The times., 1898-10-25
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Senator Thomas Platt, of New York,
was caller at the White House yester-
day, and II, ,is understood that he made a
personal appeal to the President to re-
consider his determination not TO go to
New York before election and make 4
speech upon the vital issues of the day.
The President will leave for Philadelphia
this evening to attend the peace jubilee
celebration in that city on Wednesday
and Thursday, and arranse.Ient5 had
been made to have him so on to New
York from Philadelphia ana help save
Roosevelt and the Republican ticket in
the Empire State from threatened diSas-
ter So much adverse comment was made,
however In the newspapers on Mr.. Nc
Kinley's proposed New York trip that he
finally decided to abandon it. The main
object of Senator Platt's call at the White
House yesterday, II Is believed, was to
persuade the President to carry out the
original program. He assured the Pre5i-
dent that the situation in New York was
favorable for the Republicans. but that
a speech from him would probably be
the means of saving several Congress
sional districts that were apparently
hanging In the balance The President, 1t
is understood promised Senator Plat 10
take the matter under further considera-
tion, but he intinated frankly that he did
not believe that he would be able to COM
ply with his request He will not give n
final decision, however, until he gets to
Philadelphia.
1t was admitted by close friends of Sen
ator Platt yesterday that his anxiety to
have the President make an appearance
in New York before election was not due
to his desire 20 save Col. Roosevelt from
defeat, but to his wish to help out the
legislative and congressional candidates.
The retention of his grip on the New York
legislature is regarded as absolutely es-
sential to Mr. Platt's political existence.
He cannot count upon Col Roosevelt even
If he should be elected, and If he should
elect Roosevelt and lose the con-
troll OF the legislature Mr.. Platt
would be deprived of most Of his
power as a political boss. Hence it is
generally believed in the inner circle in
New York that If Mr.. Platt should deem
1t necessary to sacrifice Col. Roosevelt in
order to save the legislature he will not
hesitate to do it. The President is of
course, mere interested in the congress
sional end of the New York contest than
in the personal success of either Col.
Roosevelt or Senator Platt. II he should
finally decide TO go to New York from
Philadelphia, instead of returning at once
to Washington. it will be solely with the
object of trying to help make sure of the
next House of Representatives.
The anxiety of the Administration over
the congressional outlook is not. it is
said. as keen as 1t was ten days or two
weeks ago. Then, the President had
3 81
! House that would be in sympathy with
I his Administration and cooperate with
| him in the carrying out of his policy, but
within the past few days the Republican
statesmen believe that the tide has
| turned in their favor and they have adj
| vised Mr.. Mckinley that the chances
are more than even OF the Republicans
! having a majority of from ten TO fifteen
! in the next House.
"a month ago" said leading Republi-
| can at the White House yesterday, Il
! felt certain that we were going to lose
| the control OF Congress. All the signs
| and drift pointed that way, but today |
| believe that we have more than an even
! chance to win. The testimony before the
war investigating commission has broken
the force of the outcry against Secretary
| Alger and his department and the Demo-
| Gratis cannot make any capital out OF
that. Then, the speeches of the President
in the West have had a wonderfully good
| effect as has been evidenced by the ova-
tions he received all along the line l
| am satisfied now that We are going 10
poll practically the full Republican vote
and that the people will vote to sustain
the President and hold up his hands
-
al
surely fail to carry all the ConGression-
al districts that we carried in 1886. but
the conditions were abnormal that year.
and we cannot hope to do as well TINS
year When you come 10 study the sltua-
ton carefully you will see that 1t VIII re-
uuire almost Democratic tidal wave To
wrest the control of the next House from
the Republican party, as we have clear
ma ajority over all in the present House OF
fifty-six."
According to the latest canvass made by
the Republican Congressional Commit
tee there are i62 sure Republican Con
sressional districts and 12i that are SURE
to go Democratic Five districts are con
| ceded to the Populists and three to th'
silver Republicans. out of the 6S remain
ing districts that are classed as doubtful
81 are claimed by the Republicans, Is are
conceded to the Democrats, and as
signed to the Populists. The above esi
mate gives the Republicans n possible
ma jority of IL over all, or net loss Of 10
The above forecast was shown to G
member of the Democratic Congressional
Committee. He laughed scornfully ant
declared that it was very wide of th'
mark. I'VE are not ready TO give ou
any official figures he said, land l d'
not believe 1t is good policy to do so a
any time In general way | can say
that l am certain that the Democrats VII
have a clear majority in the next House
and that the Democrats and Populist:
will together outnumber the Republicans
by at least thirty. The Populisfs and sill
yer Republicans will probably vote will
the Democrats upon the organization o
the House, but we will have enough
Democratic representatives to organiz
without their assistance, If it should be
come necessary. The Republicans arr
undoubtedly spending a great deal o
money and putting up very stubbor'
fight. but it is too late-the battle is los