The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-10-27
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent.

-. - esSA1AAA Seoa -. Oss OCts 40 lOOS.
Secretary Root finds much to please
h M just now. Tie military move
ments in the Philippines during the
last few days, which are preliminary
to the general campaign, have all been
successful. Notwithstanding the bad
condition of the ground after the long
rainy season. In every case, the OBJ
Ject sought was obtained. Secretary
Root thinks this the beginning of the
end, and that long before the close OF
the dry season there will be no armed
bodies of Filipinos on tie island of
Luzon, and no difficulties are antici-
pated on any of the other islands.
Everybody now looks forward TO the
early pacification of the Philippines.
Another thing that pleased Secretary
Root was the telegram from Havana
stating that the taking of the Cuban
census was started today on schedule
time and that everything has been ar
ranged for its early completion.
Gen. Shafter was today retired as q
Brigadier General of the regular army,
but his management OF affairs at San
Francisco, where he has charge of the
shipping of all troops to the Philip
pines, has been so efficient that he will
be retained in the service as Major
General of Volunteers, as long as his
services are required. Gen. Shafter
was retired under the age limit law,
which gave the war department no
discretion. today being his sixty-fourth
birthday.
Ten army chaplains have been Or
dered to the Philippines by the war
department, to assist the eight who
are already over there, in looking after
the spiritual welfare of the soldiers.
Senator Hayward, of Nebraska, who
is in Washington, and who is thorough
ly posted on The political situation in
the state, says he is satisfied that the
republicans will win, although Mr..
Bryan, is making greater efforts to
prevent it than he did to carry the
state for himself in '96. Speaking of
the ational outlook, Senator Hay
ward said: II regard the renomina-
ton of Mr.. Bryan as absolutely cer-
tain, and his defeat as inevitable. He
can't get the prosperous citizens of the
West excited over as dead an issue as
free silver is. Nor can he gain any
capital by his stand upon the Philip
pine question, though it is rather diff
ficult to learn just where he does stand
on that subject. At all evente, he
won't be able to get the electoral votes
of his own state next year, and out
side of the South, the voters every
where will record themselves over
whelmingly for his republican oppo-
nent."
The settlement for the time of the
Alaska boundary dispute, by Canada's
acceptance of the temporary boun-
dary line sometime ago agreed upon
by Secretary Hay and Great Brltain's
representativesin Washing
ton, is great diplomatic triumph for
this administration. The temporary
boundary line gives Canada neither
a port, nor an outlet on the Lynn
canal, both of which Sir Wilfrid
Laurier recently said it must have or
there would be war.
Interest is again increasing the case
Of Representative elect Roberts, of
Utah. The opponents of Mr.. Roberts
are active and he has come East. His
say that he left Utah be-
cause of his knowledge that warrant
had been issued for his arrest for viola
ton of the anti-polygamy law, but he
denies that. However, he is now East,
and says he doesn't intend to return
TO Utah before the close of the session
Of Congress, unless he is denied a seat
IN the House or is expelled from that
oody after he takes his seat. He ex-
presses confidence that he will be al
owed to serve the term tor which he
was elected, but that is not the pre-
vailing opinion in Washington, where
is known of the enormous |
strength of the demand which will be
made for his expulsion. When the
and the churches unite in
anything, as they are do
ng in this case, they generally get it,
Ind if Roberts succeeds IN holding
hat seat, be will greatly surprise those
sho know the extent of the movement
against him.
The war between Great Britain and
he Transvaal republic will be likely
o prove decidedly profitable to this
country, as our neutrality viii not pre-
Ient our selling supplies to both, ex-
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