Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, April IL, 1899.

And the fighting still goes on in the Philip
pinee. Our troops whip the Filipinos and take
town every day or two, but as soon es they
leave the town--it would require 10000 men on
the island of Euzon alone. to permanently garri-
son all the townsville Filipinos occupy it again.
And this sort of thing is likely to go on indef-
nitely. 1t Is not surprising that men are begin
ming to ask each other how long the people of
this country will be willing to put up with this
sort of thing. The question is pertinent
Not satisfied with trying to deprive him of
honors rightfully belonging to him, the Navy
Department has ignored the request Of Rear
Admiral Schley-he has at least got his com
mission as Rear Admiration sea duty, and
practically placed him on the shelf for the time
being. by making him a member of the Naval
Examining Board in Washington, while Samp-
son, the man he ranks, is in command Of fine
squadron.
Secretary Alger had hardly got settled again In
his chair at the War Department before he
made public new defiance of those Republic
cans who have been trying TO persuade Mr.. Nc
Kinley of the wisdom of throwing Alger over
board, regardless of what he might tell OF the
campaign of 1896. This challenge of Alger indi
Gates his belief that his hold on Mr.. Mckinley is
strong enough to keep him in the Cabinet, no
matter what happens. He said "Since
entered the Cabinet, have not considered re-
signing; the matter has never been mentioned
to me by the President and have no intention
of resigning. II the purpose Of the constant
reports that will leave the Cabinet is to tire out
the President and myself, those responsible for
them are very much mistaken, they don't know
their men, 1t is an open secret that many
prominent Republicans are working TO force
Alger out of the Cabinet. They are willing 70
drop him easy by letting him take the Ambassa-
dorship to France. or any other diplomatic
position, under this government, but they insist
that he shall be asked to resign if he will not dc
so. 1t was In connection with this scheme that
Whitelaw Reid's paper printed savage attack
on Alger and Agerism, few days ego. Reeds
relations with Mr. Mckinley are so close, he
would have been in the Cabinet but for Boss
Platts PROFESSIONAL it is certain he never would
have printed that attack without Mr.. Mckinley
knowledge.
Wherever a few long headed Republicans
gather just now, the subject of how the party
can get the idea that it is too favorable to trusts
out of the heads OF the voters, is apt to come up
for discussion. At a gathering Of several Re
publican Senators in WASH gton, this week, one
of them said: Il must confess that do not con
slider the political outlook over bright for the
Republican party. The Spring elections were
not encouraging. The Toleio election l regard
as most significant. Sam Jones. the Independ
emit candidate for Mayor. got almost as many
votes as his Republican and Democratic oppon-
ents combined. What does 1t mean? believe it
is a condemnation of trusts and monopolies. The
Republican party is in very perilous position.
It has apparently been captured by the trust
barons and monopuIists. Unless we can shake
them of, I believe it viii be next to impossible
to elect Mckinley, or any one. on the Republi-
can Presidential ticket next year." Another
Republican Senator present said; The senti
ment against trusts Is certainly very strong
throughout the West, and / agree with you that
we must do something radical in order TO disa
buse the impression in the public mind that the
Republican party is a party of trusts. 1t viii
not be an easy thing to do. however. Even II
we put in a strong antitrust plank in our plat
form next year, the fact that the campaign viii
be in the hands of Marx Hanna and other trust
maguates, viii render our declaration against
trusts almost farcical'
In refusing without giving any reason why, to
summons six particular witnesses named by
General Miles. the Military Court of Inquiry did
a very unwise thing