The times., 1899-12-06
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP

The Presidents MesSaEe.-Mr Me
Kinley's annual message. which was read in
both houses of Congress yesterday, is IN
hesitatingly pronounced 10 be the ablest
state paper that has been issued from the
White House bearing his signature. It was
more explicit and direct than any of Mr..
McKinley's previous utterauces, and was
evidently prepared with great care. As a
rule, the reading OF the Presidents mes
sage at the Capitol is not an event of alb
sorbing interest. The appearance Of Major
Pruden with the official document has gen.
orally the effect Of clearing the floor as
we'll as the galleries OF both houses. Yes
terday, however. the reading of the Presi-
dents message at both ends of the Capitol
was not to empty benches. A quorum was
present in both the House and the Senate
during the tSO hours or more that was Civ
en- over to the reading Of the document.
Republican comment upon the message was
upon the whole favorable Every import
ant point in it, it was said. had bsenNub-
mitted in advance 10 the Presidents po-
lttical advisers. with the result that scarcely
word was included in il that had not been
approved by the Republican managers. Mr
Mckinley Is recognized today as the in
eyitable nominee of his party next year
for President, and, therefore, his message
substantially defines the platform and pol
icy of the Republican party in the PTesi-
Dental campaign OF 1909
Leading Democrats were averse to COM
menting at length upon the message last
night. They preferred, they said, to care
fully read and digest Mr., Mckinley's re-
marks before attempting to analyze or crit
icise them. Mr. McKiuleys emphatic dec
laration in favor of the single gold stand
ard was received by the Democratic lead
ers with satisfaction. Mr.. Mckinley, they
declared, has now burned his bridges be-
hind him on the financial question. He car
no longer pose before the country in the
role of bimetallist In the Judgment oi
a good many conservative Democrats who
discussed the matter at the Capitol anC
around the hotels last night, the predomin-
ating issues in the Presidential campaign
/ next year would be silver and trusts. Yer!
/ little, they asserted, would be heard on tht
stump next year about imperialism.
Senator Hayyvard's Death. - Tht
news OF the death of Senator-eIect Hay
ward of Nebraska, which was received yes
terday, occasioned no surprise in the Sen
ate, as it had been anticipated for severa
after the adjournment Of Congress las
March, and he consequently never qualified
Governor Poynter, Of Nebraska. is a Popu
list, and a friend Of Mr.. Bryan. The Legis
lature which elected Hayward has adjourn
ed sine die and win not come togethe
again unless the Governor issues a cal
for an extra session which he is not like
Iy to do. The point was raised yesterda!
that as Judge Hayward died before he wa
sworn in no senatorial vacancy Occurre,
which Governor POynter would have tn
right to fill. Governor Poynter's appointed
according to this contention, would b.
placed in the same category as Quay an
other appOintees of Governors from State
where the Legislatures failed TO elect
Mr. Bryan should receive the appointment
to fill Haywards vacancy il was said tha
the point mentioned might be raised ser
iously. Mr. Bryans friends in Washing
ton hardly think that he will care to com
to the Senate at this time. They thin
that he will prefer to remain q privat
citizen until he receives the nomination O
the Democratic party for President mex
year Governor Poyuter will probabl
be governed by Mr.. Bryan's wishes in tn
matter II Judge Haywards immediat
successor is not. Mr.. Bryan it will. it
believed, be former Senator W. V. Aller
1t is a singular fact that no man has eve
been nominated and elected TO the Presi
dency from the Senate Of the United State:
Presidential aspiranJs have grown almos
to regard the Senate as veritable hoo
doo."