The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-28
Mckinley Demands :.
G a Big Army.
Other Schemes tho Republi.
cans are Hatching.

elss 10 lett undone, hurry with the
army BILL" That 10 the sum and
ssbstauoe of what Mr Mex inley ssys
to every prominent republican sena.
Tor and representative who goes to
tho white house. Tho reason be
wishes the legislation for the iucrease
Of tho army hurried is that hs has
received hint that the decision of
the United States supreme court will
DO against the ooustitutionsIity of
the Porto Rico aot, which would
mean that tho United States would
have to refinquish ownership of the
Philippines, and would oonseq seatly
have NO uss for . large staudiog
army He wishes to get the big
army provided for before the court
hands down its decision. and it will
not be sorprising II the attorney
general 90 manipulstes the case o. 20
prevent ito conclusion until after the
end Of this congress. % Mr. McKin
Icy might prefer not having congress
10 session should the decision be
averse. This stery sounds iucredu
lous. but it 10 being seriously talked
about 10 political circles. aud there
have been other cases in which
admiuistrstions have been given I'D.
vsuce hints Of important decisions of
the supreme court. Any member of
the CONT can usually make Q pretty
nearly correct guess of how his
colleagues will stand upon important
decisions from their talk in Q general
way 10 each other. Whether the
whole story 10 correct or not, it 10
absolutely certain ihat Mr. MoKinley
10 plsioly showing bis anxiety of the
speedy passage BY congress Of the
army bill
The Isthmisn Canal commission
has handed Mr. Mckinley ito prelimi.
nary report. Az expected it favors
the Nicsrsgua route for the canal.
The Psnsma compsny's lobbyists are
moving Heaven aud earth to prevent
legislation BY congress in favor of
the Nicarsgus oansl
According to Rcprepreseutativ
Hull, chairman Of the house commit
tee on military sAairs. which is DOW
trying TO put together an army bill
that will be supported by oil tho
republicans. many of whom have
expressed widely differing
opinions of what The bill should pro
vide for. especially % 10 the number
Of men, the volunteers in the Philip.
pines will not be brought home until
regulars, enlisted uuder the bill not
even yet written, can DO sent to take
their plsees At least. that 10 fair
to place upon Mr., Hull's
own words-"The army now in the
Philippines will have to be brought
home in the summer. that 10, those of
the men who do not care to reenlist.
The transports which go out for them
should depart laden With The troops
who are to replace them" '
Representative Champ Clark, of
Missouri. returned to Washington
feeling 30 ohippy as usual He said /:
II an not downosst or discouraged
By tho licking We got. The most
feature 10 it will take ne
elk or eight years to get the senxte
Az to tho proposition to reorgsnize
the democratic party. Il is . fact in
nature, history that the tail cannot
wsg the dog /; snd the same is true
in politics The party does not need
reorgsnising to begin With 1t is
thoroughly organized, aud even if it
were to be reorgsnized. it would not
be from tue outside. We want
everybody to come 10 that feels like
helping %, but We have q perfect
organisation Of our own" Of the
probable work of this session of
congress Mr. Clark said Il think
this will be 90 extremely buoy ses-
sion. The main thing tho republicans
will do will be to rstify the Hay.
Paunoefote treaty aud pass q N,cs.
rsgua canal bill, in accordance with
it. and to pass Mark Hanna's chip
subsidy bill If the supreme court
decides the Porto Ricsn act uncousti.
tu,ionsl, then the republicans will
run races with us 40 to which will
drop the Philippines first But If it
10 decided to be constitutional, then
this session of congress will have to
Pass some kind Of bill for the gov
ernment aud control of the islands.
This, with the routine measures and
the new appointments under the last
census will make it an exceedingly
busy session "
The reception Of the proposition
sdvsnced by the radical republicans
TO reduce the representation of the
southern states which have restricted
negro suffrage, hes been of such
general condemnation that it has