The times., 1899-03-26
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP

The Madrid Mt.sion.-It Is asserted
on the highest authority that the Press-
dent has decided to raise the Madrid mis- !
sion to the grade OF an Embassy. This
proposal viii be made when the Spanish
envoy arrives in Washington to convey
the of1cial intelligence to the President
that Her Majesty. the Queen Regent has
formally ratified the Paris Treaty of
Peace. This act of courtesy will probably
facilitate the renewal OF diplomatic and
commercial relations between this country
and Spain. The Spanish envoy ought TO
be in Washington by the middle Of April
IL is expected that he will also bear ore-
dentials as the representative of Spain TO
this country II this proves to be the
case, Mr.. Mckinley viii probably appoint
an Ambassador to Madrid before the first
OF May. 1t is regarded as highly impor-
tant to have direct communication re-
established between Washington and Ma
drid as speedily as possible in view OF the
many knotty points that are likely to arise
IN applying our system of Government to
the Philippines and Porto Rico. II is not
thought that General Stewart L. Wood
ford will be selected to go to Madrid
again. Woodford, however, is still in favor
at the White House. and il Platt urges
his appointment and Spain does not object
he may be chosen. Senator Depew is
anxious to do something for Editor White
law Reid and il is believed that he will
urge the President to let Mr.. Reid have
the distinguished honor OF being the first
American Ambassador to Madrid. One OF
the arguments Mr.. Depew has brought to
bear upon his colleague, Mr. Plat, is that
Mr.. Reid could probably do less harm to
the Republican party in Madrid than in
New York. Whether Mr. Plat will take
this view Of the matter remains to be
seen.
Alger and Eagan.-The Miles Court
of Enquiry having substantiated every
charge made by General Miles regarding
the character of the beef furnished to the
soldiers in the field, and also proving prac-
! ucally all OF the accusations made by Miles
against the War Department in connection
with the recent war with Spain, Secretary
Alger and his interesting aggregation of
embalming philanthropists are placed in a
very embarrassing position They have
been thrown into a panic and each men,
ber of the unsavory combination is trying
to save himself. The selection of scape-
goat or perhaps scapegoats, has been en-
gaging the attention Of the leaders of the
Alger ring. Eagan has been selected. it is
! understood. as a shining mark. The scheme
! Is to have him brought before another
court-martial and sunmariiy dismissed
| from the military service. There is no
doubt in the mind of anyone who is ac-
quainted with the man that MIR. Alger
would willingly sacrifice Eagan and every
member of the War Department ring If By
so doing he could save himself.
The matter, however. in the judgment
Of impartial observers. has passed beyone
the control Of Alger or any of his assU-
ciates. The sacrificing of Eagan at this
late day will not save Alger or Mr.. Nc
kinley from the wrath to come. IL has
become an absolute political necessity that
Alger himself shall be made to walk the
plank into political oblivion This fact is
now recognized and acknowledged by the
men who have MIR. McKinley's real inter-
ests at heart. 1t rs the general impression
that the Alger cancer viii be operated upon
soon after the President returns to Wash
ington this week. Ii is pointed out that it
is a condition and not a theory that con-
fronts him. In the pariance of the street,
the embalmed beef controversy is up TO
him. 1t is his move. lis future prospects
and incidentally those of the Republican
idential election next year may be decided
within the next few days or weeks.
Senator Stewards Opinion. "Mr.
Bryan" said Senator William NJ. Stewart
},
in declining to attend the Croker Belmont
dinner in New York Not one of those fei-
lows would vote for Bryan if he snolld be
nominated for President next year. They
are his enemies, and he did right in giving
them 4 blow that they will remember He
acted the same Andrew jackson. The
same interests in Jacksons day tried to in
fiuence the President by banquets and in
other ways He told them to get out. Mr..
Bryan will be nominated next year for
President, think, with the silver issue to
the front. 1t is the only issue that he can
win on
The Evening Times Beat.-The i'm
portant news of the day yesterday was the
account of the battle near Manila bstgeen
the American forces under command of
General Otis and the Filipino iusurgen s.
The first news about ii. however, thai the
people of Washington obtained was
through an extra edition of The Evening
Times. The representatives of the Chi
cago Associated Press, an organization that
claims to cover the news centres of the
world, were naturally very much chagrine
and mortified over being so badly beaten
by The Times. The Washington manager
OF this noribund institution, who is oroi-
narily a most affable and urbane individ-
udl, uSdFiS iost MS temper SeSteIudy utter
noon when he entered famous resort in
search of some light rsfreshment. He was
greeted with chorus of groans and chaff
from a score of newspaper men who were
present.
Il suppose" said one. that the the AS
ISOLATED Press Will have a full account
of the Manila fight in time for Mondays
papers" After sustaining running fire
of remarks of this character the able rep
resentatiye of the Associated Press b a.
hasty retreat. 1t was the only beat that
he had scored during the day.