The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-21

. inc government OF he lnSuldr possessions
! as vassals to be exploited by the protected
( interests. This will resolve The fight into
! the old struggle between the parties on
! the tariff. With these issues occupying the
| place CT prominence In the Democratic
! platform this year il is believed many
/ thousands OF Democrats who left the party
, four years ago will come back to the fold.
I despite the fact that the Chicago platform
] will be readOpted in its entirety at Kansas
I City
DebS Making Claims. - The Hon.
Eugene Violence Debs. Socialist nominee
! for President, is already putting forth
the claim that he will poll more votes
than were cast for General Weaver, the
Populist candidate. in 1892. Weaver poll
ed about one million votes out Of the to-
tai vote that year Of less than eleven
million. If Debs runs over the million
mari, it is safe to assert that fully three
fGurths Of them will come from the ele-
ments that would support Bryan were
Debs ont of the field A million votes
lured from the Bryan column will. it IS
| thought, mean the defeat Of the Nebras-
| kan by a larger popular majority than
was cast against him in '96. Debs' sup
port will come mainly from New York,
/ New Jersey. Illinois. and lndiana-States
which the Bryan managers at this juno
turc are quite hopeful OF carrying With
out at least one Of them New .York-it is
conceded that the Democrats will stand
a very poor shaw. Though New York was
Carried by Mckinley in the last campaign
by the unprecedented plurality OF more
than two hundred thousand. yet the issue
which then gave that State TO the Repub-
icans is now removed from politics and
the signs al present seem plainly to in
dicate a strong Democratic revival in
the Empire State. However. the Debs
candidacy viii so confuse the issues in
the minds OF a large element OF New York
voters that unless something is done to
sidetrack him il Is feared the real Demo
cratic growth viii not be strong enough
to carry the Democratic ticket through.
What is true OF New York in this partic-
ular is true Of the other States named.
Especially can this be stated OF Illinois,
which has in Chicago an element Of
Debsites almost as numerous as New
York City possesses. The question thea.
Of interest to Democrats is as 10 how to
eliminate Debs from the problem. He can
not be Influenced by argument. No re-
ward Of office can be offered him. as was
offered 10 Powderly by Hanna in the
last campaign for his support of McKin-
cluGes consideration of his name for any
place OF Importance in the public service.
Ii. therefore the Hannaites are wise
and they have been called nearly every
thing else but fools-thsy will see to il
that Debs stays on the track. even if it
costs them more money than hey had to
spend in Illinois in SO
Nothing for WeeL.-Senator For
aker spent nearly an hour in private con-
ference with the President al the White
House yesterday. At the close Of the con-
sultarion the Senator iold the newspaper
men that he would have nothing new tc
give out on his Porto Rican bill for fully
a week At the end Of that time Senator
Plat OF Connecticut who next to Henry
OAnard was mainly instrumental in forcing
the tariff policy on the party in the House.
will have returned from Cuba. where H.
now is on a tour Of inspection Of the to-
bacco prospects OF that island. Senator
Forakers announcement is distinctly die
oouraging to the Beveridse free trade
amendment There Is no likelihood that
Mr. Foraker has had any misunders landing
with Mt Mckinley On the colonial ques-
ton Their friendship j. Of too recent
growth to admit of the suspicion that they
would part company again at this critical
time. Senator Foraker is committed to the
Porto Rican tariff proposition. With these
premises granted. the conclusion is newt
able that the President also is committed
to that proposition. II he should change
front on it now. where would he leave the
thirty or more members of he House
whom he got into very serious trouble with
their constituents by winning them to the
Il ,.rl
personal appeal Senator Beyerdge has
not stated positively that he offered his
amendment at the request Of the President
The Indianian, however. is not averse to the
impression getting abroad that he repre-
scuts McKinley's latest change of front
Such an impression would eNaIt the Sena-
tor not a little among his admirers in
Uoosierlom whose saliyary glands are in
cited to great activity by the bare thought
Of the flesh pots to which he would have
access in the next Administration if MIR
Mckinley IS reelected and their Young
Senator should remain in close touch with
him. Also it may stop some of the harsh
criticisms now threatening the party in
Indiana with disruption. The Hon Benja-
min Harrison is said to continue to discuss
freely with his neighbors various public
questions OF Importance and he is not
known ever TO have reCdntsd his treason
able declaration that the Porto Ricau bill
was "a departure from right principles"
As long as this eminent private citizen of /
the Hoosier State persists in receiving his !
reiehnors when they call and talking to !
them about politics, domestic and inter |
national with au occasional enquiry as &c |
whittier are we drifting" ID may be eN- !
pected that the highest considerations of |
Indiana craftsmanship demand that free |