The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-14
HE Is SATISFIED.
QUIET CANVASS MADE BY PRESIDENTS
COUNSELLORS.
MCKINLEY ONLY CANDIDATE CON-
SIDERED IN 1900.

Much Interest Shown in Expansion, But
There is Need of Definite Policy Re.
garding Disposition of Cuba and Philip
pines-Silver and Tariff in the Back
ground.
Washington, July 10.-President Nc
Kinley's confidential councillors have
been for some time making quiet can
vass ofrepublican sentiment. The can
vas shows that there is no considerable
opposition to the denomination of the
president in 1900, but that, on the con-
trary, he is the only candidate csnsid-
cred. This is gratifying information to
President Mckinley, but it is not all he
wanted to know. He is a good poll
tician and he did not need to make
secret canvass to learn that he is to be
renominated. He is more anxious to
whether his administration will be
endorsed by the people by reelection.
A denomination followed by defeat
would not be regarded as public en-
dorsement.
President Mckinley as the leader of
his party, is anxious to learn what is the
public sentiment as to his administration
that he may know wehther it is wise for
him to accept a denomination, as did
President Harrison; or, like his poll
teal preceptor, President Hayes, to in
sist that new leader shall take his
place for new campaign.
NONE REFLECTED SINCE GRANT.
There has been no president reelected
for a second term since Grant. Hayes
refused to be considered as candidate to
succeed himself. Arthur was defeated for
denomination. Cleveland was renominated
In 1888, but was defeated bv Harrison, who
was renominated in 1892 and In turn was
defeated by Cleveland. Harrison's admin
istrs ton closed in blaze of glory and 1892
was the banner year for American pros
perity. 1t was the high-w water mark in bus
mess and industrial prosperity. But Harri.
son was defeated by general apathy on the
part or the repuDllcanS.
President Mckinley would avoid such a
humiliation. His advisers, In their quiet
canvass of public sentiment have sought
to learn how earnestly the people are sup
porting his administration and. whether
there Is enthusiasm or Indifference regard
ing certain policies. They have found that
the republicans are satisfied, but not enthu-
siastic. This is partly due to the distribu-
ton of patronage, and the natural conse-
quence of an administration faction work.
ing against the regular organization of the
party In not a few states.
POSSIBLE ISSUES.
This canvass has also shown considerable
diversity of opinion as to the relative
strength of issues. The tariff question Is
regarded as settled for years to come. The
money question has ceased to be the absorb
ing issue that 1t was, because the senate is
again safely republican for at least decade
and republican defeat next year cannot
present the danger of free silver coinage.
The issue of most absorbing interest Is
that of expansion, and the inquiry is as to
what shall be done with Cuba and the
Philippines. The administration must
shape its policy on these questions so as
not only to meet the approval of repub-
licans, but to arouse their enthusiasm so
that they will go into the campaign to win,
feeling that they have an issue at stake
which will stand or fall with the election of
Mckinley. This is the result of the second
part of the canvass.