The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-09-22
Washington. Letter.
(ffsn Our Regular Correspondents.
HAsH1NaroN, Sept. IL, 1899.

President Mckinley has decid ed
to give Porto Rico home rule with
out waiting for Congress to act,
and will very shortly put into ef-
foot the form of civil government
which has been devised BY Secre-
tary Root and endorsed by tho
Other members of tho Cabinet.
The principal officials will b sp-
pointed by tho President. This
method will be adopted because
this form 10 not intended to be
permanent, but merely to give tho
Porto Rieans 8 civil form Of GOV
eminent, under their own citisens,
until Congress provides ! per-
nanent government for tho Isl
ands. Besides being a good thing
for tho Porto Ricans, tho Presi-
dents decision vii prevent any
has.y legislation by Congress;
with home rule already existing
there will be no excuse for hair
trigger Congressional action in
providing government for the
Island.
Whatever sympathy for Drey-
fus may exist in official circles IL
being carefully suppressed for
diplomatic reasons. Thore is
much wild talk being INDUCED in,
and if Congress were in session
now there would be a strong prob
ability that something might be
done to prevent tho United States
taking part in the Paris EXPOSE
ton next year. but there is IN i'm
preston in official circles that
Dreyfus will be released by the
French government befors Con-
gross meets. That would, Of
course, put . stop to ell excite
mont in this country. Senator
| CLARK, Of Montana, who passed
through Washington this week,
said Of tho Dreyfus case: "Every.
one deprecates a verdict based on
suspicion, without a scrap Of tang
ibls evidence, and the whole world
is shocked at tho infamy. But
attention will speedily be diverted
to other things, and the proposed
boycotting of the exposition will
not go beyond the action of indi-
viduals. There will be no govern
mental action, and certainly Con-
gress will not withdraw American
participation in the exposition ~
That view of the matter is being
taken by conservative men.
Having personally familiarized
himself with the agricultural con-
ditions and needs of the other se:-
tons of the country, Secretary
Wilson this week started upon a
trip through the New England
states with the same end in view.
The Industrial Commission has
suspended the hearing on trusts
until October, and taken up mis-
eellaneous matters. Mr.. T. V.
Powderly, q. s. Commissioner of
Immigration, has given his views
upon that important topic, and
Mr.. Samuel Gompers, President
of the American Federation of
Labor, has been heard upon labor
topics. .....
Senator Penrose, of Pennsyl-
vania, took occasion while in
Washington on business, to deny
the published statement, that he
had told Senator Quay that tho
Senate would not seat MIN on the
governors appointment, He said:
Il have not made such Z statement
to my colleague. On tho contrary,
l believe that tho prospect is very
favorable for Senator Quay being
seated by tho Senate. I have not
made any canvass of tho matter,
but that is my belief based upon
what I know Of Senators views of
the CASE That is the opinion
which has been generally held in
Washington ever since Mr.. Qusy's
appointment by the governor.
MI. Quay is so popular personally
| in tho Senate that he would prob
ably be seated, even if his claim
to tho seat were less strong than it
| is. Only those who know the
2Anata thoronoh1v knov hoe