The evening times., 1899-02-20
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Mr.. McKfaIey and Mr.. AIger.-The
President is reported to be deeply cha
grined over the kissing of his Secretary OF
War in Boston. He is quoted as saying
that if he had anticipated such an unpleas-
ant incident that he would not have gone
to the New England metropolis. But 1t
is pointed out by many sincere friends OF
MIR. Mckinley that he will probably be
compelled to witness good many repeti-
tions of the Boston occurrence II he per-
mits Mr.. Alger to remain in his Cabinet.
1t will not be safe, it is believed, for the
President to appear in public anywhere
with his Secretary of War from this time
on. Mr. Alger is blamed by Mr.. McKin-
| leys friends for accompanying the Presi-
| dent on his recent trip to New England.
If he insists upon staying in the Cabinet
| they say the least he can do is to remain
in the background and endeavor TO attract
as little notice to himself as possible. AL
most any other man in Mr.. Alger's posi-
! tion," said a Republican today, would
| have insisted upon relieving the Admins
| tration of embarrassment by rendering his
resignation. That Mr.. Alger has not done
! SO shows that he has no appreciation of
! the duty he owes to the President or the
! obligations he is under to the Republican
| party. MT. Anger mas become a DuTueH 10
| the Administration. blind man can see
that, and he has no right to impose his
| presence on the Administration any long
er. / hope that if Mr.. Alger does not soon
| take the hint and resign Mr. McKin-
! ley will muster up sufficient courage to
! frankly request him to do so. The Re-
! publican party cannot afford TO enter the
next Presidential campaign with the han
! dicap Of Alger in the Cabinet"
Mr.. Reeds Reported Retirement.-
The report that Speaker Reed contem-
plated retiring TO private life is received
with more or less incredulity in Washing
/ ton. During the past few years a :umor
of this nature has made its appearance sew
eral times. About two years ago it was
! stated positively" on the highest au-
! thority" that Mr.. Reed had decided TO re-
tire 10 private life; that he would not be a
candidate again for Congress. However,
Mr.. Reed subsequently was duly renom-
! mated by his constituents and accepted
without murmur of protest. Down in
Maine reports of Mr. Reeds intended with
drawal from public life are regarded in the
/ same light as announcements of the fare
we'll appearances of theatrical stars. Mr..
I Reed is known to be in q measure a dis
/ appointed man. He has had a bad case of
Presidential fever for a number of years
and once the disease gets a good hold on
| a victim il is generally regarded as in
durable. But Congressional life is con-
genial to Mr.. Reed. His close friends be-
lieve that he will not leave ii voluntarily.
for the present at least. If combination
should be perfected to prevent Mr.. Reeds
election as Speaker OF the next House he
might, II is thought, seriously consider
quitting the political arena, but that, how
ever, is a matter for the future.
Senator james II. Jones.-The lat.
est manifesto issued by Chairman Jones, o.
the Democratic National Committee, which
was sent out in the form of an interview
has not made very profound sensation
Mr.. Jones believes that the issues in the
Presidential campaign next year will bt
practically the same as they were in 1896
Mr. Jones remarks are evidently directed
at Richard Croker, of New York; f. c
Wall. of Wisconsin, and other Democrat!
who have been saying that the silver issue
was dead and could not be revived. 1t i!
regarded as quite significant that Chair
man Jones almost ignores the question o.
expansion in his forecast The natural in
ference is that since the ratification o
the Peace Treaty the matter has been set
lied; that we are expanded and cannot hell
ourselves. Il do not care to take ISSUE
| with such an old campaigner as Senate
JONES' said a Democratic Senator today
. but in my judgment the less the Demo
Gratis have 10 say at this time about th'
probable issues that will predominant il
1900 the better. We are not in a position
10 talk. A great mistake was made by tn
majority of the Democratic Senators in op
posing the ratification of the Peace Treaty
, BY good management we may be able L
| repair the damage done TO our party, bu
for the present orr leaders should kee
l in the background.
Our platform next year must take som
, position on the expansion matter either TO
or against it. If it declares against tn
expansion policy it will scarcely be wort
while for our convention to go through tn
formality of nominating ticket it will b
beaten so badly. That IS the situation i
[ a NUTSHELL