The times., 1898-11-18
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

! ciusion that DIR. Chauncey NJ Depew
VIII become the colleague of Thomas c.
Platt In the United States Senate on
March 4. 1883. The mysterious edict has
gone forth that Mr.. Depew is the "old
mans choice and that ought to settle
II, particularly as Governor-elect Roose-
Welt seems to be in harmony with this
arrangement. Mr.. Depew and Mr. rIatt
have never been what you would call
chums. In fact Mr. Depew has trained
with the anti-Platt forces in the past. but
his blows have never left any sting and
ne made himself solid with Mr.. Platt and
| his organization by supporting Gen
Tracy Tor mayor last year in preference
to Seth Low. The New York legislature
does not begin balloting for senator until
January 10, SO there will be plenty of
time FOR opposition to Depew to develop
Gov. Black is the most serious cloud on
the Depew horizon. II it is true, as .e-
ported, that he controls a sufficient num-
Der of the members of the legislature to
| hold the balance of power he can make
great deal of trouble.
Mr.. Depew has never held any public
Office. although he has declined several
in the past. He has hanging in frame
in his house a certificate as minister TO
William Fl. Seward. Secretary of State"
Although the commission was issued Mr.
Depew finally refused to accept it Presi-
dent Harrison invited Mr.. Depew to
serve out the balance of Mr.. Blaine's
term as Secretary of State. This offer
was declined but with the understanding
that in the event of Harrison's reelection
it would be reconsidered. Harrison's de-
feat, of course, settled the matter so far
as Depew was concerned.
Mr.. Depew has been mentioned"
great many times for the Presidency but
the only time he ever took the matter
seriously was in 1858, Mr.. Platt permitted
the New York delegation to declare for
Depew, but the declaration had a string
attachment. The string was not visible
to Depew, however, and he labored under
the delusion for a couple of days at least
that he would be nominated. 1t was dur
ing this period that Mr. Depew conhded
TO the writer the sacrifice he would be
making financially TO accept the Presi-
dency. He had. no more doubt of his
election than he had OF his nomination.
Lets see," said Mr.. Depew, in his
cheerful off hand style. the salary Of
President of the United States is $4,000
year, believe a pretty snug income for
most people, but is no temptation to me.
The truth is, shall lose at least $4,000 a
year by accepting this nomination My in,
come today from railroad and other con-
nections is fully 900 a year, all of
which will. of course. cease the moment 1
become President. However,. Mr.. Depew
added. with a sigh of resignation, Il have
decided TO make the sacrifice. II is worth
something TO figure in history as having
been President of the United Statesi'
Two days later Benjamin Harrison, of
Indiana, was nominated by the cOnyen-
ton.
Republican politicians of the practical
kind who look at things from a cold
blooded point of view have been figuring on
Col. Roosevelts chances of defeating Mr..
Mckinley for the Republican Presidential
nomination in 1890. They have about
made up their minds that nothing short
of a miracle can prevent the denomination
of President Mckinley If he lives. The ad-
ditional patronage Mr.. Mckinley will have
AT his disposal in filling the offices in our
new colonial possessions will of itself
be sufficient. they think, to enable
the President TO control majority of the
of his party. The ratification of a salts
factory treaty of peace with Spain will
eclipse Roosevelt's achievement OF carry
ing New York, and speaking of carrying
New York, McKinley's majority in that
State two years ago was over 200,cG0 This
year Col. Roosevelt scraped through by
less than 20000. 1t is the deliberate judg-
ment of the Washington politicians that
Col. Roosevelt's Presidential boom will
have to be placed in cold storage and not
exposed TO the air until 1894. otherwise
it will wlther and die.
The later returns from South Dakota
disclose the fact that the Woman Suffrage
amendment TO the constitution has been
defeated instead of being adopted, as was
at first reported. The new era in poll
tics is not approaching as rapidly as
some people imagined.
The President is understood to be Civ
ing some time each day to the prepara-
ton of his annual message TO the Con-
gress. His message this year Will be
awaited with more than usual interest, as
it is hoped that it will disclose something
definite from the Chief Magistrate regard
ing the Administration new foreign pol
icy. Up to the present time the PreSi-
dent has not shown his hand. His
speeches in the West and elsewhere have
been confined largely TO glittering gener-
alities and could be interpreted in almost
any way, but, of course. it was the i'm
preston which Mr. McKinley's friends
created that the Administration was in
favor of the expansion idea and not Civ
ing up any of the fruits of our victory,
that gave the President his so-called
"vindication." If the Presidents mes
sage next December failsrto justify the
predictions of Mr.. McKinley's friends in
this connection, a mighty vigorous pro-
test is certain to so up all over the coun-
try. However. there is no likelihood of
the Presidents weakening at this stage
of the game.
1t is regarded as possible. if not even
probable, that the President will not so
into a full discussion of the expansion
problem in his first message A failure of
the Peace Commission at Paris to arrive
at satisfactory conclusion before the
assembling of Congress will make it ad-
visable. many think, for the President to
let the subject rest for time. and treat
1t later in a special message. He is being
urged to do this in any event on the
ground that he can make his views more
impressive by detaching them, 50 to
speak. from the general summary OF tn,
departmental reports which, as a rule.
form the basis of the Chief Magistrates
annual message to the Congress. The
President among other things. Is expect
recommend of ha