The evening times., 1899-09-14
Mr.. Mckinley and AfsS

Nacillation between duty and the influ-
ence of the Adjutant Generals Office still
marks the Otis policy of the White House.
There will be an end to it, however, before
long. Prominent Republican politicians,
Senators, Representatives, and State lead
ers are beginning TO drop into Washington,
and without exception they are assuring
the President that he is cutting his po-
litical throat and adding millions to the
| expense of the 1900 campaign by retaining
Otis in command at Manila. Administra-
ton organs admit the strength of the feel
! ing against the discredited governor gen.
Presidential mind to the extent that he is
not now as determined in his support of
Otis as he was week or ten days ago.
Indeed, there are characteristic signs that
| he is in a relenting mood at times. 1t is re-
liably reported that he quite realizes the
Root is present, and regards him as Ma
poleon Hannibal Alexander in the company
of General Corbin. But, while Mr.. McKin-
| ley has not yet consented to sacrifice Otis.
he has thrown small sop TO the Cerberus
of national indignation by recalling that
eminent Western embalmed beef agent,
Denby. We commend the action as good in
| itself and promising of others to follow.
The longer the change in the Philippine
command is delayed, the harder it will be
for the Administration to remove the bad
impression the doddering idiocy Of Otis
I nd he alS afn
ated IN the country.
| We have a new but normal campaign
story from Luzon today. Some time ago
| Otis ordered Lawton to take Morong, a
place on the Laguna de Bay. The general
| commanding in chief did not know anything
| conditions of the locality. II looked, how
| ever on the map like a strategic fiyspeck
| of attractive hue. 1t may be remarked here
| that the knowledge of the country over
which he is campaigning possessed by Otis
is confined to the topography of the vice
regal palace back yard. He has had oppor-
| tunities 10 extend his stock of information
| TO the streets of Manila, but he seldom goes
out, and when he does he keeps his car
riage blinds drawn. Morong was duly ia
ken, with the casualties and sick list usual
as consequences of such movements. Now
| Otis has ordered its abandonment, as be
does not consider 1t healthy
He has subjected this country to foreign
contempt by starting the hired British
transport Tartar for the United States
loaded to the guards with troops, and sup
piled with only life preservers and boats
enough to save less than half of them in
the event of shipwreck. The British au-
thorities have stopped the Tartar at Hong
kong, as readers OF The Times already
know, and the Administration is naturally
much mortified
| Perhaps this Tartar is destined to be the
emetic which will bring Otis UP out of his
fat place in the Philippines 1t is easy to
remember that the President smiled be-
| nignly on Alger, while our troops were
| starving on decomposed meat and dying
| like rotten sheep in his fever camps UIti-
| mately Alger laid the potato straw of Pin
gree on the hump of the Executive camel,
and that broke his political neck. Now
the neck of Otis is more political than
military, and the dose of cream of Tartar
which he has administered to his chief to
the latter's humiliation, may be regurgi-
tated upon him fatally We await the re-
turns.