St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-10-13
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Items of Interest Relating to Af-
fairs of National Im-
~ 4
portance.
WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION is DOING.
Policy to Save Voters-EilSins'
Fight for Official Life--How the
Trusts Squeeze the Consumer -
Voters Are Thinking.
Especial Correspondence


There has been a radical change, ap-
parently, in the foreign policy of the
administration, and Secretary Root
has been brought to the front as the
mouthpiece of the president in discuss
ing the American" policy on the Chi
nese question. Secretary Hay has been
put in the background, not because the
president does not believe in the abil-
ity of the author of Little Breeches,' -
but because that official stands for the
Anglo-American alliance, which has
always been unpopular with the masses
of the people, and which, in the pro-
posed settlement of the Chinese trou-
bles, was being given trife too much
prominence by Mr.. Hay.
Secretary Hay has been relegated
and the presidents chosen policy has
been sacrificed because of the political
exigencies and the need of some new
idea through which the voters might
be diverted from the British alliance
and their thoughts of vengeance, be-
cause of the infamous settlement of the
Alaskan boundary question, the undis-
guised sympathy of the administration
for the British in their efforts to wipe
out of existence the Boer republic and
the numerous other acts that have en-
phasized the alliance established by
Secretary Hay and approved by Pres
ident Mckinley.
1t was Elihu Root, the New York
lawyer, man shrewd and keen, versed
in practical politics, who first saw that
q grandstand play must be made. He
saw that the Irish-Americans resented
the existing policy and that the Ger
man-Americans, many of whom were
counted upon to support the ticket this
year, were in revolt at an alliance that
boded i'll for the land of their adoption.
These citizens had seen too much of the
evils of entangling alliances before
coming to this country and understood
too well the dangers that would follow
IT such party were kept in power.
Mr.. Root plainly told the president that
partiality for England meant a loss of
votes and advised turning about that
might bring the disgruntled again
into line.
Russia, for selfish reasons, furnished
the pretext. She advocated the with
drawal of the troops from Peking and
asked the United States to join her.
Here was the opportunity. The pres
ident, insisting that he had sent troops
into China only to rescue oqr ministers,
agreed that that had tSeen accom-
f5iisAea =aaffaa that fa1rthek operations
of hostile character wSfe unneces-
sary. He agreed with Russia, and all
additional troops en- route were or
dered to proceed to Manila. The ad-
ministration presented this as a rebuff
to those who charged him with waging
war without the consent of congress,
and the party organs have been hailing
it as an evidence of the lofty motives
that inspired the administration.
The whole business is pretext, an
expedient to save votes. This admin
istration will withdraw no further
than the seacoast. There the troops
will await negotiations and further or
ders. When the election is over the old
programme will be taken up and pur-
sued to its legitimate end and the ex-
pansion of McKinley's ''empire" will
proceed. Voters who have been look
ing with suspicion upon the policy of
the republican administration will not
be caught by this seeming retreat from
an established and fixed policy. There
is financial gain to the republican man
ayers through a British alliance.
There is nothing of this sort through
an alliance with the ezar. The man
ayers will insist upon the compact
made by Hay being lived up to, and its
temporary abandonment is nothing but
a political bluff
+ Elkins' Fight.
Senator Elllins, of West Virginia, was
at the white house couple of days
ago and had long conference with the
president. Mr.. Elkins admits that he
has lost the state so far as he is per-
sonally concerned, but he still pro-
fesses to believe that Mckinley will Sc
cure the electoral vote. Upon the vote
of the legislature to be elected this fall
depends the return of Elkins to the
senate. He is making the fight of his
life and in addition to his own millions
and the large corporate interests he
represents the national committee is
giving him material assistance. Elkins
represents the Hanna side of politics.
He believes in buying men and voting
them as so many creatures. Workmen
in the coal mines and railroads he con-
trols have been intimidated heretofore,
but this year Ellkins admits he has lost
control of them.
Judge Holt, the candidate of the DEM
ocratic party, is making wonderful
campaign. He already is assured of the
city votes and is devoting his attention
mainly to the rural districts and par
tieularly the mountain counties which,
like those in Kentucky, are largely re-
publican. Among these hardy sons of
toll Judge Holt is making friends daily
and fast pulling votes away from the
republican organization. The party
leaders say he win carry the state and
q poll that has been made justifies the
prediction that West Virginia viii be
redeemed and will cast her vote for
the democratic ticket.
Mr.. Bryan will be in the state this
week. Elaborate arrangements have
been made for his meetings. An un-