The evening times., 1899-04-06
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.


NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Rhode Island ElectiOn.-The
Democratic leaders are extracting small
grains Of comfort out of the Rhode Island
election. There was falling of in the
Republican vote OF about 25 per
cent, and. Of course, the same decrease
next year would elect Mr. Bryan or any
body who happens to be the nominee OF
the Democratic party for President. Re-
publican leaders. however, do not regard
the Rhode Island election as Significant.
They admit that the sentiment against the
policy Of Expansion is stronger in New Eng
land than in any other part OF the country
and to this Tact they attribute the gains
made by the Democrats in the State.
New England said Republican. has
ceased to he the political barometer OF the
country. The people OF that section. in
fact, are out of touch with the balance OF
the country. The future policy OF the
United States will not be controlled by New
England. The people Of the South and
West represent the best American sentl-
ment and they will dominate the political
situation for good many years to come.
Garret "A. HObnrt.-There is consid-
cradle anxiety in political circles concern
ing Vice President Hobart's health. The
impression obtains that he is In much
more serious condition than has been re-
ported. Mr.. HObart's physician, it Is stat
cd, has ordered him to take vacation OF
at least six months. 1t has not been ce-
cided whether he will so to Europe or 10
California. 81 am satisfied" said one of
Mr.. Hobart IS friends today. that Mr.. Ho-
bart will not be a candidate for seconf
term as Vice President next year. Mr.
Mckinley and all Of his friends are anx-
ious to have him on the Presiden sial
ticket again, but Mr.. Hobart's health will
preclude his accepting the honor He has
led very active life and is completely
broken down. II Is his intention, un-
derstand, to retire from both Politics ana
busaness Just as soon as possible
The withdrawal of MIR. Hobart from the
political arena will necessitate the selec-
ton OF a new running mate for Mr.. Me-
Kinley next year. 1t is said that Senator
Hanna has an idea that Mckinley and
Roosevelt would make a strols combina-
ton.
Spanish War Pension ClaIms.-Com-
missioner OF Pensions Evans in speaking
today Of the claims that had been filed at
his office for pensions by reason CT d.sabil-
ity sustained in the one hundred days war
with Spain said: Undoubtedly the large
number of claims presented at this early
day is due largely to the enterprise OF
pension attorneys. ! believe that the PEN
sion attorneys began to get in their work
on the volunteer soldiers almost as soon as
they were mustered into the service. 1
know that applications for pensions have
been received from men before they had
been mustered OUT l thought 1t advisable
to get a ruling from the Attorney General
as to whether a soldier could legally ap
ply for a pension before he was discharged
from the service, and his decision IS that
a soldier must be mustered out before he
becomes pensionable. That is only common
sense. Certainly as long as a man is able
to perform the duties of a soldier he can
not expect to be placed upon the pension
rolls. The pension attorneys, however,
have only one idea and that is to secure
new business. At the rate the claims are
coming in more than one-third OF the men
who enlisted for the war with Spain will
have applied for a pension before the end
of the fiscal year. This beats all previous
records. 1t is safe to say. however. that
all the claims that are flied will not be
allowed. The Pension Office Will endeav-
or to sifi ont the chafI from the wheat"
Nayor-Ei~ct FRrIey.-''It will be well
to keep an eye on John II. Farley. the
mayor elect of Cleveland" said an Ohio
statesman today. 'Mr. Farley is one of
the smocttfst politicians in the Buckeye
State Hi wss Chairman OF the Ohio
Democratic State Committee in 1892. About
two weeks before the election | dropped in
at Farley's. headquarters and asked how
things were going. We are going to come
mighty near to carrying the State for
Cleveland he said. If ! had little more
money ! would guarantee to deliver the
electoral votes OF Ohio to Cleveland. |
shall go to New York tomorrow and see
il cannot &c; Mr.. Whitney to help me
cut. | saw Farley after he returned. 1t
was ne go, he said. Whitney thinks that
am crazy: when I talk of carrying Ohio
for Cleveland. But all the same it could
be done. Harriscn's plurality in the State
you will remember, was about 1000 and
one CT the Cleveland electors did pull
through Ever since that time have had
a great respect for Farley's judgment. His
election mayor will. in my opinion.
make him q strong possibility for the gu
beTnatorial nomination on the Democratic
ticket this fall. He knows Ohio like a
book and il he is nominated for governor
by the Ohio Democrats he will give his
opponent whoever he may be, a very pref