Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-09-01
EDITORIAL REVIEW,

giving its own impressions Of McKin'
ley's secretary of war, because we did
not desire TO be recorded as doing any.
thing but most heartily and Loyalty
support a president we did not help
elect, in conducting war against
Spain. But we must no longer shield
AlgerUHe is cheeky, coarse, self
assertiye, self-seeking American poll
tician, making up with gall, grasping
selfishness and unrestrained ambition
what he lacks 10 character. In the
roles Of railway magnate. millionaire,
veteran general Of the Union army,
and allaround politician he took
prominent part In electIng Mckinley
and got his reward, from which the
country now reyolts with horror, and
as result of which elevation to the
cabinet thousands have suffered inno-
Gently and some have died.
Alger manned special train OF po-
lltical generals" who have nearly all
got Offices as a result, and waving the
old ilag made tour OF the country in
1895 that captured the old soldier
vote that could be got in that way,
and the corporation influence for Nc
Kinley.
Mr.. Alger was forced upon McKin-
ley for cabinet position by Senator
Platt OF New York, and others es-
pecially interested In protecting rail-
road contracts and the plutocratlr
interests generally. The railroads
had helped elect Mckinley and as it
followed were entitled to a place in
the cabinet.
Now that might all have been done,
and the railroad companies, that
control the location of military camps
could have been protected In their
rights political and interests pecuni-
airy without the suffering OF our sol
diers, caused by neglect and incompet-
ency, In the war department. We
print elsewhere several columns OF
matter from Republican sources that
can no longer be CLOSED oyer. The
situation Is so grave that all political
distinctions must disappear and men
who are Americans and have any
blood In their veins must act.
The least that could be done at Say-
lem would be to call an indignation
meeting and demand that the Oregon
quota at Camp Merritt be returned
to their homes. They are no longer
needed there unless the war depart
ment ia under contract TO deliver
them over 10 some coffin trust.
The people of Oregon are slow to
anger and not easily aroused To
wrath. But In this case action would
be justiiable at least to the point OF
demanding that our volunteers be
sent home, aud the plainest condem-
nation Of the war department and a
request that Mckinley Immediately |
remove Alger.
That all the suffering OF the troops |
Ia camps on land, on troopships at
sea, ,and on the hospital transports re-
turning home, is caused by the utter
ignorance, incompetency, criminal
negligence and indifference OF the
war department, we shall not charge.
But some one must be held responsi.
BILE.
The facts are that there are camps
where there is no sickness, as Fltz
Hugh Lees Camp Ia Virginia, the
camp Of Oregon Light Artillery at
Portland, aud tue general healthy |
condition of the regular navy. Disease,
ieath and degradation must stop If
Ihe selfrespect Of the American peo-
pie is TO be maintained, and II the
last spark OF patriotism is not TO be
annihilated.
Silver and wheat don't go together
all the time. wheat is now great
deal cheaper than silver. IL is now As