The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-04-12
Washington Letter.
washington. Aprtl Q. 1901.

Washington, April 8, 1900
Between the would-be wits and the pol
iticians In congress, Admiral Dewey's
self-started-maybe wife-started would be
more correct - presidential boom Is In
great danger Of being turned into a uni
versal laughing stock. Absolutely no.
body, except the admiral and his wife, in
Washington appears to take the matter
seriously, although personal respect for
the admiral and admiration for his naval
career and achievements keeps many from
joining In the game of poking fun at his
candidacy for the presidency without the
aid Of the usual machinery, which Is CON-
trolled by the respective friends of Presi-
dent Mckinley and Mr.. Bryan. He is
jokingly referred to as "the pink tea can
didate, "the petticoat candidate, j" ''the
ambitious wife's candidate" etc., and one
has only to say Dewey anywhere, to see
smiles on the face Of every hearer. Much
regret is expressed that the admiral
should occupy the unenviable position In
to which he has been led. He says he
expected abuse when he announced his
candidacy. He isn't getting any abuse
from anybody, but he Is getting what Is
much worse to sensitive man-pitied
and laughed at.
Both sides are lining up for the final
fight on the Porto Rico bill, which had
to be postponed from last week because
of the large number of republicans ab-
sent. The fight will be short and sharp,
as the bill is to be reported from the ways
and means committee, just as 1t was pass
ed by the senate, and voted upon all on
the same day. Both sides are claiming
victory, but among unbiased observers
there is very little doubt that the bill will
be passed by small majority. Its un-
qualified endorsement by the republican
caucus has made this reasonably certain.
Gen. Joe Wheeler, discussing the men,
tion of his name as candidate for the
vice. presidency, said: "The greatest am
bition Of my life has already been realized.
have seen those who were confederate
soldiers fight under the stars and stripes
against foreign foes, as soldiers of the u.
s. have seen the masses of the people
of all of the southern states eagerly and
earnestly offering their services to fight
in the country's cause, and have seen
them thus become participants in the
events which have suddenly made ours
the leading nation among the great pow
ers OF the world, and which have opened
avenues which enabled us to establish the
most favorable commercial relation with
countries containing nearly one-third OF
the earth's population. The realization
of conditions SO advantageous to our
whole country fills the measure OF my de-
Iessfes, and beyond that 1 have no ambi-
tion whatever"
No treaty, no canal bill. That Is the
situation in the senate, and unless there
is radical change In existing conditions,
there will be no action upon either at this
session. 1t has been understood right
along that the Nicaragua canal bill was
dependent upon the ratification of the
Nicaragua canal treaty, and within the
past week it has become almost certain
that If vote on the treaty were taken, II
would be rejected, and it is to be allowed
to go over to the next session. Members
| OF the Isthmian canal commission, Gre
ated by the last congress, have reached
Washington, but they say that no report
of their work will be made In time fol
submission to this session of congress.
The postponement of the canal bill Is just
what the administration desired, but the
failure to ratify the treaty Is heart.
rending disappointment.
The Clark case Is closed, and decision
is now awaited from the committee or
elections as to whether Senator Clark
shall retain his seat or be put out of the
senate. The majority expect a report
from the committee against Senator
Clark, but the majority does not always
guess right In such matters.
| 1t remains for conference committee
to determine what sort of a government
Hawaii shall have. The senate passed q
bill to provide government for the terri.
tory OF Hawaii; house committee re.
ported substitute for the senate bill
and after attaching numerous amendments
thereto, the house passed it. Now. the
original bill and the substitute, with ite
amendments, will be turned over to q
conference committee, and bill differing
from both may be the result.
| Two consular reports, one from Bel.
gium and one from France, contain hints
that should not be lost upon this govern.
ment If we are to maintain colonies. Bel
GUM has recently established school
for the training of students who intend te
seek fortune In the colonies. The in.
struction includes practical demonstra.
tion of the sort of buildings settlers should
construct, including proper rules of sant
tation also the cultivation of indigenous
plants, European plants and vegetables
the best methods of gathering crops anG
transporting them to market, treatment
of native labor, etc. In France colonia
institute is to be established to trair
young men to fill positions in the colonies
which is to send out expeditions of stu
dents at national expense, to gather in
formation, which Is to be furnished com
mercial houses In the form of detailed
reports.
|
Stood the Test.
Heeler-Smith is top of the heapnow