Evening star., 1898-08-18
Purpose Of the Republican Congress
sional Campaign Handbook.
FREE SILVER Is ALMOST IGNORED
President MckinIey's Record Made
an important Feature.
READY FOR PUBLICATION

The handbook of the republican congress
sional committee will be ready to be placed
in the hands of the printer Monday. This
document will prove of extreme interest to
every politician in the country, republican,
democrat and populist alike, for it will in
dicate just what the committee thinks will
be the vital issues in the coming campaign.
The book has not yet been finally reviewed
and approved by the committee. but It's
general features have been decided upon,
and 1t is not likely the copy prepared for
the printer will be changed in any essential
feature. Representative Overstreet secre-
tary of the committee, is expected to arrive
here this evening from the west and Rep
tesentative Babcock, chairman, will be here
tomorrow morning, after having won a VIC
tory in his nomination on the first ballot
in spite of factional fight made against
him in his district. As soon as the chair
man and secretary have an opportunity to
review the manuscript for the handbook
bids will be called for and the contract for
its printing will be let.
This will not consume much time, and by
Monday the printing of the handbook will
probably be begun, the work not to be
hLally approved a campaign document
until proofs OF it have been placed in the
hands of all the members OF the committee.
Two Important Facts.
The handbook will plainly Indicate two
important facts in regard to the view of
the campaign taken by the committee. One
is that free coinage of silver will not fig
ure largely in influencing voters-in fact,
that this question will hardly be regarded
as an issue at ALL The other is that the re-
publicans are to base their case almost
wholly upon the good record made by Mr..
Mckinley during his year and a half in the
House. "A ha
of this period, to show that predictions
made by democrats two years ago have not
been fulfilled.
In the campaign book large number of
pages will be devoted to a review of the
work of the present administration. Espe-
cial stress will be laid on Mr.. Mckinley s
message to Congress of April IL, in which
he strongly urged that the independence of
Cuba be not recognized at that time, be-
cause such recognition might involve the
United States in embarraSsments in visw of
the impossibility then of knowing the exact
character of the government accorded such
recognition.
In Regard to Cuba.
Had the republic of Cuba been recognized
last winter, it will be pointed out the
United States forces could not have op-
Grated in Cuba or in Cuban waters, except
as suoordinates to the military authorities
of Cuba If Santiago had been taken un-
erals would have received their instruc-
tions from Gen. Garcia; and had the United
States consented to become the ally of the
Cuban republic in the work of driving
Spanish authority from the island ii is not
improbable in view of the deyelopments
of the last few months, it will be shown
that chaotic conditions might have follow
ed, making this country the laughing stock
OF the world. In the entire control of the
war Mr.. Mekinleys hand will be traced
with the result of showing that he has
acted wisely from beginning to end The
extra session of Congress and the prompt
enactment of a revenue bill will be pointed
out as a wise move, for the disposition of
that important measure allowed Congress
10 give Its time III the regular session to
other matters, especially the Cuban cues
tiaE..
Silver Question Almost IGNORED
large portion of the handbook of 1896
was devoted to the silver question Much
of this matter has been cut out and in Its
place a short chapter has been inserted In
which the predictions of the democrats in
1895 are reviewed, together with the events
occurring since that time, to show that the
dire results of a non-adoption of a policy
of free coinage of silver have mot baan fui
filled
On the other hand, it will be explained
tfat the price of wheat has risen, industries
revived and that a republican revenue act
- HiAhShis aDoot just tnoSe results OF
prosperity it was predicted could come
only through free coinage. But free coin
age will be treated a thing of the past
and not living ISSUE of today.
Inc handbook will contain about $50
pages, or possibly this number may be ILL
creased on its final review. The handbook
OF 1890 contained 80 pages. The first ed-
ton may not exceed 20,00U copies, but
another 10000 may be run off later In
1896 5000 copies of the handbook were
printed.