The times., 1899-03-02
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP

The Twelfth Census.-As the time
approaches when Director for the Twelfth
Census must be appointed good deal OF
interest is naturally taken in the subject
by professional politicians There is
considerable patronage connected with the
office, but that fact is not likely to affect
the Presidential mind in selecting a man
for the place. Mr.. Mckinley is credited
with the determination to appoint Direc-
tor solely with view to his technical and
business qualifications, and without any
reference TO politics. The President is
fully aware that almost on the eve OF
national campaign IL would be the worst
kind of policy to appear to make the Cen
sus Office an annex TO the Republican Ma
tional Committee, and he is not likely TO
commit any such mistake. Who his eye is
upon for the Office. if he has yet thought
| of anyone, is involved in mystery.
There are aspirantS in plenty and most or
them ought. to be out of the running on
account of their lack of personal qualifica-
| tions. One of the most active seekers.
perhaps, is former Governor Merriam, OF
| Minnesota. He is man of wealth. and
| it is not thought probable he would want
| such place if its patronage did not offer
rare chance for him to organize politi-
| It'i ioitt III HOiuc Sldtc "itH "4i.'h ~
compass the destruction of his hated enc
| my. Cushnan X. Davis. II is said that the
| latter has been urged to withdraw his op-
| position to the ambition of Merriam, but
| if that be so the latter's friends are not
| doing much to justify such manifestation
of forgiveness. 1t would be pretty hard TO
| concoct more unpleasant language than
| they are Systematically using in reference
to the Senator. OF course what they tell
is not intended fer his ears. but they must
| be rather deaf ears if they do not catch
| some of it, and burn uncomfortably in con-
| sequence.
| Eytrn Session Gnbbic.-For some rea-
son there is still some talk of an extra
| session of Congress, and it is not con-
| fined altogether to curbstone statesmen.
| Some of it comes from men who are high
up in the councils of the Republican party.
| According to the latest inside gossip. it
| is the intention of the President to call
an extra session, but whether in the spring
or fall is STILL it is said undecided. A
good many reasons are advanced why an
extra session is desirable the principal one
| being that 1t will enable the Republicans
to clear the political quarterback for the
| Presidential battle next year. In other
| words. an extra session, If called for any
| time this summer or fall, would give the
Republican leaders chance to dispose OF
| good many burning questions which. II
| postponed until the meeting of the regular
session of Congress in December. may be
| still hanging fire when the Presidential
| campaign of 1900 gets under way The
| majority of the Republican leaders, 1t is
understood, favor calling an extra ses-
sion before the first OF May in preference
| to next autumn. The argument advanced
| in favor of the earlier date is that ses-
sion in the late summer or autumn would
| seriously interfere with the November cleo
| tons No matter what Congress may DO
between now and Saturday, il is believed
as stated in a good many quarters, that
| an extra session of Congress within the
| next sixty days is among the reasonable
probabilities. However. Mr.. McKinley's
health will probably have good deal to
| do with determining the time for the meet
| ing of the extra session. Mr. Mckinney Is
known to be run down considerably, ow-
| ing to the great mental and physical
| strain he has been under during the past
year and he is anxious to get away some
| where and take a complete rest. If the
conditions are favorable next week it is be-
lieved that the President will make i'm
mediate arrangements to take vacation.
The Ohio Governorship.-Nlost OF the
| talk up to the present time concerning the
coming gubernatorial contest in the Buck
eye State has been confined to speculation
| as to who would be the Republican candi-
date The rivalry between the Hanna and
| Foraker factions is very strong, and is
| growing more personal and bitter every
| day The chances are that there VIII be
wide breach in the Republican ranks in
| Ohio whoever may finally capture the Re-
| publican nomination. The Democratic
| leaders in Ohio are said to be keenly alive
to the situation and fully determined to
make the most Of the opportunity that is
| presented They are discussing now the
nomination of Representative James A.
| Norton, of the Thirteenth Ohio district
for governor The Thirteenth district is
ordinarily a Republican district by several
| thousand majority but DR.. Norton has sue
| ceeded in carrying it by anywhere from
| four TO five thousand majority upon several
| occasions. His personal popularity is very
| great and il is believed that he would
make a formidable candidate for governor.
| He is not however. seeking the nomina-
| tion, and it is not known whether he would
! consent to make the race. but if he does
| consent and receives the Democratic nOmi-
nation the chances are that he Will give his
| opponent lively run for his money. If
| DR. Norton should be elected Governor OF
| Ohio next fall it is pointed out that he
would become a strong possible rival to
| Mr.. Bryan for the Democratic nomination
for President next year.
senator Quny's Prospects. - The
| Democratic endorsements that Senator
| Quay has received in Washington have in
| creased the interest in his contest for re-
election that has been going at Harris
| burg for the past two months. The Admin
| istration. ii is understood, does not view
the Democratic praise of Senator Quay in
a very favorable light. Mr.. Quay has never
| been a great favorte at the White House
since Mr.. Mckinley has been in possession
| of it. and it is an open secret in official
circles that the Administration has been
| quietly encouraging the ant-Quay contin-
gent at Harrisburg. If Mr.. Quay comes
| back TO the Senate under the circumstances
by the aid OF Democratic votes it is thought
| that he may make trouble for the Admins
tration in the Senate. AS the leader of the
anti administration forces in the Senate
Mr.. Quay would be capable of making
things uncomfortable for the President and
his friends. Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith will. it is understood take
| personal direction of the anti Quay fight
| from this time on. However. if the Demo-
| Gratis in the Legislature at Harrisburg fol-
| low the advice given them by the Demo
| cratic leaders at the National Capital.
Quay s election would seem to be assured
senator Quny's Cnse.
| (From the indianapolis News)
| Really it makes little difference what may be
the verdict in the pending case, SO far a. con
Germs the character OF Quay. For years he has
been known a busy spcculator with the States