The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-08-03
WASHINGTON.
From our REGULAR Correspondent.

" ''''O 'O''1 Ju't , L, lOVV'
That the administration fears Alger
and the disclosures he may make after
next Tuesday, when he will turn the
War Department over to Mr.. Elihu
Root who will become Secretary of
War on that day, is shown by the fre
quency with which leading supporters
of Mr. McKnleys policy are giving
interviews to newspapers jollying AL
ger along as the victim of persecution,
and predicting that time will vndicate
him and his administration of the War
Department. The object of these in
terviews is to keep Alger's mouth
shut. Whether the ruse will succeed
only time can tell. For months Al.
gers personal friends and hangers-on
have been making threats as to what
he would do if he was forced out of
the Cabinet, ane intimating that he
could tell things that would shift the
responsibility which he has been made
10 bear to other shoulders. 1t is now
up to Alger and he must show wheth-
er there was foundation for those
threats or whether they were merely
part of butflng game he played to
try to remain in the Cabinet, after he
knew that he was expected to get out.
Another scheme is also heing worked
to keep Alger quiet through the pock-
cts OF himself and friends. 1t has
been hlnted to him that some Cuban
and Porto Rlcan business deals in
which he and his friends are hnanci-
ally interested will be knocked out if
he attempts to smirch the adminis.ra.
ton, while they will oe let alone if he
keeps mum about administl alton
secrets.
The Navy Department seems also
to have some take exports. In order
to prevent the battleships Ohio, Mis-
souri,, and Maine, now being built,
drawing SO much water that they could
not enter half of our largest seaports,
it has been found necessary to change
their plans, by substituting II inch for
IL inch armor and I2 inch guns for
IS inch guns.
Representative Clayton, of Ala. at
tended the recent meeting of the
Democratic National Committee, OF
which he is member, and while in
Washington, this week, he talked very
interestingly of political matters. For
instance, he said: 81 learned while
in Chicago that Bryan would be a
delegate to the next Notional Demo
cratic Convention, and / do not vio-
late any confidence in saying that if
future developments should give a
peculiar emphasis to any public ques.
tion, and should lead majority of the
delegates to regard any other faithful
democrat as better fitted to lead the
party, Mr.. Bryan will arise in his place
in the Convention and support that
candidate. know that he has nc
selfish purposes to serve, and regards
victory for the party as paramount to
any ambitions which he may have.
look upon Bryan's denomination as a
foregone conclusion. He has the
confidence of, the common democracy
of the country, as no other man has
or could have The democratic mass
es support him without regard TO sec
tion. He is stronger than any faction
of the party, and can come near er tc
uniting all the elements of the party
than any other man."
If Secretary Root is to be only the
legal adviser of the War Department
who is going to direct its military
afairs1 That is likely to become ar
important question when active opera
tions in the Philippines begin again
Gen. Miles would be the proper off
cial, but there is nothing in sight tt
indicate that he is to be allowed any
more authority than he has wieldee
since Adjutant General Cordin began
at the opening of the war with Spain
TO perform the duties which properl,
belonged 20 the Commanding genera
of the army 1t was supposed tina
Alger directed Corbin, and it has beer
intimated that Mr.. Mckinley will de-
so in the fu ure. Mr.. Mckinley wa
doubtless brave soldier, but the his
torians, neglected to record the cam
paigns in which he commanded al
army. OF course, every school bo,