Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-08-24

Il Il Believed That the Tamnany
Rom Was Giving q Cue to His
Followers for 1900.

i
WASHINGTON, d.. O., Aug. 1.-THE
politicians Of the uptown hotels, Of
whom there are always a large con-
tinKeul 10 Washington, nave much to
cay with regard to Mr.. Croker's
sulogy Of Col. W. J. bryan, in which
he pronounced him one Of the great
ert men 10 Amerles and the states.
nan surprising all others In c~loseness
20 The common people. The impress
lon 10 general that MIR. Croker, in
expressing himself in this way, was
giving a a to his followers and that
he had changed his views with regard
10 the eligibility Of Mr.. Bryan for
1900. The tact that Mr.. Croker has
also changed bic views with regard to
imperialism, thus bringing himself
into closer accord with Mr.. Bryan on
THE subject, goes 10 snbstantiate the
opinion that there viii be a better
understanding between Tammany and
Western Democrats and a possible
uniting Of forces for the young West
ern candidate. Democrats claim that
he can be nominated without New
York, but they will no doubt be glad
10 get the support Of the largest
State In the Union.
Nothing appears to be lacking to
the Bryan boom 30 much as money.
Prominent Democrats who have
always been ready to make generous
contributions to the Democratic
stronghold in campaigns of the past
win make no promises of money for
the next campaign, il Bryan lie to be
nominated. Those who know any
thing about politics are aware that q
political campaign cannot be con-
Quoted without money and plenty OF
it. Enthusiasm counts for but little
in comparison with funds. In fact,
funds are depended upon to produce
the enthusiasm. On the other hand,
Democrats claim that they have
pledges Of large contributions-in
fact, name a sum not far from a MIL
lion and q half-if a hard money Dem
ocrat of the old school shall be nomi-
mated.
At the beginning Of the last Spanish
wal an unpatriotic statesman was
heard TO remark that he did not care
80 much for the horrors of war as he
did for the horrors of pensions that
would follow. 1t has been a matter
Of come surprise that the pensions for
this year amounted in the aggregate
TO less than the previous year, and
that, although many thousands have
been added to the list OF pensioners,
a still larger number have been car
ried away by death. There were
about 1000 fewer pensioners than at
the end OF the previous fiscal year.
The pension roll, however, will be
heavy enough, II our forces are to be
employed much longer in the Philip
plnes; and II is doubtful II the pension
payments win not again exceed e140,-
100000. when It appears that out Of
lii,000 claims filed SO, 900 we're allow
cd, that nIno-tenths of the applica-
tons OF widows were granted and that
two-thirds Of those for increase OF
pensions were acted on favorably, II
seems difficult to believe that the
present Commissioner Of Pensions
can be accused Of lack Of Hberality;
but when we find that during the
year So attorneys have been disbarred,
10 suspended and 2 dropped and that
the total number disbarred is now
1853, we to be surprised at any
evidence Of rapacity and fraud in con-
nection with our pension system.
The country has responded with its
usual alacrlty to the call of the starv-
ing people of Porto Rico, and before
this is in print food-laden ships will
be on their way to tropical acqui-
sition. These poor people, In like
calamity under Spain, could not have
Jared so well; and it may be that our
conquest, II it needed further justin
cation, may find it in the help we are
so ready and 40 able to give. Pos
sibly the food we are now sending
may save more lives than we're lost In
the late Spanish war.