The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-02-18

same district, II was assumed that an
end of an ugly fight for office had been
reached. But there was immediate op-
position to the confirmation of those
gentlemen. The nominations were at
once referred to the committee on the
judiciary and the report was delayed
but few days. The Michigan senators
have entire control of combinations to
presidential offices in Michigan.
Our Coast Defenses.
''Our seacoasts are defenseless and
our navy Is defective" says Admiral
Jouett, one of the heroes of the old
navy, brave old tar who has been In
many fight at sea.
II am opposed to modern battleships,"
continued the admiral THE battle
ships are of no value, and they cost up
wards of 100000 each. The heavy
rified cannon now being made can sink
the best battleship now on the ocean.
They loom up out of the water and are
easy marks"
What would you do for seacoast de-
fenses?"
Instead of building forts, with cost
ly gun carriages, would simply mount
heavy rif1ed cannon advantageously
near the harbor approaches of our big
cities. Those guns, properly aimed and
served, could strike any modern bat
tleship that approaches, for we can aim
accurately about five miles.
"Then I would build monitor like
the Puritan for every important harbor.
She is a floating fortress and can move
to any point Of danger, while fortifica-
lions are stationary. The monitor Puri-
tan is the best fighting vessel on the
earth today. She stands only thirty
inches out Of water. carries the very
heaviest Of guns, and she cannot be
seen at a distance Of two miles. But
the officers on the Puritan can see hos
tile battleships five or six miles away,
and can send heavy shot and shells into
their hulls near the water line. And
the enemy can't strike the Puritan be-
cause she cannot be seen at q greater
distance than two miles.
A Waste OF Money.
ct would do away with battleships
entirely. It is wasting money to build
them. I would build q lot Of cruisers
like the Minneapolis and send them out
to destroy the commerce Of an enemy
During our civil war the Confederates
had a commerce destroyer called the
Alabama. That cruiser practically de-
stroyed all the commerce flying the
American flag. If one cruiser could do
that, what could thirty good modern,
swift cruisers do? They could destroy
the commerce Of Great Britain or any
other country and when nations
commerce Is destroyed she is done fight
ing"
Spain has admitted during the past
six months that her method of warfare
in Cuba has caused the death Of 100000
people by starvation. She has permitted
this country to raise food and clothing
and other supplies to mitigate the suf-
fering Of another 100000, now slowly
starving to death. AS a last admission
Spain has conceded that Miss Clara
Barton shall go to Cuba as the agent of
the Red Cross society to bring succor to
the sufferers, and Miss Barton Is there.
Facts, undeniable facts, point unmis-
takably to the condition which shows
that Spain is but little above the level
of barbarism.
Investigating Civil Service Methods.
The committee on civil service reform
has been investigating civil service
methods almost continuously for six
WEEKS. IL has DccH dcilOhotidtCo thot
the law has been grossly violated in
many instances during several admins
trations. BY favoritism certain persons
have been selected from the civil service
lists and have received appointments,
whereas thousands of others who have
passed the civil! service examinations
have thereby lost their just chances for
appointment. Strange, amt it, to what
uin in, nrdar N
on the government pay roll?
For thirty-siX years the government
seal in the treasury department has
been constantly in use, and 1t has made
upon all Of the bonds issued
by the government since 1862. The old
seal recently began to show signs of
wear and a new one is to be engraved.
The old seal will be melted, mashed
and completely destroyed. 1t has
made impressions upon more than ten
thousand million dollars worth of
bonds. See the figures: $10,297 ,534, 900.
BILLY Bryan is our man" says ex-
Congressman Towne of Minnesota,
party. HE is the natural leader of the
silver forces for 1900. All Of the silver
men will support him."
dIlOhS itduiiiS oiiNVi ihCh
developed the fact that the Democratic,
Populist and silver Republican leaders
have united upon a plan for co-opera-
ton with the view of supporting Bryan
for the nomination in 1900. Therefore
Mr. Towne spoke advisedly. There has
been such strong effort recently made,
particularly in New York, to side-track
the Bryan boom, that this combination
is important to know about, so that its
movements may be anticipated. 1t is
fair to assume, however, that all of the
silver forces will be united in the next
presidential campaign, and 1t is quite
likely that they will work together dur
ing the coming congressional cam
paign.
No Heed to the Morrow.
So far as diligent inquiry and close
observation will enable one to reach a
conclusion 1t seems likely that the Re-
publican leaders are giving no heed to
the morrow. They are not talking of
their presidential candidate for 1900.
and they do not seem to be entertain
ing any apprehensions concerning the
coming conversational contest The onlv