The evening times., 1899-07-12

despatch an emissary with orders ito carry
cut the special Instructions he may re-
ceive.' 1t makes no difference that Gen.
eral Miles was in Mansfield, Ohio, or that
vicinity on July 5, the date of the issuance
of the order to Major Hopkins, in the name
of the Commanding General OF the Army.
That mere circumstance would not pre-
vent General Miles from directing the Ad-
jutant General to issue the order, for Gen
eral Miles could do 1t by wire from Mans
field or the nearest telegraph Office, as he
must have been at that time fully aware
of the danger threatening along the Kala-
mazoo River which demanded the presence
of the vigilant Major Hopkins.
Or possibly the mutineers whom 1t Is
advisable to watch at Grand Rapids and
other points along the Kalamazoo River
are not Malays, as we dread, but Mich1-
ganders. II we can believe anything the
Secretary of War tells Us in newspaper in
terviews we are to understand that he is
a candidate to represent Michigan in the
Senate. Up to date we have seen no
denial by him of that particular part OF
his recent interviews. Therefore, we are to
conclude that he is really a candidate.
| The Hon. Potato Pingree is supposed
to be holding down the Michigan end OF
the Senatorial campaign to the best Of his
| ability. But it is not impossible that the
movement of the enemy, under the skillful
direction of the Hon. James Mcmillan, is
a little too swift for Pingree, even though.
as was recently said of him. he believes
| himself capable of anything from the
| quadtrature of the circle to imbuing the
potato bug with the qualities Of gentle
man. 1t is probable that he has discov-
cred an unexpected mutiny at Grand Rap
| ids and other points along the Kalamazoo
| River and has so notified his chief in
| Washington. In response to this warning
the Secretary Of War may have ordered his
military secretary, Major Hopkins, to pro-
ceed at once to the threatening scene. The
circumstance that Major Hopkins is not
warrior of long experience or OF hair
breadth 'scapes is no evidence that he Is
unified for the important mission. On the
| contrary, it is high compliment to his
military genius, for until a few months
ago he was a civilian employe in the Wal
1
ception Of Secretary Alger to discern
through his cloak of modesty thu
qualities in Hopkins which fitted him fol
the rank and emoluments of a ll-pano
piled Major and Assistant Adiutant Gen
eral. We, therefore. await with confidence
the report which Major Hopkins is goin,
to make to the War Office of his observa
tions at Grand Rapids and other point
along the Kalamazoo River. We know tha
it will be model Of military concisenes
and directness.
When we recall another recent utteranc
of Alger through the newspapers. which
has not denied, we better understand tn
emergency demanding the presence of hi
military secretary in Michigan. Alge
told New York interviewer recently tina
when he was solicited by five hundred o
more friends in Michigan to run for th
Senate" he agreed to make the race, bu
. that he gave them to distinctly understan
I that he would not spend any money /
the campaign" This probably may hay
some bearing upon Major Hopkins preser
> mission to Grand Rapids and other point
, on the Kalamazoo River and hence ''th
l travel enjoined is necessary for the publ
2 service" 1t may be we'll to state for th
information of uninformed civilians thu
: when this last clause Is put into an ordt
directing army officers to proceed fro
: one place to another it means that all tray
r cling expenses, amounting to about fol
e and half dollars day, are paid by Il
r Government.