The times., 1898-11-13
GENERAL NLIFIGAL GOSSIP.


one great victory in the recent campaign.
Representative Booze of Maryland was
defeated. The Prohibitionists will now
probably feel encouraged to continue
their good work of reforming the country
and abolishing dhe liquor traffic. 1t is
perhaps unnecessary to add that Col.
Booze is a RepubllcaE
Senator Platt and the Republican lead
ers of New York have just awakened
to the fact. apparently, that what the
people of the Empire State really need
and are crying for is pure beer" This
is rather Il belated discovery on the part
of Mr.. Platt and his friends. but never
theless it promises to be important-at
least for the brewers.
Eve must have pure beer" remarked
Mr.. Platt, sententiously. the day after the
election. ut may cost a little more. but
we really must have 1t. The health of the
community demands it,
As soon as the legislature meets at AL
bany. in January, bill will be introduced
providing for al State inspection of all
beer manufactured and sold in the EN-
pire State. 1t is said that the inspec-
tion will be similar to that in vogue In
Germany-the brewers will know what
that means
The general public-that is. that portion
of it that drinks 'beer-will be benefited
by more careful supervision of the man
ufacture of beer. There has been un-
doubtedly vast quantity of the impure.
adulterated article sold in this country. to
al hpD nf he
people. Any movement looking to an inn
provement in the quality of the beer sold
in the United States and the elimination
OF adulterated brands ought to receive
encouragement, no matter what may be
the motive underlying 1t. 1t is an open
secret that Mr.. Platt is acruated chiefly
by desire to be -revenged on the brewers
in New York for opposing his Legislative
and State candidates in the recent cam
paign. The New York brewers, 1t is said,
contributed a vast campaign fund to Mr..
Croker and issued circulars to their
friends and patrons urging them to sup
port the Democratic candidates in every
district. 1t is estimated that the opposi-
ton of the brewers cost the Republican
party in New York in the late contest
fully 10000 votes. Heretofore, in New
York, at least, the brewers have contrib
uted to both sides impartially This is
thought to be the first time they have
lined up against the G. o. P, and the
first result of It is loud cry from
Thomas c. Platt for pure beer
Mr.. Platt and his friends may be only
bluffing after all. They are unfortunately
open TO suspicion of that kind In any
reform movement they undertake. If the
New York brewers make sufficient (the
amount has not been mentioned) apollo
giles and give bonds for their future good
behavior. the pure beer legislation at
Albany may be pigeOnholed. Such things
have been known TO happen in the past,
and they are quite likely to happen
again. History has a way of repeating
itself in politics as in the more ordinary
affairs Of life. However, Mr. Platt will
experience some difficulty in checking
the pure beer agitation which he has
started, even il he should wish to do so.
The idea has caught the public fancy
and the chances are that the beer in
spection legislatoni will be put through
with rush at~Albany.
30
1t is also safd TO be the intention of
the Republican statesmen to agitate a
Government inspection of beer in Con-
gress this Winter 1t is quite certain
that If the experiment is tried in New
York that it will soon be adopted by
all of the other States 1t is also said
that the Republican leaders viii resist
any attempt to have the extra war tax OF
one dollar a barrel on beer removed. AT
least this statement is given out by those
who are high in the counseis of the Re-
publican party. 1t Will be necessary for
the brewers to square themselves with
Senator Hanna h@fO
obtain any relief. Upon the whole, there
ought TO be pleHty of employment for the
members of the Third House in Washing
ton this Winter
Republican control of the next House is
now admitted by Democratic leaders
everywhere. Little regret is being ex-
pressed by the majority of the Demo-
cratic statesmen over that fact They
are of the opinion that Democratic pros
poets in 1900 are materially enhanced hv
reason of the fact that the Republicans
VIII have complete control of every
branch of the Government and will
therefore, have to assume the sole re-
sponsibility for everything that happens.
ana many things are likely to happen
during the next two years.
II the Democrats had captured the
House there would have been the liveliest
Kind of fight over the speakership. and
the chances are that it would NOT have
gone to the young man from Texas. who
mas been fioundering around in the role
OF Democratic leader of the minority
! on the floor of the House for some time
past. The truth is. that the young man
in Ii;
receive the distinction of obtaining RE
complimentary nomination of the minor
ity for Speaker again. 1t is thought that
the nomination OF the minority which is
supposed generally to carry with il the
leadership on the floor of the House. will
probably go to some such man as Mr..
De Almond, of Missouri. or Mr.. Richard
son, of Tennessee. Either of them is able
and experienced in parliamentary prac-
tice. and what is of the greatest mpor-
tance. both command the respect of tneir
| associates. There will doubtless be sew
eral aspirants for the honor of the D m
ocratic nomination for Speaker, but the
indications today point strongly to the
selection of Mr.. De Almond.
One naturally looks for freshness on
the part of "tenderfoot'' members of
Congress. Their antics, from blowing out
the gas to other strange doings. would
fill good many large volumes, but there
is no instance on record in the past of
gosling representative announcing him
| self as a candidate for the leadership Of
his party on the foor OF the House be-
fore he has even taken the oath of office.
Such sublime gall would even cause
| Quigg. Rowland .Blennerhassett Ma
hany or a James Hamilton Lewis to hide
his head with envy. shame or something,