The times., 1898-12-25
GENERAL ,Pp4IT1CAL GOSSIP.

was reported at the White House yester-
day that one Of the first dispatches to
reach the President from the members of
the Peace Compassion, who landed In New
York early Saturday morning, was signed
by the Hon. Whitelaw Reid 1t transplred.
however, that Mr.. Reid was not actuated
by a desire to- get lin scoop on his es-
teemed colleagues in being the first to
give the President the news of the safe
arrival of the party on American soil
Mr. Reids communication related solely
to personal matter concerning Mr.. Reid.
In plain English, 1t was an application for
the ambassadorship at st. Petersburg.
One of Mr.. Reid's faithful retainers gave
him the information before he left the
steamer that Joseph H. Choate was def
nitely slated for the London embassy, but
also added that there was another va.
cancy almost equally good that had not
been disposed of. Mr.. Reid's newspaper
training has taught him the Importance of
being prompt. He probably wrote out or
dictated his telegram to Mr.. Mckinley
while waiting for the custom house in
spector to examine his baggage. Mr.. Reid
may call it luggage" but that really
doesn't matter. 1t is said that in his
haste Mr.. Reid forgot to wish the Presi-
dent a merry Christmas. This is an over
sight that may cost Mr.. Reid dear in the
future 1t is not believed in official cir
cles that Mr.. Reid will get the Russian
ambassadorship or that the position will
be given to New York The impression
obtains that New York has had about all
that she is entitled to in the diplomatic
service. Gen. Horace Porter is at Paris:
Andrew D. White at Berlin, and MI
Choate is going to London. III New
Yorker is sent to St. Petersburg the four
first-class places in the diplomatic service
will be held by residents of the Empire
State. 1t is understood that the President
is about to offer the Russian post to for
mer Senator Charles +. Manderson, OF Ne
braska.
Roosevelt and the Soldier Vote
The final canvass of the vote of the State
of New York discloses the fact that Col.
Roosevelt did not enjoy great popularity
with the rank and file of the soldiers from
his own State. He only received ABOUT
one-third of the 5000 soldier ballots that
were cast in the various army camps. HAD
the New York election last Fall depended
on the votes of the boys in the trenches
Judge Van wyck would be governor-eiect
of the Empire State today, instead OF
| Theodore Roosevelt-and yet Roosevelt
was nominated because of his war record
senator Mason as School Teacher
Not so very many years ago Senator
William E. Mason of Illinois was teach
| the school out in Iowa. Gen James >.
| Ciarkson, who was at the time one OF
the school commissioners OF the State,
was responsible for Mason's appointment.
Referring to the incidsnf the other day,
Gen Clarkson said; - gave MASON
|, a commission 10 iegs the young idea
| how to shoot or spront I think that per-
haps he was the happiest man in the
| State: apparently he had achieved the
| summit of his ambition But today he Is
| a United States senator and. who knows,
he may yet be. President, In this eoun-
try every man has a chance to reach
| the top of the ladder.
Richard Croker and Carter Har-
rison.-A story comes all the way from
| Chicago to the effect that the mayor of
| the Windy City and the boss of Tam
many Hall have entered into an arrange
ment to repudiate the Chicago platform
of 1896 According TO this interesting mar
rative. Mr.. Croker agrees to corral all OF
| the Eastern Democrats under his wing
| and nominate an Eastern man on the
Democratic ticket for President in 1900
| Mr.. Harrison's part is to destroy free
| silver and other cardinal principles OF the
| Chicago platform in the West, and in
| return he is to have the second place on
| the ticket with Mr.. Croker's Eastern
man. 1t Is an interesting tale, truly. and
It could only emanate from such a con-
servative city as Chicago.
Opposition to Mormon Roberts
The fact that Representatiye-elect Rob
erts of Utah has three wives is regarded
as a sufficient reason by a large number
of good people why he should not be per-
mitted TO hold seat in the Fifty-sixth
| Congress. Petitions galore are being
| signed protesting against the seating of
| Mr. Roberts and it is said that a large
| delegation of women will be on hand at
| the opening of the next session to work
| against Mr.. Roberts. But, nevertheless
| and notwithstanding, as Senator Vest
would say Mr.. Roberts will in all prob
ability take his seat. His election is not
| contested He holds the regular certih-
! cate of election and when he presents II
| to the clerk OF the House the latter will
| be compelled TO enter his name on the
| roll. The subsequent unseating of the
| Utah representative, If IL should be at
| tempted. will be found to be not such an
easy matter as some people seem to
| imagine. 1t requires a two-thirds vote
| to expel a member and Mr.. Roberts's
| friends are confident that 1t will be abso-
| lutely impossible to get a two-thirds
| vote against him. In theory the House
| has the right to reject any member for
| any cause.-the color of his hair, for in
| stance-but it is a right that is very
rarely abused. Precedents-like chick
| ens-have disagreeable habit of coming
home to roost, and no one appreciates
this fact any more keenly than the aver
| age member of Congress.
| Senator Teller for Presiaent.-
| Ever since his patriotic speech in the
| Senate the other day there has been Sc
rious talk of Senator Henry NJ. Teller Of
Colorado as Presidential possibility
Mr.. Teller is an expansionist but he Is
also for the principles enunciated in the
| Chicago platform. By 1900, it is argued,
| the anti-eXpansionists will be relegated
| to the rear. They will not dare show
their heads, and will be trying to prove
| an alibi. In the Judgment of conserva-
| tive observers, no man who antagonizes
| expansion can hope to receive the Demo-
| cratic nomination, for President in 1900.
This will bar out quite number of emf
nent citizens. Mr.. Teller however, will
be available His record will be clean,
and, If nominated. his election would, in
the opinion of his friends, become al
most a certainty. ~
Dewey and the Presidency.-One of
the most interesting political rumors of
oil ir hot