The times., 1899-01-01
GENERAL POLITICAL
s NOTES AND GOSSIP.
win Mr. Alrer Rc.ixn.-rbsre Is

about to retire from the Cabinet Il
started in the Administration circle, an6
appears to have some foundation. Ac-
cording to the story that is going the
rounds Mr.. Alger is only waiting for his
vindication at the hands of the Alger Re
lief Commission to notify the President
that his health and private business de-
| mand that he resign his post IS Secretary
| OF War. 1t is even suggested that the Re
| lief Commissioners have been advised oil
| Mr.. Ayers intention, and have agreed
| to let him down as easily as possible in
consequence. However, there have been
| so many rumors of Mr.. Alger's probable
withdrawal from the Cabinet during the
past six months that have come to naught
and failed TO materialize that the latest
one will be received with more or less
| skepticism. Close friends OF Mr.. McKln-
| ley admit, however that the President
| cannot carry the load of Alger and al
that the name implies through the Presi-
| Dental campaign of 1900. IL he attempt
| it they say that IL will mean the most
certain Reputation of his Administration
| at the polls. The President has deserved
ly earned the reputation of being good
| politician. He will probably find some
way. his friends say, to unload Alger he
fore the Presidential battle opens next
! year.
The report of the Alger Relief Commits
sion will probably be submitted to the
| President some time this mo.th. Colonel
| Denby the vice chairman, said yesterday
| that he thought the report would BE- rsady
| by January 20. II the report whitewashas
AIger and the War Department manage
ment as it is generally assumed that it
| Will, it will afford Mr.. Alger probably the
! best opportunity to withdraw gracefully
Into tl..Nt
| the present Administration. 1t vii! ais o
give Mr. Alger chance to render Mr.. Nc
| Kinley a genuine service, and show in a
| practical way his appreciation of the loyal
manner in which the President has stood
| by him.
| Important Appointments Expect
ed This Weck.-It is understood that
| the President will make number of i'm
! portant appointments this week, among
them being ambassadors at London and
| st. Petersburg. The former place is as
! good as decided in favor of Joseph II.
| Choate but no appointment can be set
! down as dead sure until it is actually
made. Judge Day and Whtelaw Reid have
! both been requested to come here this
week to be on hand to answer any ques-
tions that may be asked of them by the
members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee regarding the peace treaty.
Mr.. Reid, it has been suggested, may i'm
| prove the opportunity TO put in another
plea for himself to the President in con-
| nection with the English embassy. How
| ever, it is not believed that Mr.. Choate S
name will be scratched. Senator Piatt is
authority for the statement that Mr..
| Choates appointment had been fixed.
| There is not so much certainty regarding
the Russian Enthusiastically, but the con-
sensus OF opinion is that it will go to
| either former Governor Merriam, Of Min
nesota or former Senator Charles F. Man
| derson, of Nebraska.
| senator ThurstOn on Timely Top
ics.-"The peace treaty." said Senator John
! NJ. Thurston. of Nebraska, yesterday, will
be ratified in my opinion, at the present
session of Congress and without any un-
necessary delay. A number of senators
who are bitterly opposed to the expansion
| idea have come around to the conclusion
that the most sensible thing to do will be
| to ratify the treaty and discuss expansion
afterward. That fad is now the general
view of even the most rabid opponents of
| expansion. They perceive that nothing
! can be gained by; holding up the treaty
| and that the only effect of such a course
| in the performance of its sworn duty. We
| would also, to certain extent, be dis
| credited abroad If We failed to approve the
| acts of our agents.
| .The treaty will be ratified beyond a
doubt | should not be surprised If it
went through the Senate without very
much debate. Probably the expansion
/ question will come during the considera-
| tion of the army reorganization bill. That
! measure WILL of course, be debated in open
/ Senate and every senator take it who has
! any views either for or against expansion
! concealed about his person will improve
the opportunity to relieve himself of them
while the army reorganization bill is pend
ing There are great many conflicting
! opinions on the subject of the army's reor-
| ganzation. You know the old saying
about what happens when doctors disa-
| gree? Army officers themselves do not
! agree about this matter SO it is not sur
prising perhaps that mere civilians should
| get mudded over it. All of our spare time
during the present session not taken up
| with the regular appropriation bills will
probably be consumed in debating the army
reorganization bill. do not anticipate an
extra session from the present outlook.
Senator Thurston was asked if the re-
port were true that he contemplated re-
| signing his seat in the Senate.
NO" he said. Some time ago. he
! added, 81 notified my friends that l should
| not be candidate for reelection: that one
term in the Senate would satisfy me.
prefer to go back to the practice OF my
profession-the law
Perhaps" suggested friend, who was
| standing by, you may be on the Republi-
can ticket in 1900 for Vice President"
mo, thank you" said the Nebraska SEN
ator quickly. 81 have troubles enough o.
my own now without taking on the Vice
| Presidency.
Speaking of the senatorial contest in Ne
braska, Senator Thurston said that 1t was
impossible to predict at this time who
would be elected to succeed Senator Allen
There are quite number of candidates,
he added, but l believe that the matter
| will be settled amicably in the caucus.
They are discussing now the adoption OF
a two-thirds rule in the caucus. That was
what was done when was elected few
years ago, and think that the precedent
then established will be followed this year
It has been found to work very well. II
| gives the minority chance, and where q
man is nominated by two-thirds vote
| there is less likely to be friction and sub
! sequent heartburnings. | think that /,
would be advisable for the Republicans tC
adopt a two thirds rule at their national
conventions II we had had such rule al
our national conventions in the past we
might have saved ourselves great deal OF
grief
| The Ohio GOVernOrship. - Senator
Hanna's candidate for governor OF Ohio is
| understood to be Colonel Hoyt, of Cleve-
land Mr. Hanna has encouraged several
other gentlemen. it Is said, to think that
the gubernatorial lightning might strike in
| ,fc;p hui haG IaaL LaJ thai