The Press., 1899-11-16
Washington Letter.
washington. Nov. 13. 1899.

washington, Nov. ID, 1899.
"Many men of many minds" exactly de-
scribes the present attempts of the poll
ticians to predict what will be the domi-
mating issue In the presidential campaign.
No better proof of the correctness Of this
assertion is necessary than the declara-
tion of two prominent members of the
house-Grosvenor of Ohio and Barham
of California republicans. Gen.
Grosvenor said: There will be but one
issue next year, and that is the financial is
sue." Mr.. Barham said: 1.-THE money ques-
tion will hardly be thought of in the next
campaign. 1t was brushed aside and lost
sight of in the state campaigns. The peo-
pie did not want to hear 1t talked from
the stump. The two things all audiences
were interested in were, first, expansion,
and second, trusts" Other examples of
contrary opinion might be given, but
these will suffice to show that the poll
ticians differ widely, and to recall the oft
asserted fact that the people make ma
tional issues for the politicians to advo-
cate.
Lieutenant Castle, aide-d camp to Gen.
Brooks, military governor of Cuba, who
Is in Washington on furlough, expresses
the opinion that it will be a great mis-
take on the part of this government to
supersede Gen. Brooks with a military
governor at this time, and predicts much
dissatisfaction among the residents of
Cuba, If it Is done. Nevertheless it will
be done very soon, unless the present
plans of the president are changed, or he
is convinced by those who maintain that
Cuba, having been by an official decision,
concerning the revenue laws classed as
''a foreign country" the president has no
legal authority to maintain other than a
military government therein. This last
Is new view of the question, and was
not considered by the president and his
advisers when they first reached the con-
clusion to put Cuba under a civil govern
ment.
The Japanese delegates to the CONNER
cial congress, which Is being held in con-
nection with the Philadelphia export ex-
position. had an extended conference at
the department with Secretary Wilson,
their special object being to try and get
the duty of ten cents pound on tea re-
moved or lessened, because of It's injury
to the tea trade of Japan. They were
somewhat inquisitive, desiring to know
why the duty was imposed, whether it
was for revenue, protection or to discrim-
mate against japan. Secretary Wilson
told them that the U. s. did not regard
the Japanese duty on tobacco as dis
elimination against an American indus
try, but as source of revenue and a
means of protecting the home market on
the part of Japan, leaving them to infer
that our duty on tea was for the same
purpose.
Three out of the ten chaplains In the
regular army recently ordered to the Phil
ippines because congress, presumably
through oversight, failed to provide any
chaplains for the volunteer regiments,
have succeeded In escaping that duty
one on the ground Of i'll, health, one by
the discovery that he had misstated the
year of his birth when appointed, and is
now entitled to retirement, and one by
sheer "pull," has had his orders to pro-
ceed to the Philippines revoked by the
war department. This sort of thing was
predicted by numerous army officers when
the order was issued, which, If carried
out, would transfer some of these gentle
men from the easy places they have had
Che Philippines, with troops constantly on
the move. 1t doesn't speak very high
for the class of men who have been ap-
pointed chaplains in the army in time of
peace.
Col J. Hamilton Lewis, who has just
returned from Europe, whittier he went
on sort of independent diplomatic mis-
sion, involving claims of miners in the
boundary against the British govern
ment, brought back as picturesque an
outfit of clothing as he wore when MEM
Der of congress; also some decidedly pic
changes in the map of Europe. He pre-
diets that Germany will absorb Austria
and Holland, and become the greatest
power in Europe, and eventually will,
through it's colonial possessions in Asia,
become emb1oiled in great war with
this country; that Russia will absorb
Bohemia, Finland and Turkey, and will
fight big war with England for the pos
session of Asiatic territory, in which the
U. s. is likely to become involved; that
Spain will have another civil war as a
prelude to becoming a public; that Italy
will become a republic after the death of
Crispi, and that France, after having ab-
sorbed Belgium, will form a coalition
with Spain and Italy against Germany.
That sounds like the geographical night
mare which it probably is, but Col. Lewis
talks it as seriously as though he be-
lieved every word Of 1t. r..
Mrs. JOY, wife Of Representative Joy OF
st. Louis, has opened new line Of war
fare on Representative-elect Roberts OF
Utah. She is obtaining the signatures OF
the wives of epresentatiyes-elect to pc
titions, demanding that their husbands
shall vote for the expulsion Of Mr.. Rob-
erts from the house, and It Is said that
she has already secured quite a number.
II the women do not succeed In driving
Roberts out of congress they will certain
ly make things very unpleasant for him.
He Is more likely to go than to stay.
why Do You Commit Suicide?
The man who let's cold run on'' until
he finds himself In consumption's grasp