The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-10

Miles or Corbin :-Nrnerous influen-
tial friends of Lieutenant General Miles in
and out OF the army, are striving earnestly
to bring sufficient influence to bear upon
the President 10 have General Miles or
dered to China to command the AmeTi an
troops that will take part in the camraiga
there. When the trouble first occurred
General Miles asked for the assignment,
but was turned down both at the War De-
partment and the White House. II is re-
lated that the President received him vtrS
cordially on one occasion. and promised TO
give his application proper consideration.
Since then it is said the nominal command
ing general of the army has not seen Mr..
Mckinley. though he has called at the
White House twice wnile the Pr sident W
there. Ii is stated further that Secretary
Root has told General Miles that in his
opinion the situation in China called for
an officer of Miles expoyence and prestige.
and that he (the Secretary would urge
Miles selection upon the President. Mean
time General Miles politics bscame the
subject of discussion amoag the Repabiic@n
managers. and it is claimed by persons in
a position to know that General Corb N
participated in two OF these discussions
representing that General Nj es was a
Democrat. The fact seems 10 be that Gen
eral Miles political views are not very
clearly defined. though all the evidence is
against his being a Democrat. His wife Is
a niece of John Sherman and none of the
Shermans are Democrats. Then. too. Gen
eral Miles was born and reared in Massa-
chusetts, and all of his relatives in tAat
State are Republicans. Still. General Cor
bin is so pronounced a Republican and 30
active a politician that 1t is contended his
word would be paramount with the Repub
lican politicians in question oil so much
Importance to the politics of the adm MS
tration as that Involved in the selection OF
commanding officer for the troops in
China. General Chaffee is an Ohio man.
E nd a Republican. But bstter still for him,
, G seems to stand well not only with Mr..
Mckinley. but also with General C5r5in
who has come 10 be known as the Admin
istrations a5'est politician in the army.
VIII They Accept Stevcnson.-Dem-
ocrars are waiting with almost feverish
anxiety the result Of the conferences now
in progress in Chicago between the leaders
OF the Democrats, PoDul!sts. and Silver
Republicans on the question of what to do
about the Towne withdrawal Unquestion-
ably a large and influential element OF
s
name on their ticket to fill the vacancy
caused by Mr.. Towne's declination of
their aomination for Vice President But
there seems to be considerable objection
TO this by some of the less conservative
popllis.s of Mr.. Bryan's State Ii is fear
ed in some quarters that Mr.. Stevenson's
adroit plea, in his Indianapolis speech. for
the Gold Democratic vote will only aggra.
vats the Nebraska and Kansas extremists
instead of modifying them. This class of
Populists do not appear to take account
of the fact that Mr.. Stevenson was one of
the earliest advocates Of monetary reform
in the Country; in fact, that before many of
them were old enough to vote or knew
ANYTHING about the money question he was
making a fight for essentially the prlnci-
Mes 10 which they adhere today with so
much pertinacfty. Then. loo, Senator But
Ter OF North Carolina is yet TO be heard
from and as at last accounts ne was
threatening TO take TO the woods and be-
come an insureeto there is No telling
hui that he may show up at Chicago with
demand to reject Stevenson for second
place on the Sioux Falls ticket.