The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-22
THE REPUBLICAN
B00DLERS
A Few Facts From Washing.
ton About the Payment of
Cuban Soldiers.
THE McKINLEY-REED COMBI-
NATION.

ing to war department officials, Gen
Gomez will not receive a dollar of
the $4,000. 900 about to be distribut
ed. entirely on his say so, among
Cuban soldiers, by this government.
This statement mas caused everybody
to wish to know where Gomez got
the money TO pay for his present
very extravagant mode of living, in
Havana. 1t is known that previous
to his beginning the negotiations
with r P Porter, who acted as Mr..
McKinley's personal representative,
which resulted in the agreement to
pay $3,o00,000 for the disbandment
of the Cuban army, Gomez had no
money, aud that ever since then he
has apparently had plenty. Did
Porter make an individual payment
of money to Gomez !? If so, how
much, and from what fund was it
derived /? These are some of the
questions suggested by the situation
aud asked on every hand Congress
did not appropriate cent to pay
Cuban soldiers, but there was an
item added to the sundry civil bill by
the last congress, appropriating $3,-
900, 900 as an emergency fund, to be
expended at the discretion of the
president. That is the money that
will be used, but if the claim that
Gomez has got none of it and will
get none of it, be true, the source
from which Gomez extracted the
wealth to pay his present enormous
expenses is left mystery But it
will be solved The acting secretary
of war says that the administration
intends TO make Cuba repay from its
revenues, this money
Senator Thurston. of Nebraska,
isn't one of those wild republicans
who regard the presidential election
of next year as already settled. In
az interview, Mr.. Thurston said !:
"The presidential battle next year
promises TO be lively and exciting.
Mckinley will probably be renomi-
mated and presume that Bryan will
head the democratic ticket | be-
lieve That the republicans will win if
we stand together and work hard,
but our democratic friends will
undoubtedly put up a stiff fight.
We must not indulge ourselves with
the delusion that we are going to
have walk-over"
Secretary Alger doesn't appear to
care any more about being consist
ent than he did about the welfare of
the soldiers during the war Several
days before congress adjourned,
Alger announced that the junket he
had intended to conduct to Cuba aud
Porto Rico was of, because his poiit.
ical duties would prevent his leaving
Washington. Of course, it was well
known that Alger abandoned the
intended junket because ne failed to
get sufficient number of democratic
senators and representatives to &C
cept invitations to accompany him
But for consistency's sake, it was
supposed that Alger would remain
on duty and make a bluff of being
busy. Not he. He left immediate.
ly after Mr.. Mckinley did, for q trip
to New England. which was extend.
ed to Canada, and this week be ie
going to start for Cuba and Porto
Rico, but he won't carry any con
gressmen with him He says he is
going to pay the expenses of himself
and the two men who will accompany
him. but it would require the vouch.
ers for the payments to convince the
public.
If any proof were needed that Mr..
Mckinley isn't in the South solely
for rest and recreation, it is furnish
ed by the fact that he will during the
present week, meet Gear Reed in
person, on Jekyl leland, where Mr..
Mckinley will be the guest of ex
Secretary Bliss, and Mr.. Reed will
be the guest of rich Wall Street
banker, both at the same club house.
1t lie stated by Mr.. Reeds friends
that the meeting is his idea, and. that
he intends to compel an immediate
show down on the part of Mr.. McKin.
ley that will make the position o1
the administration on the Speaker.
chip of the next house, perfectly
clear. The queer part of the whole
business is that two men who have
spent the winter within stones
throw of each other, IN Washington,
should find it necessary to meet in
the Spring, on an island of South
Carolina, in order to come to an un.
derstanding.
Private news from the Philippines
indicates that the administration is