The evening times., 1899-01-09
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Ihe Fight Against Expansion in
the senate.-This week will probably dis
| close the numerical strength of the oppo-
sition to President McKinley's expansion
policy in the United States Senate. The
Administration is anxious, it is under
stood, to force the anti-expansion Sena-
tors to stand up and be counted. If possi-
Bile some test vote will, ii is said be
sprung in the Senate before the end of
the week which will secure the desired re-
suit Very little credence, it is pointed
out. can be placed upon informal or straw
polls of the Senate. There are, as a rule
suflclent number of men on the fence
to render the poll indecisive Unfortunate
ly too, good many Senators have a habit
of letting themselves be recorded privately
on both sides of every public question
This course leaves them free to vote as
their conscience dictates" they say, when
the time arrives to act
While the President and his associates
are sanguine that more than the necessary
two-thirds of the Senate can be induced
10 vote for the final ratification of the
treaty, they are aware of the fact that
stubborn minority can possibly prevent
vote on the Treaty at this session. They
believe that it will have a good effect to
have showing of hands right away 1t
Is important. they think, for many reasons,
to ascertain the actual strength of the op-
position at once. The opponents of the
Treaty ought not to make any objection
TO this, provided they have any consider
anle Following, as in that event their lines
would be strengthened and solidified by a
roll call. However, ii is known that there
are several Senators, like Mason of JlIi-
nois for instance, who will offer amend
ments 10 the Treaty, but who will vote for
rdtlhcatiOn on the final roll call
The anti -eXpansionists," said Cab
met member today, remind me of a story
an old hotel man told me several years
ago. One day man called at his hotel
and inquired if he wanted to buy any frog
legs. Yes, was the reply, / can use a
few. How many have you got TO SELL?
Oh couple OF carloads.
-" A couple of carloads. Well. that is
more than want Bring me three dozen
tomorrow morning. said the hotel man
All right was the response. but | can
bring you the two carloads if you want
them
The next morning the man appeared
with three pairs OF frog legs and they were
small at that
q" What's the matter NV man. said NV
hotel friend I thought | ordered three
dozen frog legs ard here you have only
brought me half dozen"
know it, said the man with a crest
fallen air. You ordered three dozen all
right and / was willing TO make contract
and give bonds to furnish you with two car
loads. You see ii was this way: There is
a marsh just back of my house, and from
the Internal noise the frogs made by croak-
ing at night, l was willing 10 stake nv
life that there was more than a million OF
them. But these, holding up the little
string and gazing Al il ruefulIy, are all
that | could find
The anti-eXpansionsts the Cabinet Of
fetal added are making a great deal of
noise but | am afraid that they will be
like the frogs in the story just related fail
to materialize when wanted.
Is Mr. Mckinley Going to the West
Indies :-It is reported at the White House
that the President has practically decided
to make flying trip to Cuba and Porto
Rico in the spring after the adjournment
OF Congress, The program is 10 make-the
Journey in March if possible, 1t will de-
pend entirely, said a friend OF the Presi-
dent, IN discussing the matter. whether
the Peace Treaty is ratified at this ses-
sion CT not. If the Treaty should not be
acted on before the adjournment of Con-
gTess on March 1 Mr.. Mex nley will not
OF course, make the contemplated trip, at
any rae hoL next spring. lie VIII
vene the new Senate in special session
Immediately so that the Treaty may b.
acted upon with as little addit.ona! daay
as possible. II would hardly be safe TO.
the President to go to either Cuba or
Porto RICO later than March. II he does
not go in the spring, however | am GER
tain that he Will do so in the fall. He is
anxious 10 see the country and study the
people and the conditions there with his
own eyes.
If the Treaty is ratified before March
!, which is more than probable, aud there
should be any other reason or reasons why
an extra session of the Fifty sixth Con-
gress should be called together. the Presi-
dent can still make his proposed journey
to Cuba and Porto Rico. as he could ar
range 10 have Congress meet toward the
latter part Of April, or early in MAY. But
| am violating no confidence when | saw
that the President is anxious to avoid an
extra session of Congress If possible He
sincerely hopes that all of the matters of
the most urgent character may be taken
up and disposed OF before March +. | know
that the time is short but it will not be
impossible. Congress can really act quick
" when ii wishes to do so: and | believe
that the leaders in both branches would
prefer not 10 have an extra session"