Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-05-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1899.

Secretary Alger, who has just returned to
Washington. is lacking in many of the charac-
teristics that go to make an ideal Secretary OF
War. but he attempts to make up for all OF them
with gall. of which he has about as much as any
man who ever held a cabinet portfolio. And
his latest is a little beyond all his previous
exploits Ia the gall line. He has actually gone
so far as to dictate to Mr. Mckinley, il the pub
lie talk OF his henchmen can be believed. Ac-
cording to the AIgerites, Alger is not satisfied
with che whitewashing given him by the War
Commission and the alleged vindication given
h m by the report Of the Military Court Of
Inquiry which Mr. Mckinley has just approved
and ordered published, but demands that Gen.
Miles shah be deposed from the command Of
the army. In addition to having demanded
this of Mr.. Mckinley, Alger is said to have told
him that il he did not issue the order trans
ferring Miles from Commander from the army
to one of the Military Division. he would. as
Secretary of War, issue 1t himself, thus forcing
Presidential action one way or the other. 1t is
not surprising that Mr.. Mckinley should have
concluded to go to the Virginia Hot Springs and
try to clear out his system by q few hot baths
But it is Algerism be will have TO clean out to
accomplish anything.
Boss Plstt's edict has gone forth that New York
shall have but one candidate for the Speaker
ship, and that Payne. Ray aud possibly other
members of the delegation, who have either
positively or partially announced themselves as
candidates, viii be forced out Of the way to give
Sherman the unanimous support Of the delega-
ton This, and rumors that Sherman had made
deal with Hanna caused quite marked boom
in Sherman stock, and Sherman is now in favor
in sporting circles.
Mr.. Mckinley seems to be developing dlspo-
sition to play Car. He ordered Representative
Henderson, of Iowa, Chairman of the Republi-
can Caucus Committee that recently completed
a financial bill, when he called at the White
House with copy Of the bill, to change it before
it was submitted TO the Republicans Of the
Senate Finance Committee, who 1t seems must
approve it before it is made public. Colonel
Henderson is a peppery sort of fellow occa-
sionally but being candida for Speaker Of the
House, he did not care TO quarrel with Mr.. Nc
Klnley, so he only called his attention to the
fact that ever clause in the bill had been put
there by unanimous vote Of the Committee
The order TO change it was reite rated by Mr..
Mckinley.
1t has been decidedly the Republican leaders
that an extra session of Congress shall be called.
probably early in the Fall, but in order to give
themselves an opportuni to change their
minds, should it be deemed advisable later to do
so, they viii not say more than that an extra
session is probable. The fact of the matter is
that they are getting uneasy over the political
outlook. short time ago they were figuring on
walk-oYer for Mckinley next year. but now
they are frightened. One of them said: "Mr
NJ cKinley will, Of course, be a candidate for re-
nomination, but it is by no means certain that
he will win. The scandals under his admins
trstion have made it difficult for his friends to
defend it. Alger, shafter. Eagan and others,
who have figures prominently in the administra-
ton. have not added to Mr.. McKinley's reputa-
ton or improved his chances for re-nomi nation.
Conservative observers believe that AlgerIsm
and EagaHism viii prove to be a heavier load
than Mr. Mckinley can carry, and that even IL
he should be nominated again. he would be
defeated"
The Philippine situation continues to be q
combinition of dickeriDg and fighting, although
the administration claims that the submission
Of Aguinaldo is now fully assured, but they do
not say when. His subjugation has been sure
thing from the first. but it has already cost
more, both in money and blood than it will ever
be worth to the people of this country.