Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-09-21
FREELAND, SEPTEMBER 81, 1899.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, September 10, 1899,

WdSHlnSuOn, oepIeuutr lSi lo5S'
The panic of the administration over
the situation in Ohio daily grows worse,
and Mr.. Mckinley tells the Ohio Re-
publicans who call on him that the
state must be carried at all hazards.
He sent a trusted personal message to
New York to meet Boss Hanna when he
arrived from Europe and tell him just
how blue things look from the admins
traton point of view; also to impress
upon him the necessity Of taking steps
to see that plenty of money is provided
for use in Ohio. 1t is probably the TAX
ing of these "steps" which caused Boss
Hanna to stop in New York, instead of
coming direct to Washington. The
matter has been discussed in cabinet
meetings and two members, Postmaster
General Smith and Secretary Wilson,
designated to take the stump. Mr.
Wilson will speak mostly in the agricul-
tural section, his powers of persuasion
among farmers being supposed to be
wonderful while Mr.. Smith will talk
mostly to city and town audiences. So
much for the Republican view of the
Ohio campaign.
Democratic confidence in success in
Ohio is even greater than the Republi-
can fright. Mr.. Mclean says he feels
absolutely certain of being elected
governor, and he is not the sort Of man
to say so without believing it himself
&. 10
OF news. The Democrats are united
and enthusiastically confident, while
the Republicans are divided into fac
tions, some of which would rather
humilate Boss Hanna whom they have
never forgiven for the rough-shod man
ner in which he kicked them out of the
state machine, to make places for his
henchmen, than to accomplish any
one thing. There is also much more
Ohio Republican opposition to the
imperialistc policy of the adminstra-
tion than even the Democrats supposed
existed until recently. Much of this
opposition is silent, and will hardly re-
suit in direct votes for the Democratic
ticket, but it will increase the stay-at-
homes on election day, which will be
the next best thing to Democratic votes
The object OF delegation of Wash
ington negroes, in calling at the White
House, was reminder of reconstruc
tion days. They seem possessed of the
idea that Mr.. Mckinley has power to
interfere with the proposed election law
in North Carolina, and they wish him
to put a clause in his annual message
to congress, recommending that the
proposed election law be declared
illegal because of its violation OF the
fifteenth amendment. Mr. Mckinley
is strong partisan, but he knows too
much to attempt to meet the wishes of
these negroes, even if they were citizens
of North Carolina, instead of being
meddlers with what in no way concerns
them. If unconstitutional laws are
passed in North Carolina, or in any
other state, the people can get them
passed upon by the proper legal tribun-
al, without either the help or hindrance
Of the president or any official connect
ed with the executive branch of the
government.
t t
Ex-senator Joe Blackburn, who has
been resting a little in Washington,
preparatory to returning to the stump,
did not give the story that Colonel
Bryan would not speak in Kentucky, a
chancesto get fairly started, before he
headed it off by saying: "Mr Bryan
wrote to me that he would be glad to
speak In Kentucky and would leave the
details to me. There was no promise of
any number Of speeches, nor were any
definite arrangements agreed upon. |
have written him that we will be ready
for him any time after the first of
October, and by that time, from pres
ent indications, the bolting movement
in Kentucky will have dwindled away
into nothingness and Mr.. Bryan will
have solid Democratic party in front
of him."
t t
The naval officials responsible for
assigning Admiral Schley to the com
mand OF the South Atlantic squadron,
the most undesirable flag-command in
the navy, evidently felt little bit
ashamed, as they took the trouble to
give out statements about the intention
of the department to increase the
number Of vessels in the squadron, the
Importance OF the command in case of
war with Central or South America etc
The real object is probably to get
Schley out OF reach of inquisitive
congressional committees.
----
Father John p. Chidwick, who was
chaplain OF the battleship Maine, has