The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-01-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, Jan. 2-Mr McKin
Lewis so anxious for the senate to
promptly ratify the treaty Of peace
that he took occasion to breach the
subject to anumber Of senator's who
shook hands with him at the New
Year reception. at the White House.
today. 1t is the antics Of Aguinaldo.
believed to have both Spanish and
German inspiration, which are caas.
ing Mr. cKinley anxiety. BE told
the senators that his hands were tied,
outside Of the territory already oc-
.cupied by our troops, until the treaty
was ratified. Democratic opposition
to the treaty itself has almost entire
IL disappeared, but Democratic OPP
position 20 our keeping the Philip.
pines permanently appears to be
increasing Present indications are
that whatever delay there may be in
reaching q vote on the treaty, which
viii 90 to the senate this week, will
come from Republican senator's, such
as Hoar, Hale and Perkins. Nearly
ali the Democra,e say chat the treaty
should be promptly ratified because
is does not commit this country to
keeping the Philippines, and delay
may result in sericls trouble.
Colonel DENLY, one Of the Demo
cratic members of the war investi-
eating commission, dropped q hint
that indicates Q surprise for some.
body when the repors of the commits:
sion is made, which will be inside of
four weeks, he thinks He said !:
when they make their report I
u.ink that all fair minded people will
admit that they have performed their
work conscientionsly and that it is
NOT SO much of whitewash com
mission as many persons have I'm
agined
The magnates of the beef trust
have been trying TO scare General
Miles ever since he told the investi
eating commission that the "embalm.
.edv beef sent to Cuba aud Porto
Rico was utterly unfit for use and
expressed the opinion, backed up by
that of physicians. that the enforced
eating of i. lad been responsible for
much OF the sickness, but they have
not succeeded, and are not likely to
As feeler, they threaten to sue
General Miles for heavy damages,
but the threat was quickly dropped
when General Miles said that court
Of law was precisely where he would
like to get the men who sold that
.senbalmed" beef to the war de-
partmens. Swift & Go and Armour
& Co, members of the beef trust,
.haye cent long communications to
the commission. telling how good the
beef was that was condemned BY
General Miles and other officers, and
an ex sergeant of volunteers, now in
the employ of the commission, has
oyerdone the thing by testifying that
the beef sent to Cuba and eaten by
his regiment was better than most
Of The men have had since they were
mustered out This same witness
was made to admit that lot OF beef
Issued to his regiment was condemn
ed by physicians, but tried to
qualify the admission by saying that
he didn't see anything the matter
with the beef A board of survey,
composed of army officers, has been
appointed to Investigate the beef,
both canned aud refrigerated, furnish
ed the army
Senator Mason, of Illinois, is the
latest Republican senator to declare
against expansion He said II am
not % an expapsionist. but / think the
treaty will be ratified at this session.
the ratification of the treaty, how
ever, will not commit this country to
the expansion idea. The retention
or disposition of the Philippines and
other matters relating to expansion
will have to be settled later on The
subject is too big to be passed upon
hastily admit that popular sent'
ment seems to be in favor OF the
expansion idea at present. but later
l look for a change The people
apparently do not comprehend just
what expansion means
The announcement from New ORR
that Mr. Croker bad selected Repre-
sentative Sulzer as candidate fol
speaker of the next house, and
consequently the leader of the Dem
ocrats in that body, was not recelveo
any too pleasantly by democrats II
Washington There is no persona
4 4