The times., 1899-03-11
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP
Tho nera-MctinIex Whit. Tn.


NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Herd-MciSinIcy Fight. - The
fight between William Mckinley and
Thomas B. Reed is increasing in intensity
all the time. and while no open rupture is
anticipated for the present the indications
are that no treaty of peace will be arranged
and that the war will continue to the bit'e5
end. II ia pointed out that the Mckinley
Reed quarrel may change the political his
tory of this country. Conkling and Blaine
qUaTreled and the latter lost the Presi-
dency. John c. Calhoun artagonized An
drew Jackson and failed to reach the White
House, although UP to the time OF his rup-
ture with old Hickory he was regarded
as the latter's logical successor. Mr.. Reed
cannot keep Mr.. Mckinley out OF the White
House. as he is already there, and. barring
accidents, will remain for the next two
years. But it is not improbable that the
hight between these two men may result
in the defeat OF MIR. Mckinley for President
should ne be tire nominee OF his party for
that office next year. There are unques-
tionably very powerful influences back OF
Reed. but they can hardly hope to cope
with forces that the Administration can
bring into play. Some friends OF Mr.. Nc
kiniey insisted yesterday that Representa-
tive James S. Sherman OF New York would
decline the position of General Appraiser
to which he was recently appointed by the
President and lead the Administration
forces against Reed in a contest for the
Speakership of the next House.
Il know" said New York Representa-
tive yesterday, that Sherman is not enam-
ored Of his appraisers job. It pays $1,000
year more than the position of Congress-
/ q he.
by to any further career in politics. Sher-
man is ambitious and he would Nndoubt-
ediy like to be Speaker, but at the same
time he is personal friend Of Reed and he
is under more or less obligation to him for
favors received in the past. Such things
however, do not count for much when it
comes to an actual showing of hands II
Mr.. Sherman can be assured of the support
of the Republican delegation from his own
State | am satisfied that he will consent to
enter the race against Reed"
Another New York Representative said
Sherman is being tempted. He is offered
great prize If he will turn his back upon
his old friends. l do not believe that he
will yield, although white man. as ths
negro philosopher said. is mighty unsar-
tim. But even If Sherman goes back on
Reed he cannot possibly get the unanimous
support of the Republican members from
New York. Serene Z. Payne, The successor
OF Mr.. Dingley as Chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee. would be a base in
| crate If he should desert Reed, and from
what | know about the character of Mr.
| Payne l am certain that he will remain
| loyal 10 Reed TO the last
TT is going to be pretty fight, how
ever, and Brother Reed is not going to have
! things all his own way as he has had In
the past l think that he is beginning to
| discover that fact already He knows now
that he has probably got the fight of his
| life ahead OF him, and l only hope that il
| will not result in wrecking the Republican
party. Still the matter has gone too far to
| be adjusted peaceably. Either Reed Or
| Mckinley will have to go down. Which will
1t be? Time will tell
Turning Down of Whccier.-The ac-
| tion of the department ring In practically
| freezing Gen. Joe Wheeler out of the mil
itary service by refusing to give him a
| commission as brigGdier general in the
| temporary army provided in the compro-
| mise Army Reorganization bill has prob
| ably excited as much adverse comment as
| anything that has been done by the Al
| gerian contingent since the beginning OF
| the Spanish war. General Wheeler was
certainly entitled to this much considera-
tion if anyone was. and the slight that has
| been shown him is likely to bear fruit
| Why Alger should endeavor to shelye
| Wheeler is hard to understand. Ordinary
| horse sense should tell him that he could
not do more popular thing than to re-
| ward General Wheeler. 1t was suggested
| yesterday that Aiger was probably actual
ed by jealousy; that the report that Wheel
er was likely to succeed him as Secretary
of War aroused his ire. and he took this
| way to prove to the country that there
| was nothing in it and that he (AIger) was
still TO all intents and purposes "a bigger
man than Mckinley
Utah Senatorial Nacnncy.-The Leg
islature of Utah has adjourned without
electing a successor to Senator Frank ].
| Cannon This means that the State will
only be half represented in the Senate for
the next two years unless the Governor
| should in the mean time feel constrained
10 call an extra session of the legislature
! to fill the vacancy. 1t is the first one OF
the States where senatorial deadIocks have
| been sprung to finally lose Senator By
| the failure of its legislature to elect Utah
| is likely to have company, however. before
| many days. The chances Of an election
in California are believed TO be very
slender indeed. Quay cannot be elected in
| Pennsylvania, and no other man with
out Quay's consent, so the outcome
will. 10 doubt, be similar to that in
| Utah. The Delaware Legislature must adj
jOurn next week and the fighting factions
in that body are apparently no nearer
| reaching an agreement than when the
session began. In all probability there
! will be four vacant chairs in the Senate
for the next two years. owing TO the ina
| bility of that number of State Legislatures
| to agree upon men to fiji them. Senatorial
| deadlocks furnish about the strongest ar-
gument that could lie raised in favor of
changing the method OF e!ecting Senators.
If they were elected by direct vote of
the people deadiocks would be impossible
and much scandal would be avoided.