The evening times., 1900-01-15
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Big Offer for n Speech.-If President
Mckinley will deliver the opening speech
of the campaign at Pittsburg he will re-
ceive for his campaign fund 100000 from
that city which he otherwise may not get
This offer. it is said. was made to Mr. Me-
Kinley on Saturday last by delegation
representing the Americus Club OF the
Smoky City The membership of the club
comprises most Of the heavy iron manu-
facturers of Pittsburg, who are the Dehe-
ficiaries of the Mckinley fiscal system Tne
Americas Club is preparing for big cele-
bration of General Grants birthday, April
q, and it is desired to utilize the occasion
for the formal opening of the Republican
campaign. The President. II Is reported,
was very fayorably impressed by the lib
eral offer, but asked for time to consider IL.
Mark Hanna was out OF the city at the
time and IL Is understood that In his ab-
sence Mr.. Mckinley did not feel author
ized to make any agreement for campaign
work or contributions. 1t is not doubted
that Mr.. Hanna will advise the President 10
accept the offer.
Senate ReOrganizatiOn.-Ge II. V.
Boynton. the veteran journalist. is the
newest candidate for secretary of the Sen
ate. That is to say, General Boynton
name Is being very freely mentioned for
the place, though it is understood that ne
did not initiate the movement, and is not,
therefore, a candidate in the ordinary
sense. Senator Plat of New York has Of
fered the place to Representative James 5.
Sherman. who made a short and spirited
race for Speaker of the House Immediately
after it was knoSsn that Mr.. Reed would
not return to Congress, and ii is not denied
that Senator Platts offer represents the
wishes of the combine, which has deter
mined on a complete reorganization of the
Senate staff or none at all. Hence the in
ference is being drawn that General BOyn-
ton has been brought into the race for the
purpose of SO weakening the combine that
the caucus scheduled for Friday will ad-
iourn without result. This would leave
Secretary Cox, Sergeant at-Arms Bright,
and the other Democratic employees marked
for slaughter by the combine secure IN
their positions for some time yet. Ii is
believed that the friends OF Colonel Bright
are behind the Boynton movement as the
only remaining hope of saving his official
head 1t is known that Colonel Bright has
a number of warm supporters among the
older Republican Senators, and If he can
create discord in the combine he will hold
on to his Office indefinitely.
The Belmont Dinner.-O II. p. Bel
mont's dinner to Colonel Bryan will be
given in the millionaire's Fifth Avenue
mansion on the evening of the 22d inst
This has been definitely settled. Ii is re-
ported that. contrary TO expectations. the
Hon William Sulzer. who looks like
Henry Clay, and talks like Richard
Croker. has been hidden TO the feast, but
will decline the invitation. Mr.. Sulzer is
a candidate for Vice President. So is Mr.
Belmont. 1t is supposed that from dell
cate sense of courtesy the young states
man declines to eat Mr.. Belmonts fine
food bask in the luxuries of his mansion,
and then perhaps be compelled TO inform
Colonel BRYAN that Belmont must not be
put on the ticket President John W.
Keller. Of the Democratic Club, is arranging
another dinner for Colonel Bryan, which
will be given at the club after the Belmont
function passes into history. To this affair,
IL is said. Mr.. SulZer is looking forward
with great expectancy. He will attend the
club dinner and sit as close TO the guest
of honor as the proprieties Of the occasion
will permit He is expected TO make
speech. which in Importance will be second
only 10 Colonel Bryans. All of the Tam
many tigers who have dress suits will sit
at the festaI board and If not exungulated
by Colonel Bryan. are expected TO scratch
Mr. Belmonts s Vice Presidential ambition
10 tatters What will be done 10 the
SuIzer boom is not known.
A Rift in the Lufe.-Busybode who
| persist in meddling with the affairs of the
Administration are noting with some con-
Germ that the paper whose editorial policy
/ used to be directed by Postmaster General
| Charles Emory Smith is very severe in its
structures upon Secretary Gage. 1t is said
| that these criticisms naturally have ere
ated a coolness between the Secretary Of
| the Treasury and the Postmaster General
| that makes the atmosphere Of the White
| House extremely frigid on Cabinet days.
| Mr. Smith. it is stated has nothing what
! ever TO do with the control of the paper
at present and. therefore, should not be
| held responsible for its utterances. But
| this denial ii seems is not satisfactory to
| Mr. Gage though il is believed that for a
variety of reasons it suits Mr. Mckinley.
| II the investigation of the Standard Oil
Bank scandal should be prosecuted earn
estly and expose a condition uncompli-
mentary to the Secretary of the Treasury
| the Presidents spokesmen. it is pointed
out, could point to the course of the Post
master Generals newspaper as convincing
proof of Mr.. McKinley's desire for the re-
tirement of Mr.. Gage If. on the other
hand, the investigation should result in a
wbitewash the fugelmen of the Admins
tration could claim that the utterances of
| the Philadelphia organ showed that Mr.
Mckinley had been in favor of the most
thorough and searching investigation of the
scandal and that he did not assist in the
calcimining business Meantime il is
said that the Presidents diplomacy is tax
ed to its utmost limit in preserving the
peace between Mr.. Gage and Mr.. Smith
RESIGNATION OF MR.. BISPHAM
Former Washington Rector Leaves
New Haven.