The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-08-11
Washington Letter.
from our regular Correspondent

1 "
generally, they do not always get on
to things as soon as they occur. For
instance, none of the Washington cor
respondents knew until a day or two
ago, that President Mckinley had or
dered cablegram sent to Gen. Otis
more than a week ago, telling him
that the President was entirely satis-
fed with what he had accomplished
| and believed that lie lad done all that
could have been done under the cir
cumstances. The following is por-
tion of the answer of Gen. Otis: "I
appreciate very much the confidence
the President has expressed in me and
assure the President that have no
other ambition or thought than to
carry out his instructions. With the
plans, now matured, believe that we
can suppress the rebellion in a reason
ably short time, with honor to the u.
S. and satisfaction to the President"
It is highly creditable to the President
that while the yellow journals were
demanding the recall of Gen. Otis, be-
cause he had failed to please some of
the correspondents and to accomplish
impossibilities, he should have shown
his confidence in him in such marked
manner. That the President and the
entire administration had implicit
confidence in Gen. Otis, has been
known in Washington all the time.
Secretary Root arrived in Washing
ton today and will, tomorrow, formally
succeed Gen. Alger as Secretary OF
War. There are many rumors in cir
culation as to what his policy is TO be,
but they are merely guesses, mostly
wild. There is no occasion for Sec
retary of War to have any policy other
than that of the President, under
whom he serves, and no reason to be-
lieve that in that respect, Secretary
Root will differ in any radical way
from his predecessor.
A great many kind words will ac-
company Secretary Alger into private
life, and being spoken at this time,
there is no possible reason to doubt
their sincerity. The following remarks
made by Representative Joy of Mo-,
are fair sample of what is being said
by many republicans of prominence
~ am not surprised to see Gen. Alger's
election to the Senate predicted. /
make the same prophecy. Instead Of
being the target for all manner Of
abuse and the victim of everybody's s
persecution, Gen. Alger will become
the hero, and this will be especially
true of his future in his own state. AS
Senator Elkins has said, he was at the
head of the War Department during a
most successful. war. He equipped
and put 250,0O0 men in the field in an
increditably short space of time, and
when everything had to be obtained
at almost a moments notice. To be
sure, the soldiers did not have pie for
breakfast, nor were feather beds carried
around for them, but on the hole,
they Jared remarkably we'll. The time
will come when Gen. Alger will be
given credit for his great work and the
kindliness of heart which accompanied
his executive administration"
Representative Smith, of Ills, thus
summoned up the amusing wobbling
of the democrats on the Issue of the
presidential campaign: The demo-
Gratis may try to run their campaign
on q dozen issues, but the moment
they nominate Bryan, they will force
the silver issue to the front. They
cannot escape it if he is the nominee,
now seems practically settled. Mr..
Bryan cannot subordinate silver un-
less he descends to mere pettyfogging
in politics, for he is the embodiment
of the idea. If silver is not mentioned
in the platform, and Bryan is nomin-
ated, the people will not be deceived.
They know Bryan's position too well.
"Three hundred million bushels of
corn and $50, ,O00, 600 on deposit in its
banks" said Representative Curtis.
shave drowned out the calamity walters
and restored Kansas to its old place
among the sure republican states.
Thousands who voted for Bryan in 96,
win vote for Mckinley next year, and
It can be classed among the certainties
that Kansas will give the republican
presidential electors not less than 25,-
GOO majority. /"
All the democratic talk about polit-
ical fayors to be bestowed BY the grant
ing Of public franchises in Porto Rico,|
Was rendered useless, not to say silly,
BY the opinion Of Attorney General
Grigep, to whom the question was
referrcd some weeks ago, BY Secretary