Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-02
THE ROW IN THE ARMY
1t VIII Be Increased by Eagan's
Trial.
BRIEF, BITTER COURT MARTIAL.

Gossip About the Pence Trcnty-sen-
ator Lodges strong Spcech-Admi-
rnl Dewey nm OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tary Alger and War Investigation.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-[ Special The
probable action of the senate on the peace
treaty is yet the all important question Mt
the national capital and will so remain
until it is finally disposed Of Senator
Lodges forccful speech in favor of speedy
ratification is especially complmented by
the supporters of the administration and
is regarded as one of the strongest utter
ances on that side Of the question Friends
of the treaty arc also much pleased over
late dispatch from Albany giving an ac-
count of "a dinner given there by the pub
| fishers of a life of Admiral Dewey. The
principal speech was made by William L.
| Dewey of Montpelier, Vt, in which he
| quoted Mt length from n letter received
only IA day or two ago from the admiral,
who stated that Aguinaldo was fast losing
his strength with the natives and could be
| disposed of as n disturbing factor in
hurry were it not that he is bolstercd up
with false hopes that congress will refuse
to ratify the treaty and that in some way
he will personally benefit by the stand he
has taken for independent recognition.
Senator Davis continues to stoutly pro.
t. t against any amendment of the treaty,
and he and his colleagues of the majority
of the foreign relations committee firmly
hold that the treaty will be ratified when
1t comes up for final vote on Feb. 8.
More Bitterness In Army Circles.
General Eagan and the beef controvcrs,
still perplcx the war department and ;he
court martial just begun. The inquiry is
likely to be brief but decidedly acrimoni.
Gus, and will, it is believed, increase rather
than allay the existing bitterness in army
circles. Something of a sensation was caus.
cd n day or two ago by the announcement.
that the war investigating commission had
invited Secretary Algcr to appear before il
and make u statement concerning the con
duct Of the war with Spain.
Another instance of woman's tact and
influence in politics was shown in the
| Swanson Brown contest in the Fifth Nir.
GINA district. Claude A. Swanson,
Democrat, who represents the district,
may thank his wife that he was not oustcd
from his seat. 1t was contested by John
II. Brown, n Republican, and the commit.
tee made report favOring the Contestee.
When the chairman called the matter up
| in the house, he expected to see n speedy
disposition of the question and the Rcpub-
lican sworn in. MIR. Swanson is popular
with many Republicans but Mrs. Swan
son is very much more popular with the
wives of Republican members, who
thought it shame for Mrs. Swanson to
be thus obliged to leave Washington so.
ciety. Party loyalty may whip the poll.
ticians into line, but the appeals Of poll.
ticians' wives cannot always be set aside.
! At all events Mr. Swanson retains the
seat, and the credit for it is accorded to
Mrs. Swanson.
The Activity OF AGOncillO.
For a man who has no official status in
Washington Agoncillo the diplomatic
agent of Aguinaldo, is a very conspicuous
| parsonage. He Is persona non grata at the
state department, and thus far his nuncer.
Gus communications addressed to Secretary
of State Hay have been ignored for the
simple yet excellent reason that the United
States does not recognize the existence of
Filipino republic, and consequently is
unable to take official notice of Senoi
Agoncillo its Washington representative.
Officials in every department at Wash
ington are watching with almost fcvcrish
interest the progress Of the insurgents
cause in the Philippines. The numerous
reports that are printed in the newspapers
to the effect that the insurgents are pre-.
| pairing for u resort to arms in case the
| United States determines to carry out its
policy of compelling them to accept the
government President Mckinley has been
planning to give them are not fully credit
ed here because, as one official stated the
other day, the insurgents are well aware
| of the power of the United States and
have a hearty respect for American sol
dicrs and American sailors. They saw
with what case the navy under Dewey de-
molishcd the Spanish fleet, and they also
saw Manila fall before the bayonets of the
Yankee soldiers, and they will undoubtcd
ly go slow In provoking hostilities. This
at least was the opinion of the official.
The report that the insurgents have sc
Maxim guns at their capitol, Malolos,
was received with incredulity by this Off
cial and yet he admitted that the insur
gents might possess a few Maxim gun.
which they had either captured or hough
from dishonest Spanish officials.
The Opponents of Expansion.
The enemies of the expansion policy
here, however, eagerly credit every report
concerning the strength and stuhbornnes,
| of the FilipnOs for the reason that in then
opinion the greater the opposition on the
| puTJ Ol tHe tHc ltSS Will Dc Vic
desire of the expansionists to resort tc
force to compel the adhcrents OF tho in
surgent cause to abandon their claims OF
| Independence, because of the sympathy
that would be aroused and because Of the
increase in anticxpansion sentiment th6
would undoubtedly follow the shedding OF
American blood and the expenditure OF
| American treasure
A subject that Is attracting great deal
of attention here just at present is the
eligibility of congressman to hold Other
offices. An inquiry was recently ordered
by the house of representatives into the
cases of members holding outside offices,
and 1t was intended to determine the
status of Major General Wheeler and Other
congressman who served in the army with
| out resigning their seats in the house.
| General Wheeler had no desire to draw the
salary of both offices at the same time,
and did not do So but quietly insisted
upon remaining majo general in the
army and a congressman in Washington.
In giving his views on the subject to the
committee General Wheeler said;
"The committee will readily understand
my embarrassment in "A matter of this
character. There are three other members
of this house who have accepted military
commissions, and some 20 Others who
have accepted civil positions. 1t would be
very unjust to them for me to have as
sumed to decide this question by attempt
a. oil hat