The evening times., 1899-02-24
GENERAL WA SHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Mr. Alger and Mr.. LOng.-Secretary
Alger is not likely to get out of the Cabi-
net voluntarily This fact has been appa-
rent for some time. The question the
politicians are asking eath other is, VIII
Mr.. Alger's pull with Mr.. Mckinley prove
to be strong enough to prevent his being
forced out of the Cabinet? Opinion seems
to differ upon this point, but the majority
are inclined to think that Mr.. Alger is too
firmly entrenched in his position to be dis
lodged against his will. 1t is pointed out
that the firing of Alger might result in the
exposure and downfall Of a number OF gen.
tlemen who occupy very close personal re-
lations to the President However, pol1t1-
cal expediency will demand in the Judg-
ment of conservative leaders, the retire-
ment of both Mr.. Alger and Mr.. Long from
the Cabinet before the Presidential cam
paign of 1900 opens.
In the light of recent developments III
the Navy Department, particularly the ex-
poSure of the disreputable plot against
Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, have dis
credited Mr. Long in the estimation OF
the public equally with Mr.. Alger. When
the side history of the navy scandals Is
made public, and there is good reason to
believe that it will be at no very distant
Mr.. Long will rival Mr.. Alger in un-
popularity. The best that can be said of
Mr.. Long is that he has been more the
tool of designing and unscrupulous ring
than it's leader. This is what some OF
Mr.. Longs defenders saying. After all
the facts are published the people can
pass judgment upon that phase of the
case. In the meantime sincere friends of
the President are gravely concerned over
the situation. They fear that If matters
are allowed to drift along as they have
been doing without some energetic and
prompt action on the part of Mr.. McKin-
ley to clear his Administration of the
stigma of Algerism and Long Sampson
ism the Republican party will suffer
a crushing defeat in the Presidential cam
paign next year.
Mr. Mckinley" said an influential Re-
publican today, must unload Alger and
Long or the Republican party will be
compelled to drop Mckinley This is not
a matter of sentiment. Political parties
as a rule do not deal in that article. Their
ruling passion is TO win and they will not
hesitate to sacrifice any individual to ac-
complish their object Mr.. Mckinley
should take warning before il is too late.
Let him ponder over the fate that befell
Gov. Frank S. Black in New York last
fall"
Governor RooseveIts Coming Wis
if.-It is announced that Theodore Roose-
welt will spend a few days in Washington
next week as the guest of Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge Of Massachusetts. No politi-
cal significance, it is said, should be at
tached to Governor Roosevelts visit, but
at the same time il will be strange if po-
litical matters are not discussed during
Roosevelt's stay at the National Capital
Senator Lodge is probably closer TO Gov
ernor Roosevelt than any other Republican
leader. 1t was due chiefly TO his influence
that Roosevelt was appointed Assistant
Secretary of the Navy at the beginning OF
Mr. McKinley's Administration. Lodge has
succeeded Senator HoaT as the Republican
boss in Massachusetts and he can prob
ably control majority of the delegates
from his State 10 the Republican National
Convention next year. New York and
Massachusetts. it is pointed out, would
make the nucleus for a very formidable
Roosevelt movement in the Republican Ma
tiCAal Convention.
The Army Bill Compromise.-The
compromise agreed upon over the Army
Reorganization bill is not it is said, alto
gether satisfactory TO the original oppo-
nents of the Hull bill The point that they
N'lO SNi ANi4S Ipi " P4CNIiit NA!t '4tdAiOu
of a permanent standing army OF 100 900
men has been gained; but the political
feature of the bill has been retained and
in the judgment of good many people that
is of more Importance than anything else
at the present time The size of the regu-
| lar army VIII of necessity be regulated by
events. If there be a demand for an army
of 600 or 100000 men in 1901 it will be
provided. II is claimed that there can
! be no such thing as a permanent stand
ing army in this country for the very good
reason that each succeeding Congress Will
have the power TO reduce it at any time
ii sees fit by merely refusing TO appropri
ate the money necessary to keep it going.
But in the matter of staff appointments and
other details it is considered as highly de-
sirable for the good of the service TO di
yorce the army as much from politics as
possible. If the compromise outlined goes
through Mr.. Alger or his successor in Of
fee will have free swing in the matter of
staff appointments. Army officers who are
not identified with the Alger- -Corbin ring
regret keenly that it is not possible TO in
corporate the Proctor amendment in the
army bill. y great mistake will be made,
they believe, If the proposed compromise
measure goes through in its present shape.