The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-23
REPUBLICAN
M[SMANAGEMENT.
The Queer way the Mckinley
Crowd Have Of Doing
Things.

Washington, Aug. 21.--If the ad
ministrasion follows its presen: method
of showing its confidence in Gen. Otis
to its logical conclusion, there will be
new conmauder 10 the Philippines
before the campaign opens. 1t began
to chow its confidence 10 Gen. O;is,
who had contioually declared that So
600 men were all he needed. by-issuing
the necessary orders to make the full
streogth of the army in the Philippines
4O. 900 men F; then it was decided to
make it so, 900, aud the orders auder
which the ten new regiments are being
recruited will raise the number to
63. 900. To be logical the next order
should rame new commander for this
large army The proceedings 10 COZ
uectiou With the order to recruit these
last ten regiments which. BY the way,
will almost bring the volunteer army
up to the limit set by congress, were an
object lesson in the wiblywably policy
which this admioistra has so often
adopted. At first it was positively
denied that the order would be Issued at
all then it vas said that the regiments
would be raised, but would merely be
held as reserve, ADD at last, when it
could 90 longer be hidden, it was
acknowledged that arrangements had
been made to land the last Of them at
Manila about the 1st Of December,
which means that they will leave San
Francisco early in October
The sending Of big army to the
Philippines is political play on the
part Of the administration. This ia
recognized by all close political OBJ.
servers. Tie opinion of Col. W B.
Mclean. Of Indiana, who Was deputy
commissioners Of pensions under the
Cleveland administration, aud who is
now in Washington, on his way to the
G.. A r. enoampmeot, to which he is a
delegate.at-large, is that Of thousands,
regardless Of politics. He said Zone
tbiog is certain if,the Philippine war
is not ended before the presidential
campaign comes 90, it is goodbye to
President Mckinley. The war over
there is fast growing 10 uupopulari:y
The policy OF expansion is opposed by
great many western republicans, and
the democrats are nearly unit against
it," Speaking of politics ir his own
State. Col. Mclean says "The lodi-
aoa democrat who is not for Bryan and
the Chicago platform is man without
party. and his position is so lonesome
that be almost feels as though he had
40 country" The colonel koows, as
he vas that sort of democrat himself
in 1896.
There is a paragraph iu an official
report just received by Surgeon General
Stern berg from Major John Z Hof,
Chief Surgeon Of the military district
Of Porto Rico. which ia not calculated
to make new shouters for imperialism
amoog the thoughtful. 10 considering
this very serious matter, it should not
be forgotten that Porto Rico is the
beal:hiest Of our new Island posses
sions. The paragraph is almost too
plain spoken to be quoted 10 family
paper. Suffice it to say that in it
Major Hof speaks Of the alarming
prevalence of private diseases among
cur soldiers over there and says the
indications arc that it will not be long
before large PERCENTAGE of them will
be aa thoroughly infected as the oative
population. Ee also points out the
danger of returning soldiers spreading
corsamiu alton at their homes. danger
which Great Britaio has found to be OF
the eravest proportions in her experience
With her tropical possessions. Some
thing like this has been said before,
bat it was hooted down as the talk of
an alarmiss. It begins to look as
though the man who aaid. 1.-The more
you know about the tropics the less
desire you have to live there, was
right.
According to high republican author
ity; Alger uever was real can
didate for the Senate aud his ao-
oouncement to that effect vas made
after a full understanding with Mr..
Mckinley: solely for the purpose OF
preparing reason for his resignation
from the cabinet. This may OF may
DOT be true, out the announcement
several days ago by Mr.. Alger that be
vas entirely out of politics. seems to
bear out the story. There has been SO
much republican thickness in Washing
too that one is never surprised to dis
cover something new in that line. The
Hauna-McKinley crowd seem to prefer
doiog even the most simple things IN
a mysterious way. According to the