Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From orr Regular Correspondent

Alger left Washington to be absent
the greater part of this month, just
after the Cabinet decided not to call
for volunteers for the Philippines.
There were two reasons for this decl-
sion. The first, and most important,
was that it would be exceedingly
dangerous to the health OF the men
to send raw volunteers TO the islands
until the rainy season is over, which
will not w until about Sept. LIST, and
Gen. Otis could make no good use OF
them during that season, If they were
there. The other reason was re-
port received from President Schur-
man, Of the Philippine Commission,
expressing the opinion that the Fill
pinos would surrender before the
close of the rainy season, making
another military campaign unneces-
slry. Military men are almos mhan'
lmous in the belief that more volun-
tecIs will have TO be called for, before
the revolt is put down. Meanwhile,
regulars are to be sent TO take the
place of the returning volunteers, and
Gen. Otis has been given authority
to enlist as many natives as he may
see fit.
Gen. Wood. the Commander OF
the Santiago district, seems to have
found the Cuban problem easy to
solve. In report to the War De
partment, after telling of the quiet
and orderiness Of the entire district,
over which he had just Travelled, he
SAID: "The whole problem today IN
Cuba is work. Put the idle people
who are now reading the incendiary
press to work, relegate to back seat
the politicians whose present import
ance rests solely on the attention they
are receiving from our people, and
they will not have followers enough
left to give them the slightest import
ance or weight in the community.
Agltators have tried to stir up the
people of this province, but they can-
not do it, simply because we have
given the people something to do and
put them in condition so good that
they will not leave ii for a lawless life,
unless absolutely forced to. The pco-
pie who are creating the disturbances
today in Cuba, do MT represent two
p II cent of the population" 1t seems
a pity that Gen. Wood could not be
pat in charge of the whole OF Cuba,
and be allowed to govern 1t in his
own way, he has been so successful in
his district.
There are ls5 republicans in the
next House, which makes % votes in
the Caucus necessary to nominate the
next Speaker. The friends of Repre-
sentative Henderson claim that he is
already assured of the support of that
many members and that he is sure 10
be the next Speaker, and dlsinterest.
ed observers regard the claim as val
lid. 1t has been stated that the adj
ministra.ion had no choice between
Col. Henderson, and Mr.. Sherman, OF
IN Y, and that either would be per-
teclly satisfactory to it as Speaker.
This Was regarded as practical
elimination Of the other candidates.
1t was so taken by Mr.. Hopkins of
Ills. who withdrew in favor of Col
Henderson. How Mr.. Payne, of n.
Y, intends taking it cannot be posi-
tiv " said, although he passed
through Washington within the last
forty-cight hours. The New Workers
are to decide this week, whether they
are to support Sherman or Payne,
and as Payne has gone on a pleasure
"trip to Alaska, he probably considers
himself out Of it.
There is little interest in official cir
cles over the sale to Germany Of
SPANS remaining possessions in the
Pacific, for S5,OOO,OOO. Speaking Of
the matter, an official said: at is not
at all surprising With its principal
colonies gone, Spain will be better
off without the little islands. We
didn't want those islands, or we
should have gotten them along with
the Philippines. This government
has no interest, whatever, in who
owns them, although we should have
preferred that England take them, i'll
we had expressed aud preference"
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POWELL'S FORT NEWS.
We have been having lots Of rain.