The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-05
POLITICAL GOSSIP
IN WASHINGTON.
War News and Domestic
Politics.

Washington. Sept 3-Mr Nc
Kinley's attempt to play politics with
the Chinese embodiment by making
i: appear that this government was
acting in concert with Russia, gave
him a good scare. His idea was that
as Russia was regarded by the Amer
ican public as Eogland's traditional
enemy, it would serve to lessen the
public belief in the existence
of secret understanding between
this government and England, if this
government appeared to be acting in
partnership with Russia, in China
The reception of the reply Of this
government to Russia's proposal fol
the withdrawal of troops from China,
by the press of this country and o1
Europe, frightened him so badly that
be FASTENED to have it given out OH
ciaIly in Washington, that this gov
ernment had not agreed to act with
Russia, but had Informed Russia that
the o. S troops would be withdrawn
from Pekin. if the Russian troops
were The public was also further
informed that our troops should be
Withdrawn at the same time those OF
Russia were. it would not be because
we would act with Russia. but be
cause we would act independently,
all of which is So clear as mud
Secretary Bays continued absence
from Washington in the face of bls
having telegraphed to friend within
4S hours that he was enjoying his
usual good health. caused the circu-
lation of q story that he and Mr.
Mckinley were not of the same mind
on the Chinese policy of this govern
ment, and that he would probably
leave the cabinet. Assistant Secre-
tary Adee, who has been signing the
official communications sent out by
this government, as acting secretary
of state-since Mr. Hay went away
Secretary Root has been the real
secretary OF state-hastened to in
form the public. through newspaper
interview. that he could vouch for
Mr. Hay and Mr. Mckinley being in
perfect accord in everything that
had been done relating to China.
Now. if Mr. Mckinley would vouch
for Mr. Adee that story might be
more generally accepted
A New York member of the house
who was at democratic congressional
headquarters, said of the campaign
in his State "Mr Croker has effect
ually answered all the stories alleg-
ing that he was not Loyalty for the
election Of Bryan and Stevenson, by
wagering $4,000 that Col Bryan
would be elected president Even if
l had entertained doubts of Croker's
loyalty, which l did not, that wager
would have removed them ali. He
got odds, and if Col Bryan is elected
be will win $4,000 The man who
will not do his utmost when that
much money is personally at stake is
hard 10 6od. You may be sure that
Croker will do his utmost to give the
electoral votes of New York to the
democrats -
Gen Otis, who was in Washington
Saturday, and who will succeed Gen
Joe Wheeler, who will be retired
next Monday under she age limit
law, as commander of the military
department of the lakes, seems to
have very short memory He de
clared before leaving Manila, and
again after his arrival 10 the United
States, in the most positive terms
that the war 10 the Philippines wss
over now he says it will be over by
the close of the present rainy eea
son Perhaps that is why Mr. Nc
Kinley has failed to keep his promise
to send the volunteers home. There
bas been q wholesale lot of official
lying about the war in the Philip
pines and it is still being INDUCED
in.
1t was Boss Hanna who saved Mr.
Mckinley from making a spectacle
of himself by going on the stump in
West Virginia. Mr. Mckinley prom
ised steve Elkins that be would do
80 without consulting Hanna. but as
soon as Hanna heard about it, be
denied that any such promise had
been made sno succeeded in com
peIlipg Mr. Mckinley to allow that
denial to stick, even If it did put
Elkins in the attitude of having made
an announcement that was not true.
Hanna had sense enough to see that
it would cost Mckinley thousands of
votes if he 80 far forgot the dignity
belonging to the president of the
TIoifod Stotoo 90 fO oo IN tho etnmn