The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-11-09
WASHINGTON.
rom our Regular Correspondent.
Washington. Nov. 6.

washington, NOV. D, 1900.
Mckinley has played his last card
in his effort to prevent Ohio from 60
ing Democratic, and he is by no
means confident of its winning. Find.
ing that the Philippine Commission
was not likely to get out its preimin-
airy report, on the hints given its mem
bers, in time to influence the voters,
he sent for the members to come
to the White House, and told
them in person to get up preliminary
report at once. The Commissioners
had not been out of the White House
an hour before the press was furnished
seml-officlally with statement saying
that this preliminary report would be
a thorough endorsement of the Ad-
ministration's Philippine policy from
to 2, and that it would reccomend
the permanent retention of the Philip
pines by the u. S. In short, the
Philippine Commission is going to
report what Mr.. Mckinley wishes
them to report-what he and memb-
ers of his administration have been
talking for weeks. Yet, he imagines
that this report is going to influence
public opinion sufficiently to stop the
alarming increase Of adverse criticism
OF his Philippine policy. He will
know better by and by. Men who
draw big salaries for small work may
be willing to have their opinions made
for them, but the people at large, who
are under no obligations to the admin
istration, have habit of doing their
own thinking.
Another striking proof of the love
of the Republican party for the "dear
working people" has just been given
by the Administration. The War De-
partment has issued an order discon-
tinuing the making of uniforms in this
country, for the soldiers in the Philip
pines, thus depriving many deserving
persons of needed work. And before
they were warned to keep mum
officers of the Quartermaster Generals
Office have told why--simply because
the uniforms can be made cheaper in
Hong Kong, where Chinese cheap
labor can be had, than in the United
States. But Republican stump speak.
ers will 60 right along talking about
saving their hearers from the compe-
tition of foreign "pauper labor"
The Administration has been SO
much worried by the wide Publication
of its official recognition of polygamy
and slavery, under the American flag,
by its treaty with the Sultan of the
Sulu Islands, which are a portion Of
the Philippine group, that Prot.
Schurman, President of the Philip.
pine Commission, was asked-perhaps
ordered would be nearer correct-to
make statement in defense of the
Administration. He made a state.
ment, which was an excuse rather
than a defence. He admitted that a
treaty had been made with the Sultan
which would allow continuation oI
both polygamy and slavery, but said
in excuse therefore that this Govern.
ment had to do it, because Spain die
it, or else to engage in bloody wal
with the natives under the Sultan:
rule. In other words, Prof. Schur
mans lntended-to-be friendly state
ment of facts agrees with the stronges
statement made by those who have
criticised the Administration for sane
tioning such treaty.
-.
The conversation of a party o
gentlemen, in a Washington Hotel
turned to municipal socialism, whicl
one of them-a New Yorker-declar
ed had been making rapid stride
during the last five years without at
tracing much attention. He said
"Who would have thought evel
twenty years ago that American mum
cipalities would be furnishing fret
musical entertainment to the towns
people Had any one quarter of
century ago predicted that the publ
funds would be used to give free bath
to urban residents, the prophes,
would have been laughed to scorn
Yet we see many cities that have FREE
baths as an established institution
and public. sentiment is favorable t
the policy. The point l make is tina
having gone so far the tendency can
not be checked, and what will be tn
result by the middle of the next cen
tury no man can say. l will hazzar
guess that not many decades will 6
nv ere in most cities of the Unite