Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-25
Mr.. MElhLEJOHN IS HERE
Assistant Secretary Of War Comes to Take
Part in the Campaign,
MAKES sPEECHAT POINTERS HOME TODAY
VIII Put in the Time from Now Jntii
Election Campaigning in state OF
Ncbraska-TnIks of the War
in the Philippines.


Meiklejohn arrived in Omaha at 4:S0 Tues
day afternoon direct from Washington. He
came in On the train that a few minutes /
later bore Major General Nelson A. Miles .
westward, and the crowds present to see
the one depart, recognizing the distinguished |
Nebraskan instantly, gave him warm vel !
come An eager throng pressed forward !
to greet MIR. Meiklejohn and he exchanged |
few words with each one as he went to
his carriage and was driven to the Millard
hotel, where he took quarters for the
night. He will leave this morning for
Albion, where he will open the campaign
| this evening in the home town Of Governor
| Poynter.
| Secretary Meklejohn dined with Major
Brad d. Slaughter and after returning to
the hotel received callers until late in the
night In speaking Of his western trip Mr..
| Meiklejohu said he had been invited by
| the republican state central committee to
| give what time he could to the eampaign
| in this state. He had also received an in
vitation from the state central committee
| of Ohio to spend a week there, but declined
in order that he might give his undivided
attention to Nebraska. Until after election
the state central committee will bill him
for a speech every night, the first three
dates after this evening being at Clarks,
October 26; Ord October u and Lexington,
October 2S.
Beyond this the committee has not mapped
| out the itinerary. Mr.. Meiklejohn after
the election will be employed for some
time upon military matters. He will in
spect Forts Robinson and Niobrara and put
in some time at Sheridan, Wyo., later going
to Fort Custer Wyo,, which was abandoned
recently by the War department for sant-
| n n
whether the War department shall or shall
not relinquish it to the department Of the
Interior. This will delay his return to
Washington until about November 10.
Talks of War Matters.
Secretary Meikleiohn talked of war mat
ters during the evening. He said people
hardly realized the magnitude of the work
done by the department within the past
year.
"In April last" said he, when the ratif-
! cations of the peace treaty were exchanged
between the United States and Spain we had
an army in the Philippines of 4,200 regu-
lars and 1900 volunteers. The conditions
of the act passed at the close of the last
session of congress provided for the muster
ing out of the volunteers in service. This
left in the Philippine islands but 1900 regu-
lars under the absolute control of the War
department. .--
in that climate the ineffectives are at
least 20 per cent of the whole, leaving an
effectual army of about 5000 men after the
1900 volunteers were transported to the
United States, or, as / should say, to San
Francisco, as the Philippine islands are now
a part of the United States. This act of
congress referred to further provides for an
increase in the regular army from $4,000 to
65 900 men to serve until 1901, and gives the
, president power to call for $4,000 volunteers
If it becomes necessary, making an army in
round numbers of 600 men.
"Since last April, as provided by law, we
. have transported from the Philippines to San
Francisco an army of 1900 men and trans
ported to the Philippines an army of "a, 900
men, who have already disembarked, with
1000 enroute and 1000 more under orders
to start at moments notice.
"This remarkable state of affairs is sur
prsing when it is taken into consideration
that the Philippines are 5000 miles dis
1 tant. With the 5000 men ON the islands
! ! the "a 900 sent there recently and the 5000
| that will reach there soon, the fall cam
paign will open with at least $4,000.
Politics in the East.
' east l can say from what l have observed
o that the outlook is very good for the re-
l publican party. In those states where there
are contests this fall there is no doubt
d whatever that the republican majorities
: will be even greater than they were in 1896
v for the opposition finds it hard to stem the
G tidal wave of prosperity and patriotism
? that has swept over the country during the
: present administration"
n In speaking of Judge M. B. Reese, can
g 5 didate for justice Of the supreme court, Mr.
Meikejohn had the following to say:
s Il have had the good fortune to know
+ Manoah B. Reese ever since ! located ir
l. the state for the practice of my profession
. in 1880. He was district attorney in the
: judicial district in which my county was
d situated when | first met him. 1t was
| great pleasure to me when ! was in the
g state senate and he was on the supreme
bench to cast the first ballot for him as
d United States senator in the winter of 1885
He Is jurist of rare ability, as has beer
: shown by his past record, and should be
l. elected by an overwhelming majority"
s In regard to the political situation in Ne
n braska, Mr. Melklejohn said he could moi
: speak he had so far had no opportunity
| IN make nprsOnal Obseryat inns