The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-25
All Ambitious to Rule the Lower
Branch Of Next Congress If T. B.
Reed Resigns, as Expected.
CAPTAIN WILDE'S PROTEST
HE SAYS THE NAVY CAPTURED ILO-
ILO, IN THE ISLAND OF PANAY,
And Therefore Col. Miller Did Not
Merit PromotiOn to a Brigadier GEN.
eraIship-Supreme Court Decisions.
speciaI TO the indianapolis Journal

SpeciaI TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April A-The various
candidates for the speakership of the Fifty
sixth Congress are pluming their wings Tor
fight and conferences informal and other
wise are daily occurrences. On saturday
two-fifths of the Minnesota delegation met
and discussed the situation, but ADJOURNED
without having reached conclusion eX-
cept that they would cast complimentary
ballot for James A Tawney, Minnesota
representative on the ways and means COM
mittee. Mr.. Sherman, of New York, 1t is
now believed has the inside track ana Is
leading at the start Western men generaliy
are arraying themselves against the Uuca
congressman and endeavoring TO round up
those who stand uncoinmitted. GeneraI
Grosvenor said to-day that he had decided
not tc make the race. The truth Is, Con-
gresham Grosvenor before the retirement Of
Mr. Reed was announced, had declined 10
make the race for the gubernatorial election
in Ohio He concluded some weeks ago,
however. to remain in Congress and let the
| governorship go TO some one else He was
probably quietly informed by the Hanna eie-
ment in Ohio politics that his ambition TO
| fill the Governors chair could not succeed
this year. Then came the announcement
| that Mr. Reed intended to resign and the
| gallant general at once concluded that ne
would look we'll, even If he could not quite
| fill the chair made vacant by the re-
| tirement Of the man from Maine. He again
| sought counsel of the President and MS
| friends with the result that he has decided
| to remain just a plain, everyday member on
| the floor. 81 find," said he, latter careful
| canvass of the situation that Ohio cannot
| get the speakership. The State is all right
| geographically but the old cry Is raised
| that Ohio already has more than her share
of honors and she must stand aside in the
| race for the speakership."
Meanwhile so many Western candidates
are appearing that the difficulties of COM
| bination on sectional lines are multiplying.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois. is out to-day as an
| avowed candidate, and Hopkins, of the same
| State, has always been a candidate, having
once at least locked horns with Mr.. Reed.
General Henderson, of Iowa, is also looming
| up quite strongly. If majority of the
New York delegation support Mr.. Sherman
it is expected that Serene Payne will with
| draw though he has announced his candi-
| dacy In that event Sherman will have a
| fine opportunity to organize his forces and
| make combinations. With the Eastern vote
| pretty solidly behind him and no serious
Eastern candidate in opposition. he would
need but few votes from the West to in
sure his nomination by the caucus.
|
Capt. T. Wilde, of the cruiser Boston,
| has protested against the promotion of Col.
Miller to a brigadier generalship as a re-
ward for the capture of Iloilo. 1t appears
| that this capture was effected entirely by
naval forces under the command of Capt.
4 49,
| capture had been effected that the place
was turned over TO Colonel Miller, who, up
to that time, bad nothing to do with its
| capture. This action is indorsed by Ad-
miral Dewey.
| Captain Wilde's protest came too late to
be effective, as Colonel Miller was pro-
NOTED a. brigadier general Feb. ID in recog-
| nition OF his services in the capture OF
| Iloilo and was retired in that grade March
| g by operation of law account of age
| He was in command of the expedition sent
| from Manila for the capture of Iloilo and
| the cruisers Boston and Petrol were sent
| with him to render assistance. While the
| vessels with the expedition were lying off
| the port the natives began to strengthen
| their defenses and fired several shots at the
| Petrol, which vessel was anchored nearest
| the shore. The commander of that small
| war ship asked and received permission of
| Captain Wilde, of the Boston, to respond
| At this time, according to naval advices.
General Millers army transports were
ordered out of the roadstead. Without COM
| municating with General Miller the two
| war ships opened on the shore batteries
| and soon sllenced them. Lieutenant Nib
| lack, OF the Boston, landed with battalion
| of marines and sailors and took possession
| OF the town. They captured the insurgents
| flags on the governors house and on the
batteries and turned the city over to Gen
| Miller on his arrival an hour or so later
They kept the captured flags, however. in
| spite of General MilIer's demand for them
| This is the naval story of the battle OF
| Iloilo. The official report of that engage
ment first received In Washington was
made by General Miller to the War Depart
ment and simply announced the surrender
| of that city to the American forces under
his command without going into particu-
lars. Acting on this report and in view OF
the fact that General Miller had but a few
weeks more TO serve on the active list, the
| President appointed him a vacancy then
existing in the list Of brigadier generals.
He Is now his way home from Manila
and is expected TO reach San Francisco in a
few days. -
The President has appointed Col. James
+. Smith. OF the First California Volunteer
Regiment. brigadier general of volunteers.
The regiment is now in the Philippines.
| General Smith viii be assigned to one OF
the brigades of General Otis's army.
Batteries c and NJ, Of the Seventh Ar
tillery, have been ordered 10 return from
Porto Rico. 1t is expected that these bat
teries and the remainder OF the Seventh Ar