The times., 1898-10-13
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

III the State OF West Virginia has-had
ne" zesi added to it by the announcement
OF the candidacy of former Senator Hen
ry g. Davis. While Mr. Davis has al
ways passed as Democrat. the injection
OF his name into the contest will have a
tendency to eompIicate matters on the
Republican side Mr.. Davis Is Senator
Elkins's father-in-law and there ia a
strong suspicion among the supporters
OF Commissioner of Internal Revenue
scott and Gov. Atkinson that EIkins will
quietly work to have his father-fn-laW
elected They believe that he would pre-
FER to have his father-in-Iaw as a col
league. although he is a Democrat. than
either OF the Republican aspirants for
the place Another EXPLANATION OF the
appearance of Mr. Davis in the fight is
that his son-in-law. perceivfng that the
Republicans were likely to lose the iegis-
lature. gave Davis the tip 10 20 in ana
grab the prize himself Some more in
teresung developments are looked for in
the West Virginia situation before Sena-
Tor Faulkner's successor is elected.
No matter how the elections may result
next month, President Mckinley is Ger
tain to encounter great Zeal of opposi-
ton from some OF the leading members
OF his own party in the execution Of the
foreign policy that has been outlined al
the White House as soon as Congress as
seInDles I'm December Senator Foraker
sounded the keynote OF his opposition In
the interview with him published in The
Evening Times of yesterday Mr. Fora
ker IS decidedly against the Edmunds-
Ireland protocol, and he does not hesitate
TO 50 declare himself. He insists that the
United States must keep good faith with
the Cubansi that having gone 10 war for
the express purpose of freeing Cuba from
the yoke of Spain, and having disayoxeI
any desire for conquest and also so,emn-
~ asserting that in our opinion Cuba by
right ought 10 be free and independent
that We cannot now with decencv take
any other stand in regard TO the matter
Inc attempt 10 maintain an army OF oc-
cupation in Cuba. ne thinks. would be
little short OF an outrage. Cuba I'm due
season wOuld naturally come into the
American Union the ilame as Hawaii. but
In his Judgment the Administration was
making a mistake in assuming in ad-
vance that the Cubans were incapable of
self-gOvernment
from
all accounts, in his antagonism 10 Presi-
dent McKinley's general foreign policy.
II is believed that majority Of the sen
ators today, irrespective of party. ars de-
cidedly of the opinion thar the Teller
amendment to the Cuban resolution which
was reported from the Senate Cor,u,irte.
on Foreign Relations really meant some
thing and cannot be ignored now with
impunity. They are prepared. il is IN
derstood. 10 stand By that amendment and
TO insist that the Administration shall live
up 10 the pledge contained therein The
bond syndicates and other speculative in
terests will. OF course. strenuousIv opposA
all efforts 10 compel the Administration
10 Keep faith with the Cubans. but unless
they can gain good many recruits in the
near future TO their side they viii not
succeed in having their way.
Mr.. Foraker has been classed as an anti
Administration man Some of his friends
think that he is really one of AIcKfHley-s
best friends, as he is trying 10 save him
from stuldfying himself
1t was reported yesterday that the de-
parture of the Alger Relief Commission
had been hastened at the suggestion of
Senator Hanna. Notwithstanding the
quantity Of whitewash developed at the
inquiry. il has been noted BY Mr.. Hanna
and other shrewd observers that the gen.
eral effect of the testimony adduced at
the sittings of the Commission on the pub
lie at large was not favorable to the Re-
publican party The Commission has done
its best to keep the newspapers from OBJ
tanning the truth regarding the details OF
the investigation by excluding all the reg
uiar representatives of the press from its
hearings. But as there are great many
newspaper men at the national capital
and they have bad habit of finding out
things that go on in executive sessions. it
has been found practically impossible for
the Commission 10 keep its secrets dark
BY sending the Commission out on the
road it is hoped to escape the vigiiant at
tention Of the newspaper representatives
and thus put a stop 10 the pubIica ton of
unpleasant facts until after election at
least Mr.. Hanna and the Republican
leaders are banking great deal on the
favorable testimony of Gen Lee and Gen.
Wheeler to break the force of the criti-
cisms of Alger and Algerism. Thousands
OF pamphlets containing their testimony
are. 1t is said. being circulated throughout
the country by the Republican Congress
siOnal Committee
81 think that there are several men,
bers of the Commission" said one OF
the Alger Relief Workers Yesterday.
who are honestly endeavoring to get at
the truth in this investigation and are
not trying to shield Alger or anyone
But l am free to say that it looks To
me very much as If Gen Dodge. our
chairman, Col. Sexton and one OF two
other members of the Commission were
doing their level best to prevent any
thing coming out that would reflect on
Secretary Alger or the War Department
/ have seen unmistakable signs that
such was the case. / believe that in
the end the Commission viii get at the
bottom of things; l do not see how the
truth can be suppressed altogether but
the facts are not likely to be developed
until after election. The chairman. as
you will readily understand. has great
deal of power He can direct the inyes-
tigation along lines that are not pro-
ductive of any real information, and vet
do il in such a way as to leave no peg
10 hang a direct accusation on Gen.
Dodge is postmaster in the art OF
steering clear of breakers.
Continuing. this Commissioner said
that undoubtedly many of the corl-
plants made against the War Depart
ment We're found, upon investigation. to
be without foundation. Many reckless
statements had been made upon mere
hearsay evidence, which. of course. was
no evidence at all.
For instance he added, take the
case of DIR. Hamlin. of this city, who
preached a sermon a few Sundays ago
attacking the War Department severely.
We wrote him a letter requesting him II
he had any information of his own
knowledge in his possession 10 please
come forward and testify. He replied
that he had no personal knowledge OF
ar.azr,ar,t h. tha Nar- De-