Gilpin observer., 1899-08-17

| ident and Secretary Root during their
conference at Lake Champlain. Secre-
| tary Root made no secret of the pur-
pose of the President to retain General
| Otis in control at Manila, and SO in
| formed General Miles at long confer
ehce. 1t is evident that notwithstand-
ing General MerTitt's expressed desire
to return to Manila, he will not have
| the opportunity, and even General
Lawton's promotion is conditional up
on the request of General Otis to be de-
tached from command. Much dissat-
| isfaction is expressed by friends of the
| administration at the decision.
General Brookes administration in
Cuba is exciting criticism in official
circles here. There has been an under
current of dissatisfaction with Ibis
methods, but the officials of the War
Department have disguised the true
condition of affairs. Strong pressure is
now being brought upon the authori-
ties here to advance the establishment
of civil government in Cuba So far
as the official records are concerned.
1t is not apparent that General Brooke
has done nything to comply with the
promise announced by Congress when
war with Spain was declared He
seems to have made no progress to-
ward the withdrawal of the militarv
government, although army officers
and other officials who have returned
from the island agree that conditions
are ripe for self-government there
General Brooke's recall has therefore
been suggested.
Secretary Root is beginning to get a
firm grasp. on the administration of
the War Department He has made a
careful inquiry into the military stu
alton in the field. Probably the most
important military inquiry he is pui.-
suing is as to the exact fluctuations of
the insurrection in the Philippines
since the day'ft began. While going
over tho military phases of the work
the secretary has conferred with the
commanding general. General Miles.
and with General Merritt, who is
second in command, on the military
problems presented. and beside the
military results of these counsels it
has established cooperation between
the executive head of the War Depart
ment and the ranking officers of the
army. Meanwhile the secretary has
announced on far-reaching policies. He
proceeds slowly while the facts on
which policies rest are being as
sembled.
The secretary of war has issued an
appeal to governors of states for aid
far the storm sufferers in Porto Rico
saying: THE magnitude of the work
to be accomplished leads this depart
ment to supplement the appeal already
made to the mayors of the principal
cities of the country by more gen
eral appeal. and l beg you to ask the
people of your state to contribute gen.
erously to the relief of the people of
Porto Rico. Swift steamers have been
provided to leave the port of New
York to carry the supplies directly to
Porto Rico as rapidly rs they can be
collected. Contributions should be
either in supplies or in money, in or
der that the supplies can be purchased.
The supplies should be sent to Colonel
f. b. Jones, Army building, foot of
Whitehall street, New York City. in
packages plainly marked Porto Rico
Relief and he should be consulted as
to the time of shipment Money should
be sent to the National Bank of North
America, New York City"
Senator Clay of Georgia. a Democrat.
Is quoted in the midsummer political
gossip here as having expressed the
belief that there would be an anti-eX,
pansiOn Republican ticket in the field
for the presidency next year. Accord
ing to this gossip. the new ticket is to
be called the Continental Republican"
ticket. and. though it is not believed
that it will be possible to get former
Speaker Reeds consent to head the
ticket, he is counted on as one of its
most effective supporters. George s.
Boutwell, of Massachusetts, former sec.
retary of the treasury. who Is high in
the counsels of the anti-expansionists.
is talked of as the Continental Repub-
lcan candidate for the presidency, and
1t is said that the anti-eXpansionists,
with him at the head of the ticket
would expect TO prevent the regular
republican ticket from carrying any
one of the New England states. Form.
er Speaker Reeds return to the United
States has revived the talk about his
remaining in the House of Representa-
tives and opposing the administration
policy of expansion from the floor
Representative Warner of Illinois said
that 1t was his opinion that Mr.. Reed
would retain his membership in the
House. taking his place on the floor
aud advancing his views to the best OF
his ability Some plnusibility is given
to Mr. Warmers opinion by the fact
that Mr. Reed has not yet resigned his
seat In the House. nor has he made
any public declaration of his intention
to do 80. His private secretary, Amos
Allen. has. however. let II he under.
stood that Mr.. Reed would resign In
due time. and that he himself would
he n candidate for the Republican nom.
ination in the district.
Officers who have returned from the
Philippines tell of n pretty race for the
vacant maj r-generalship In the regu.
lar army between "Scrappy" Lawton.
as the soldiers call the general and
General Macarthur. Each of them
wants to wear the double starred
shoulder straps of the regular army.
and both are bent on making record
which will give them the coveted com.
mission. The returned officers say
that General Otis Is doing all he can