Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-08-03
OUR CAPITAL LETTER.
HALT is CALLED ON GRANTING OF
PORTO RlCAN CONCESSIONS.
Ayers Friends Given an Intimation of
What May Happen If AIger Tries to
Make Trouble for Admnist ration.
Where Indiana VIII stand in 1900.

Washington, d. c., August /, 1899.
Attorney General Griggs, before going
off on his summer vacation, shattered
the hopes of numerous persons who
thought they had everything fixed to
secure valuable Porto Rican concessions
from the war department, by rendering
opinions upon three specific concessions:
The right to use the water power of the
river Plata, the right to build and
operate tramway, and the right to
build and control for all time, piers and
wharves at Ponce. These opinions take
the ground that all such concessions
were the crown property of Spain, and
sums them all, and apparently all other
public concessions on the island, up as
follows: "As crown property, they
were, by the treaty of cession, trans
ferred by Spain to the United States of
America, and are now a part of the
public domain of that nation. | do not
know of any right or power which the
secretary OF war or the president has to
ALLEVIATE in pcrpctuity, any of the public
domain of the United States, except in
accordance with acts of congress, duly
passed with reference thereto" This
is understood to be hint to Alger of
the power of the administration to make
trouble for him and his business friends,
who are heavily interested in some
Cuban deals, if he attempts to antagon-
ize the administration.
/ !
Republican wishes father the story
sent out from Washington, several days
ago, that Il movement was on foot to
put another Gold Democratic prcsdcn
tial ticket in the field, next year. No
such movement is known among Demo-
Gratis and no such action is expected to
get the support of any considerable
number Of Democrats, because they all
know that it is not being instigated by
Democrats, but by Republicans, whose
only object is to draw support away
from the regular Democratic ticket.
A number of Democrats who took part
in organizing the Palmer and Buckner
mONtlHenu, HdNc SlHCc dChHuWlcuStu
their mistake and their regret, and eX
pressed their intention to stand by the
regular nominations hereafter, because
the Democratic party as whole stands
for most of the things they believe in.
Although Republican money is likely to
be freely used to bring about such a
condition, there is absolutely nothing in
sight at this time, to Indicate the nomi-
nation of Gold Democratic ticket next
year.
/ / /
Representative Griffith, who repre-
sents the Indiana district which sent
the late Judge Holman to congress for
so many years, said of politics in his
state, and he knows: "Indana will
send to the Democratic national CON
vention solid Bryan delegation. The
mon who were for Mr.. Bryan and the
Chicago platform, in 1896, have not
weakened in their faith regarding
either. | am one of those who believe
in the ndestructiblity of the principles
of Democracy, and though the party
may suffer temporary defeat, it is sure
to regain ascendency, for it represents
better than any other political organza-
tion, the true interests of the people.
The predominant issue in 1900 is very
apt to be war upon the trusts, and upon
this, the Democrats will be in far better
position than their opponents. The
voters OF the country cannot be dcluded
by antitrust declarations Of the Repub-
lican convention, seeing that most of
the influential Republicans are thor
oughly identified with combines and
monopolies. l see nothing in the sit
uation that is discouraging to Demo-
Gratis, but on the contrary much that
betokens winning campaign"