Smyrna times., 1899-08-23
WASHINGTON LETTER,
THE CROKER-REED SHARP GAME CT
POLITICS.
items OF National Importance and Their
Significance Paris Ex-
position.
WASHINGTON. July 15. 1899.

Crokerss sudden conversion. 1t is
interesting as a fact and prognostica-
tion. How did it happen? Was it the
contagion of ex-Speaker Reeds pres
ence, logic and wit unstaled by two
voyages across the Atlantic? 1t must
be remembered that they went and
came together.
Mr.. Reed no more than Mr.. Croker
is in eclipse. Perhaps Mr.. Croker
knows it, and sees political possibil-
tiles. With New York for an arena.
for there is where Mr. Reed will now
suspend his shingle, Mr.. Crocker is
not averse to a good understanding
with an opposition leader.
There is politics in it. Mr.. Reed
knows something about politics, too.
Events move. Mr. Reed is presi-
Dental possibility himself.
But this is only surface indication
of a deeper question. With Mr..
Croker and Mr.. Bryan both for white
metal, and footing a retreat to our
farfung battle line, what will it mean
in 1900? Where will be the millionaire
democrats who say they will not go
into their pockets for campaign money
unless there is a yellow metal candi-
date.
The hotel politicians, of whom not a
few absent, make pretty indications,
but we have seen them fail.
There is a feeling that there is a
head of the War Department. The
new Secretary is studying a big prob
lem with mind. He works late and
is no 'procrastitute
$4,000 soldiers are expected to dis
embark at Manila as soon as the rain
stops long enough for the sun to stiff
fen the swamp mud. 1t is hoped that
the fight may be sharp and decisive,
for if there must be fighting, this quail
ity is least inhuman.
There has been a hearty response
to the War Secretary's call for pro-
visions for tornado-torn Porto Rico
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Bal
timore and Washington have all given
most generously, and, remembering
the Latin maxim bis dat qlti cjtO dat,
the good ships are already sailing with
the means of life to those who under
less favorable conditions would perish.
If our conquest needs other justif-
cation, may we not find it in this? 1t
would be our duty doubtless to have
them succor had they still been under
Spain, and we would doubtless have
done it in a dilatory, too-late way. AS
it is now, may be more lives will be
saved than were lost in the Cuban
War.
Hon. Ferdinand Peck, Commits
sioner General of the United States to
the Paris Exposition, has informed the
State Department at Washington, that
three nieces of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Anthony Pollock of Washington, have
offered prize of 500, 900 to be awarded
to the inventor of the best device for
saving life at sea, and that Commits
sioner Peck has requested that the de-
partment appoint a member of this
board to award the prize. Mr.. and
Mrs. Pollock were aboard the ill-fated
steamship La Bourgogne and were
drowned.
A wonderful collection of exhibits is
being made by Secretary Wilson of the
Department of Agriculture, who will
be represented at Paris by Charles R.
Dodge. President Mckinley has given
several sittings to F. E. Seimer, the
Chicago sculptor, who is making the
bust of the President to be exhibited
at the Paris Exposition.
Although it has not been definitely
decided to call out more volunteers,
there is every indication that such a
cource is likely, as preparations are
going steadily forward looking to such
end. The War Department is prepar-
ing lists of officers of the regular
army, who have been eminently sue
cessful as field officers and command
ers, with view, it is supposed, of hav-
ing material for new regiments should
it be decided to organize any. Gen.
Otis has been cabled to recommend
suitable officers for command should
more volunteer be ea.cd out.
Complaint was made after the officers
for the ten regiments now being
raised in this country were selected
that State volunteer regiments had
been entirely neglected in the selec-
tion of volunteers, although they were
called out and were ready for service
in Cuba, and also that some actually
saw service outside of the United
States. When this matter was brought
to the attention of Secretary Root, he
telegraphed the governors of different
States asking them to name officers of
regiments which had been neglected.