The times., 1899-09-14
Mr.. Mckinley and Otis.

Nacillation between duty and the influ-
ence OF the Adjutant Generals Office still
marks the Otis policy of the White House.
There viii be al end to it, however, before
long. Prominent Republican politicians.
Senators, Representatives, and State lead
ers are beginning to drop into Washington,
and without exception they are assuring
the President that he is cutting his po-
litical throat and adding millions 10 the
expense of the 1900 campaign by retaining
Otis III command at Manila. Adminstra-
ton organs admit the strength of the feel
ing against the discredited governor gen.
eral, and state that ii has affected the
Presidential mind to the extent that he is
not now as determined in his support of
Otis as he was week or ten days ago.
Indeed, there are characteristic signs that
he is in relenting mood at times. II is re-
liably reported that he quite realizes the
inefficiency of his favorite when Secretary
Root is present, and regards him as a Ma
poleon Hannibal Alexander in the company
of General Corbin But, while Mr.. McKin-
ley has not yet consented to sacrifice Otis,
he has thrown a small sop to the Cerberus
Of national indignation by recalling that
eminent Western embalmed beef agent,
Denby We commend the action as good in
Itself and promising OF others to follow.
The longer the change in the Philippine
command is delayed, the harder it will be
Cor the administration 20 remove the bad
impression the doddering idiocy of Otis
and the something else of Denby have ere
ated in the country.
We have a new but normal campaign
story from Luzon today. Some time ago
Otis ordered Lawton to take Morong. a
place on the Laguna de Bay. The general
commanding in chief did not know anything
about the position or about the physical
conditions OF the locality. 1t looked. how
ever. on the map like a strategic fiyspeck
of attractive hue. 1t may be remarked here
that the knowledge of the country over
which he is campaigning possessed by Otis
is confined to the topography of the vice
regal palace back yard. He has had oppor-
tunities to extend his stock of information
to the streets of Manila. bur he seldom goes
out, and when he does he keeps his car
riage blinds drawn. Morong was duly ta-
ken, with the casualties and sick list usual
as consequences Of such movements. Now
Otis has ordered its abandonment, as he
does not consider it healthy
He has subjected this country to foreign
contempt by starting the hired British
transport Tartar for the United States,
loaded to the guards with troops, and sup
piled with only life presaryers and boats
enough to save less than half OF them in
the event OF shipwreck. The British au-
thorities have stopped the Tartar at Hong
kong. as readers Of The Times already
know. and the Administration is naturally
much mortified
Perhaps this Tartar is destined to be the
emetic which viii bring Otis up out of his
fat place in the Philippines Ii is easy to
remember that the President smiled be-
nignly on Alger, while our troops were
starving on decomposed meat and dying
like rotten sheep in his fever camps. Ulti-
mately Alger laid the potato straw Of Pin
gree on the hump of the Executive camel.
and that broke his political neck Now
the neck of Otis is more political than
military, and the dose of cream of Tartar
which he has administered to his chief. to
the latter's humiliation, may be regurgi-
tated upon him fatally We await the re-
turns