The times., 1899-04-23
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP

NEWS AND GOSSIP
Are Mr. McKisiey's Friends Anx-
ous:-A few months or even weeks ago
the political prophgt who ventured to sus-
| gest that there might be some doubt about
Mr. McKinley's being renominated by his
party for President in 1900 provided he was
living at the time of the meeting of the
national convention would have been re-
garded as a fit candidate for a lunatic asy-
| lum. Recently. however, the situation has
undergone quite radical change. II is the
opinion of close observers that the high
water mark of Mckinley sentiment has
been passed, and that from this time on
the President will be more likely to lose
than to gain in public estimation. The
| indications are that the next Republican
National Convention may not be so much
| OF a ratification meeting after all that a
good many thick and thin Adminst alton
men have been led to believe. 1t will not
surprise a number of gentlemen who are
high up in the council chamber OF the Re
publican party, If Mr.. Mckinley should be
compelled to fight and to fight hard, for a
second nomination for President. They
say that the President has made what
may prove to be a fatal mistake so far
as his own political future is concerned, by
condoning or ignoring Algerism; Eaganism,
and the many other disgraceful scandals
that have developed under his Administra
ton. Il is pointed out that President
ought not to be held personally responsi
Bile for all the acts of his subordinates;
that he cannot from the nature of the
case, follow up each one and see to it that
he faithfully performs his duty. Proba-
bly, there are very few persons outside of
the sacred Mugwump circle that expect SO
much from the Chief Magistrate of the
nation. But when an appointee of the
President is proven beyond almost the per-
adventure of a doubt to be totally incom-
petent, or something worse, the President
cannot escape blame and responsibility if
he fails to take prompt action and remove
the Objectionable official.
There is a growing Impression in certain
Republican quarters that If Mr.. Mckinley
should be renominated next year the
Republican party would be placed ON the
defensive; that the campaign on their side
from beginning to end would be one of ex-
plantations and apologies. That they do not
| relish that prospect is self-evident, and it
| can be stated on high authority that they
are looking around seriously to find cam
didate to substitute for Mckinley.
According to the gossip that is in the air
so to speak, the t-McKinley movement
has already assumed formidable proper
tions and unless it is checked in
some way very soon Mr.. Mckinley will not
be able to secure denomination at the
hands of his party next year. Mr.. Hanna
and other close friends of the President
have, it is said, awakened to a realization
of the true situation. II the Miles Court
OF Enquiry undertakes to discredit General
Miles in its report and Mr.. Mckinley ap-
proves of it, there are any number of rea-
sonably shrewd politicians who viii be
willing TO bet good deal of money that
Mr.. Mckinley cannot even be renominated,
much less reelected. That will be re-
garded as the last stray which will break
the back of the camel self-respecting Re-
publican endurance. 1t will be followed. it
is predicted now by eminent Republicans
who are not in the habit of speaking light
ly, by an open revolt from within the Re-
publican party against the Administration.
New York and New England. it is
claimed are two-third5 hostile to the Presi-
dent already, and 1T will take but very lit
tie to win over the other third. Ohio is
in almost open revolt against the Admin
istration. and there are indications OF trou-
BILE for the Hanna management in Illinois.
Indiana. Michigan, Wisconsin, and other
naturally strong Republican States. With
Platt plotting in New York Foraker schem-
ing in Ohio, Lodge hustling in Massachu
sets, and half dozen almost equally
prominent Republican leaders in different
States waiting orders Mr. Hanna and
other McKinleyites probably have good
cause to be uneasy.
The signs certainly portend that there
will be blood on the face of the Republican
moon in the not far distant future
senator Heitfeld ON Beef.-Senator
Heitfeld of Idaho owns large cattle
ranch and has wide experience in the bust
ness of raising cattle for the market. This
row over embalmed and canned beef" he
said, the other day. has interested me. l
believe that there is great deal of founda-
tion for the charges that improper meth
DDS were used In preparing the beef, and
that in many instances not much care was
exercised in the selection of the beef for
canning purposes. On my ranch, for in
stance, l make 1t practice to shoot all
cattle that show the least trace of disease.
have had agents of beef concerns offer
me ten dollars head. for tainted cattle.
Just think of that, / don't suppose II made
any difference to them; IL could not be dis
tinguished from the good after it was can
ned. l have never permitted any diseased
cattle to be sold Off r.y place, but unfortu-
nately there are men in the business who
are not quite so particular. From what |
know OF the careless methods employed in
the purchasing of cattle for the market |
am only surprised that more people ara not
killed from eating canned meats than there
are. 1t is a serious question There should
be very rigid inspection of all cattle be-
fore they are killed for the market The
man who would knowingly place diseased
meat on the market in any form ought to
he