The evening times., 1898-09-21
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.
d. r. Ballou, of Herkimer County, n.
Y, is a Republican who is not over san
guine as to the success of his party's tick
ct, headed by Col. Theodore Roosevelt, the
Platt candidate for governor When seen
at the Riggs House last night he said:
The situation in our State is peculiar.
In the western and northern counties the
sentiment against the Republican party
because of the canal steal is very strong.
Platt will turn Black down in Roosevelt's
favor, but the people all know that the
steal was accomplished under the Platt
regime. The people like Roosevelt. but
his wearing of the Plat collar will hurt
him. If the anti-Platt faction and indie
pendents should put up a strong candi-
date, as now seems likely, il would make
serious division in the vote above the
Harlem which as everybody knows must
be solid to enable the party 10 win.
Should the Democrats nominate a
strong man on something like a personal
liberty platform. he would win enough
votes in Greater New York TO achieve
victory, allowing, of course, for the split
that is looked for in the Republican vote
up the State. l am sorry to say that the
prospect is not as cheerful as 1t would be
if Roosevelt had not become recognized
as 'Platts man "
r. F. Allen, of Lewiston, Me, was stroll
ing through the corridors of the Ebbitt
when reporter asked him for an ex-
PLANTATION of the reduced Republican ma
jorities in Maine this year. His reply was
almost laconic:
Some Republicans didn't vote; others
did-the Democratic ticket"
There is no reason to believe that Gov
ernor Black of New York will be able 10
receive a denomination. The indications
are that he is going to be defeated on the
first ballot. It may not require the TAX
ing of a ballot TO convince him and his
friends that he is going to be turned
down. II has always been a mystery TO
great many people how Black happened
to be nominated for governor two years
ago. He had served but part of a term
in Congress, and was sprung on the con-
vention as compromise candidate.
1t will be remembered that during his
term in Congress the charge was made
against him that he had violated the
II dAhl3iS PIN IlcStS SIdIleu the members
of Congress by franking his laundry
from here to Troy. Troy, as is well.
known. has the largest laundry estab-
lishments in the United States Some of
the firms up there that manufacture cuffs
and collars take in laundry from the sur
rounding country. Congressman Black
was at that time having his laundry done
in Troy, Notwithstanding his temporary
residence was in Washington. He went up
the nriuclOa that If W. J,rr,-
patroniZe home industry and it was not
difficult for him to patronize his home
laundry without additional expense so
long as he could frank the packages to
and from Washington, thereby saving ex-
press charges quite a sensation was
made out of the matter by the New York
newspapers. 1t was stated that Mr.. Black
ceased to patronize the Troy laundry.
and managed, during the remainder of
his congressional term. to have his wash
ing done here. He never denied the fact
that he was using the Congressional
| frank on his laundry.
Secretary Alger can we'll afford to saw.
let the soldiers talk. said a we'll
known correspondent in Newspaper Row
last night THE Secretary exhibited
great bravery when he made the state
Cincinnati The Secretary knows that
those who could talk and tell the most
damaging truths about the mismanage
ment of the War Department are dead
therefore he can swell himself UP with
| pride and proclaim to the world. let the
! soldiers talk If all the dead could talk
they undoubtedly would tell a story that
| Secretary Alger would not care TO see in
rari int -l.,
| talk because they have not yet been mus
| tered out of the service. and this Secre-
tary Alger well knows, Notwithstanding
| the statement coming from him that none
| of them would be court-martialed if they
| tell all or even part of what they may
| know. The Secretary might deny having
! made the statement at Cincinnati and
! every soldier who did talk would be sub
! ject to court-martial. The soldiers are
too smart to be caught in any such trap.
| They will wait until they are mustered
out and then they will tell their stories.
Il was informed yesterday that several
o. the soldiers have kept a strict diary
of everything that came under their OBJ
servation from the time they went into
the war until they came out, and when
it comes their time to talk they will have
sufficient material to impress Secretary
Alger with the fact that they are not
talking at random, but that all they say
is based upon facts.
The announcement that Postmaster
General Smith is to take the stump and
make political canvass from now until
election day, has done much to arouse
the Indignation of the civil service re-
formers. There have been very few
Cabinet officers to participate in cam
paigns since President Arthur retired
! from office on the 4th of March, 1885.
When President Cleveland first came in
he would not permit it. and little if any
was indulged in when President Harri-
son occupied the chair. In the campaign
of 1896 number of Cabinet officers un-
der Mr.. Cleveland engaged in the cam
paign and all of them advocated the de-
feat of Mr.. Bryan, the Democratic can
didate President Cleveland did not make
any objection at this time to their max
ing political speeches. The experience of
Secretary Carlisle at Covington, when
rotten eggs were thrown at him, is we'll
remembered.
1t was believed by the civil service re-
formers that President Mckinley would
not permit any of his Cabinet officers
to make political speeches. and the fact
that Postmaster General Smith and AS