tn,
movement. They will endeavor to pre-
vent the ratification of aEy treaty a
the coming session. While they reaiiz.
that the overwhelming sentiment of tn,
country at the present time is the athel
way, they think that if the matter can b,
postponed for six months or a year tina
change may take place The delay. a
any rate, will enable them to work ul
public sentiment in favor of their posi-
ton.
The campaign in New York was prac
caily brought to a close last night. Dur
ing the past few days the supporters O
Col Roosevelt have made rally ant
from present indications Van Wyck an,
, Roosevelt will go to the post on mex
Tuesday neck and neck. The betting