The times., 1899-04-14
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP


NEWS AND GOSSIP
Fighting Joe Wheeler.-The Pres
ident has at last ignored the wishes of the
War Department ring and appointed Gen.
Joseph Wheeler brigadier general in
the new provisional army authorized by
the last Congress The strongest kind OF
pressure was brought to bear to keep Cen
eral Wheeler out, but the President decided
to give heed to the strong popular senti-
ment throughout the country in favor of
the retention of Wheeler in the military
service. 1t is likely that General Wheeler
will be ordered to the Philippines right
away. He is better adapted perhaps to han
die the peculiar kind of warfare that will
be probably carried on in the Philippines
for some time toscome than any other man
in the country. The President will make
no mistake If he<subsequently places Gen
eral Wheeler in command of the American
troops in the Philippines. He can, it is
believed, come nearer.to to bringing the Fill
ipinos to terms and ending the war in the
Philippines than any officer in the service.
His past recordIprores this fact conclu
sively.
know, said an army officer yester-
day, that General Wheeler will be given
chance to show his mettle in the Philip
pines right away. He'will be given an i'm
portant command, and inside of the next
three months the chances are more than
even that he will be in supreme command
in the Philippines. He will undoubtedly be
retained in the regular military establish
ment during the remainder of his life
Wheeler's appointment is regarded as
another nail in Mr.. Ayers political coffin.
The Alger influence was exerted against
ha faaf hot hoe foil 1nl ic
significant. 1t shows, that Mr.. Alger's in
fiuence with the President is nothing like
as powerful as it used to be. If Alger still
retained his pull at the White House Gen.
eral Wheeler would never have been ap-
pointed to his present position OF brigadier
general. This fact is frankly admitted by
Alger's friends. and they are now salts
fed that Mr.. Alger cannot retain his po-
sition in the Cabinet.
The Spanish Prisoners. II wish
that The Times" said member of the
Diplomatic Corps yesterday would start
an enquiry regarding the whereabouts of
the Spanish prisoners in the Philippines
have been trying my best to locate them
for some time, but have not yet succeeded
All the dispatches from the Philippines
seem to be very vague on this subject Ac-
cording to the original advices Aguinaldo
captured over II, 600 Spanish soldiers. What
mas become OF them? Has Aguinaldo taken
them back into the mountains? The guard
ing and feeding OF 10000 prisoners would
TAX the resources of almost any country.
How have the Filipinos managed to do 1t?
is the question. 1t is very strange that we
do not hear more of these prisoners and
their fate. If they have been massacred
that fact ought to be made known in some
way. Is it possible that Aguinaldo has
been able to dispose of 10000 prisoners so
that no trace OF them can be obtained? II
so, he Is entitled to more credit than has
been accorded to him. There is mystery
about these Spanish prisoners in the Phil
ippines that must be cleared up The
United States is under moral obligation
at least to see that these people are re-
leased as speedily as possible since the
exchange of the ratification of the Treaty
OF Peace. One would naturally suppose
that 1t would be possible for the American
Army TO locate these prisoners and come
up with them. do not understand why we
have heard practically nothing from them
and | know that other people are also puz-
zied about 1t. 1t may be that the Spanish
prisoners. or majority of them. have gone
voluntarily into the Filipino Army. Of
course. If this Is true it would TO certain
extent explain the situation But the
United states Government should take
steps to ascertain the exact facts. II the
Spanish soldiers who have been held as
alleged prisoners OF war by Aguinaldo are
hghting with his army against this coun-
try 1t seems TO me that the United States
would be justified in Withholding the pay
ment Of the $40 .000. 900 indemnity to Spain.
This is a matter, that ought to be looked
into"
The Ohio Pingree.-The Administra-
ton leaders are very much exercised over
the introduction of Pingreeism into the
Buckeye State. Mayor Sam Jones. nf To-
ledo, who has Just been reelected uron
an antitrust and anti-Hanna platform.
has become an important factor in Ohio
politics. Jones still! calls himself a Re-
publican, and he has announced his can
didacy for the Republican gubernatorial
nomination in Ohio. The convention will
probably meet some time in June, and in
the mean time the problem that confronts
Senator Hanna and other close friends of
Mr.. Mckinley is how TO dispose of the
Jones candidacy without endangering the
success of the Republican State ticket next
fall. Senator Foraker and Representative
I 1f