Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-06-28
Latest Intelligence of Transpiring
Events at the National
Capital.
THE TREND OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Lack of Interest I'm the Republican
National Convention Hanna's
"Sure Thing" Platform-The Me-
kinley Policy Towards Great Brit
ain-Trust "Prosperity.o
Especial Correspondence

the public refused to attend the affair
If the lethargy of the convention is
an indication of the kind of campaign
the republicans are going to put up, il
looks like confession of defeat before.
hand. Even the imperturbable Marx
Hanna seems to realize that the drift
of public sentiment is against his
party.
Hanna with his usual lack of tact let
the country see during the national
convention how completely he is the
party boss. He hobnobbed with mil
ionaires and trust directors and he let
it be clearly understood that Mckinley
was only the puppet which he and his
moneyed friends put up to move as they
willed. Even the few instances where
Hanna tried to give out the impression
that he was not entirely in control
were so clumsily managed as to be alb
surd.
The voters of the country, regardless
of party, are not pleased at the open
attempt to control affairs in the inter-
est of the moneyed few. The whole at
mosphere of the Philadelphia conven-
ton intensifies the interest in the dem
ocratic national convention at Kansas
City.
That will be serious gathering be-
cause matters of grave Importance are
to be discussed and acted upon, but it
viii be a real conventio in close touch
with the Deople and trying to carry
out thei ishes for a return to honest
and constitutional government. There
will be enthusiasm and earnest pur-
pose at the Kansas City convention and
it will be spontaneous. Not all the
brass bands nor expensive display at
Philadelphia could galvanize the re-
publican performance into any SEM
blance of life.
Everybody knew that the affair was
cut and dried in Washington and, ex-
cept for the looks of it. the delegates
might as well have staid home and let
Hanna and his friends announce the
candidates and platform.
The republican convention was not
able for the number of government Off
cials-high and low-who found time
to leave their duties in Washington
and run over to Philadelphia. At Kan
sas City there will be something differ
ent from gathering of automatic dele
gates and anxious office holders. 1t
will be a convention where the dele
gates actually represent the sentiment
of their home people. Even with the
honest differences of opinion which
might be expected from delegates
from widely-separated sections. the in
dications are that the Kansas City con-
vention will be harmonious-not with
the graveyard harmony so apparent in
the republican gathering, but the har-
mony which comes when men drop all
minor differences in order to deal with
grave problems which affect the very
life and continuance of free nation.
Tracking to Great Britain.
The Chinese compiled ton is causing
not a little anxiety in Washington.
There is every indication that the do
nestle CONFUSION in China will drag in
the European nations, and it is diff
cult to foresee the end.
The administration is not talking so
loudly now about its "open door, with
China. In fact it has recently allowed
the publication of a consular report.
from one of the chief ports in China
pointing out that the Chinese have no
use whatever for American-manufac-
hand methods to our complicated ma
chinery and their wants are so simple
and their standard of living so low
that they have no desire for our manu-
featured products, and even if they had
they have no money with which to buy
them.
The administration has known all
along that the cry of Expansion of
oriental trade" was a delusion, but it
served to distract attention from the
costly laundering in the Philippines.
Now, however, immense pressure is
being brought to bear on the admins
tration from British sources, to per-
suade Mckinley to send troops into
China. 1t is being put up to him that it
is part of his understanding with |
Great Britain that he shall help her |
out in her troubles.
The fact is that Great Britain cannot |
spare troops from the Transvaal to go |
into China. The Beers are still keep
ing Lord Roberts very busy. So she |
hopes to make Mckinley her catspaw |
with which to rake her share of the |
Chinese chestnuts out of the fire.
If an election were not pending the |
administration would hasten to do the |
bidding of the Briton, but it has finally |
been borne in upon the Mckinley adj
ministration that the people of this
country are Disguised with its pro-
British sentiments, so unusual caution |
is being observed in the Chinese mat
ter. The people may just as well under
stand first as last, however, that this
country has nothing to gain in China,
and if it goes into the matter to any
extent it may find itself involved in an
war.
Trust Prosperity.
The republicans are inclined to drop
all other issues and cling to the "pros-
perity" argument. Even here the facts
are not convincing, for the average
voter declines to enthuse over trust
It's little too altruistic
to ask the farmer and the wage worker
to rejoice at being permitted to pay the
exorbitsnt prices exacted by trusts in
order that such institutions may boast
of the enormous returns on their cap
ital invested.
However, so far as the republicans
are concerned it is to be campaign of
This sort of thing is
difficult for the average campaign ora
tor, so a republican text book is being
prepared under the personal super
vision of Mr.. o. P. Austin, chief of the
bureau of statistics. de has for months
had high-priced corps of expert sta