The times., 1899-04-15
GENERAL WA SI1fNGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

The Retuyp of Aiger.-The impression
obtains thateMs Alger has returned to
Washington to sever his official relations
with Mr.. McKiniey's Administration, but
some of Mr.. Alger's close friends insist
that he will not leave the Cabinet of his
own accord. cH
MIR. Mckinley" they say, can have
Mr.. Alger's resignation whenever he asks
for it, as a matter OF course, but it Will
not be forthcoming unless 1t is requested
by the President. Mr.. Mckinley must
take the initiative in the matter, Ohio
campaign or no Ohio campaign"
The above is believed to be largely
bluff. 1t is stated by persons who claim
to know that Mr.. Ayers resignation is
already in the hands of the President; that
it was written out before Mr.. Alger started
for Cuba.
1t is thought that the question of Mr..
Ayers remaining in the Cabinet will be
definitely settled within very short time.
1t was announced unofiicially yesterday
that Mr.. Alger will appear before the Miles
Court of Enquiry and make a final, effort
to ''vindicate" himself in the public esti-
nation and rap General Miles. II can be
said, however, that the friends of General
Miles are not seriously alarmed over the
report. They know that General Miles has
proved his case and that the Court OF En-
quiry must vindicate him in its findings.
Major Lee" said an army officer yes
terday, would like nothing better than to
get Aiger on the stand and have the privil-
ege of cross-examining him. For one |
do not believe that Mr.. Alger has got the
nerve to go on the witness stand II he
does take the stand, however. he will be
treated to little different experience than
he had when he appeared before his Relief
Commission"
Concerning Trusts.-SeveraI Repub-
lican Senators met around table in
weli-known resort for liquid refreshments
last evening. and the conversation nat
uraily drifted on to the subject of the
Presidential campaign next year.
Il am not pessinistic by nature spid
Senator who halls from an Eastern
State. but l must confess that the po-
litical outlook is not overnight for the
Republican party. The spring elections
are far from encouraging. There is a
spirit of unrest in the air, and no one can
tell just what 1t may lead to. The Toledo
election | regard as most significant.
Jones, the Independent candidate for
mayor, polled almost as many votes as
his Republican and Democratic opponents
combined. What does it mean2 l believe
that 1t is condemnation of trusts and
monopolies. The Republican party is in
very perilous position. 1t has apparently
been captured by the trust barons and
monopolists. Unless We can shake them
off / believe that it will be next to impos-
sible to elect Mr.. Mckinley or anyone on
the Republican Presidential ticket in
1900"
The sentiment against trusts said
Senator who halls from Western State.
is certainly very strong throughout the
West, and agree with you that we must
do something radical in order to disabuse
the impression in the public mind that
the Republican party is the party of the
trusts. 1t will not be an easy thing TO
do, however. Even II we put a strong
anti-t trust plank in our platform next
year, the fact that the campaign will bs
in the hands Of Mark Hanna and trust
magnates will render our declaration
against trusts almost farcical. 1t is a Sc
rious situation, but we can only hope for
the best