The evening times., 1899-03-24
GENERAL WAsHiNdToN
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

oAHNAA\nL VASf1lNdION
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Mr.. Mckinley to SampsOn.-The fol-
lowing letter from the President to Ad-
miral Sampson. which has been made pub
lie, is attracting attsntiea in navy circles
Executive Mansion,
Washingtons d. c.. March Ii, 1899.
My Dear Sir: l ana in receipt OF your very
considerate letter of the 9th instant, in which
you express desire that without reference to
your own interests the other naval officers who
rendered such conspicuous Service in the naval
campaign in the West Indies may have the ad.
vancement which you recommended for them,
and in which you ask nothing for yourself.
highly commend this disinterested action on
your part Let assure you that | have the
highest appreciation of your services COM
manderinchief of the Atlantic naval forces dur
ing the Spanish war, in bockading Cuba, CO.
operating with the army, directing the move
ments OF the great number of vessels under your
orders, and at last, after the most effective
preparation, consummating, with the gallant Of
hcers and men under your command, the de-
struction OF the Spanish feet. 1t was in recog.
milton OF your services and OF your great skill
that l recommended you to the Senate for the
advancement which you had earned. Very truly
yours, WILLIAM MCKINLEY
Rear Admiral W. 7. Sampson, U. s. Navy,
Commander in-chief L. S. Naval Force, North
Atlantic Station, u. S. Flagship New York, Ha-
yana, Cuba.
'"The Presidents letter to Sampson
said naval officer today, lis quite re-
markable under the circumstances. 1t
shows that Mr.. Mckinley is still under
the influence of the Navy Department ring
that has been doing everything in its pow
er to down Admiral Schley 1t is unfor-
tunate for the President that he should
become mixed up in the disgraceful busi-
fic rfott, tn Srtyy n
caliy. No doubt the Sampson combination
will try to make all of the capital they
can out of the Presidents written endorse
ment, but it will not enable them to jump
Sampson over Schley. The Senate will
have something to say about that and 1t
will be a cold day, SO to speak. when the
Senate of the United States confirms
Sampson over Schley. Meantime the Samp-
son strikers are pegging away at Schley,
| hoping to find some way to force him off
| the active list. They will not succeed,
however. even with the aid of the Presi-
dent. Admiral Schiey carries too many
| guns for them as they will probably dis
cover in time
The Senate PatrOnage.-It seems to
| be pretty definitely settled that Gen. James
S. Clarkson will succeed ". r. Cox as sec
! retary of the Senate as soon as that body
| eonvenes again. Clarkson's most active
! backers have been Vice President Hobart
/ and Senator William B. Allison. majori-
| ty of the Republican Senators have, it is
| said. united on Clarkson for Secretary of
! the Senate. There are several candidates
| for Sergeant-at-Arms Brights place, but
! an effort will be made to have Bright re-
| tanned in his position. Colonel Bright is
an expert fisherman and he has been fishing
| with good many Republican Senators in
times past. Fishing friendships are said to
be very strong and enduring. If Colonel
Bright is retained he will probably turn
| Republicans. He removed a Democrat the
other day to make place for a protege of
| Senator Thomas c. Platt of New York.
Efforts to Beat Quay.-The announce
that last final effort" to defeat Quay
will take place at Harrisburg next week.
| The programme of the anti-Quay Repub-
| licans is 10 present a long list of Repub-
I licans, beginning with Representative John
| DalZell of Pittsburg. They hope in this
| way to make break in the ranks of the
| Quayites. After voting for Dalzell on one
or two ballots the anti-Quay Republicans
will take up former Representative Charles
W. Stone, Christopher l., Magee, Represen-
| tative Galusha A. Grow and other promi-
| nent Republicans in rotation. Ii this does
not move the Quay men to desert their
| champion the anti-Quay people say that
no Senator will be elected at this session
of the Pennsylvania Legislature.
J. Sterling MOrton's New Party
Mr.. Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture,
]. Sterling Morton. of Nebraska, has come
| out with stirring appeal for the organi-
| cation Of new party to be recruited from
the ranks of the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties. Mr. Morton naturally names
| Mr.. Cleveland as his first choice for the
! leadership of his new party, but he adds
that he would be satisfied with Mr.. Ed
| munds The only thing that stands in the
| way OF Carl Schurz's selection for the
| honor of heading Morton's ticket for Presi-
| dent, is the fact that he was not born in
this country. "Mr. Morton" said Col.
| William Dickson today, is altogether too
modest and diffident. His great fault has
always been a desire to keep himself in
the background. He really stands in his
own light He should come out boldly
and say that he would accept the nomina-
! tien for President at the hands of the new
| party that he suggests. That would in
| sure the success Of the movement beyond
doubt. Morton and Perry Belmont for
instance would make an almost invncible
combination. They could be dead sure at
least of getting two votes"
A Disgusted Statesman.-Goyerno
Bradley. of Kentucky, threatens to resign
his office and move out of the Blue Grass
| State. His term as governor will lxpire
on January 1, and there is no possible
chance of Bradley securing a second term.
Republican leaders are disappointed in
Governor Bradley. They thought when he
was elected governor that 1t was an enter
| ing wedge in permanent break in the
! solid South. BradIey's administration
! however, has been a complete fiZZle. no.
litically speaking, and it probably insures
/ th4