Iron County register., 1899-03-09
MKINLEY's COMING DOWN.
The ImperiaIistic Administration Il
Beginning to Fiddle q Sec
Ond Term Tune.


would consent, has at least consented
to something less than an increase of
the standing army to 1OO, 600 men. He
has, in fact, consented to something not
| very different from the Cockrell bill,
| which was rendered to him some time
ago as a sort of democratic ultimatum.
The bill agreed upon provides that the
regular army may be kept up to the
maximum of $4,000 men, now author
lied by law, until July 1, 1901, or for
about two years and four months from
the present time. 1t also authorizes
| the president to raise $4,000 men for
volunteer service if necessary to serve
for the same length of time if not soon
er discharged. These additional troops
may be raised either at home or in the
subject provinces. in the discretion OF
the president, but they are to serve only
in the provinces. Unless otherwise or
dered by congress in the meantime, the
army will be reduced to 81, 900 men July
1, 1901.
When Mr.. Mckinley returned to
Washington after communing with the
/ Home Market club in Boston, he was
very stiff on the army question. He
told body of republican leaders of the
two houses who called to see him on the
subject, that he deemed it their duty to
hold out for a standing army of 100, 600,
and that he would much rather call the
new congress together in extra ses-
sion than accept anything less.
What has happened to bring about
so great change of mind, amounting
IL, la 4
democrats? 1t is explained that party
leaders have been laboring with him,
and have succeeded in convincing him
that it would be dangerous to convene
the new congress in extra session. They
have convinced him that it would be
dangerous because the new congress
would make haste to vote away many
millions of money for shipping boun-
ties, canal-digging and other purposes,
and make it evident to the country that,
SO far from reducing the war taxes. it
would be necessary to increase them,
or else issue more bonds to get the
money needed for the execution of the
various numbers on the imperial pro-
gramme.
The shrewd republican politicians are
alarmed al the prospect. They think 1t
would be disastrous to the party to have
it discovered by the people before the
next presidential election that the new
departure is going to fasten more than
the so-called war taxes upon them as
permanent burden. Accordingly. we
are told by the correspondent of an i'm
perialstic paper that permanent re-
organization of the army will be pro
vided for by the next congress. but it
is quite possible that il will be deferred
until the second session, so that it will
not become a campaign issue"
II was pretty plain that on his re-
turn from Boston to the capital the
president wanted a good excuse for call
ing an extra session, and had nc fear
OF the effect upon his party CT his own
prospects of either the standing army
bill, or the various bills to deplete the
treasury. He evidently was inhaste to
have these measures put through, and
the country Thoroughly committed to the
entire costly programme while the pop
ular blood was up and the imperial fit
was on.
But other politicians have been hold
ing their ears to the ground, and they
have heard some things that Mr.. Nc
Kinley has not heard. They have re-
ported to him that it will not be safe
to let the people know all about the
cost of the glorious new policy of mix
ing in world politics" until he is Sc
curely booked for four years more in
the white house. Then, during the sec
ond session of the incoming congress,
will be the time to increase the stand
ing army. and turn loose the various
syndicates that are so impatient to get
at the public treasury.
These politicians seem to have sue.
ceeded in convincing Mr.. Mckinley that
it will not be safe for him or his party
to let the people know any more about
their designs until after the votes have
been counted a year from next Novem-
Der. 1t will nearly break the hearts of
Hanna. Mckinley & Co. to wait so long,
but they will bear up as we'll as may
be, consoling themselves with the re-
fiection that all things come to those
who wait, while the impatient are very
likely to frighten the game before they
get within range.-Chicago Chronicle,