The Press., 1900-11-01
Washington Letter.
Washington, october, 80, 1900.

WdSu1uSGOus oSUOOOAs 49, AOVVs |
AS this is the last week of the campaign
the presidential election naturally occu-
pies the center of the stage in Washing
ton as well as throughout the country. 1t
is needless to tell intelligent readers that
political signs are not infallible, and yet
there Is nothing else upon which to base
an opinion of the result OF political
campaign. Most of the political signs
are now pointing McKinleyward. This
is admitted even by Mr.. Bryan's most
ardent supporters. The republicans are
claiming that 1t Is all over but the shout |
ing, and say they are speculating only on
the extent of their majority in the elector-
al college and in the next house. The
democrats say there are some big sur
prises ahead of Mr.. Mckinley and his
supporters that there Is an undercurrent
among the people which figures neither In
thfsnewspapers nor In polls made by poll
tica,- committees that it is for Mr.. Bryan
and will elect him. This claim may be
borne out by the vote, but 1t is certainly
not worrying the Mckinley managers at
this time, and If they don't know what
their opponents are about, they differ from
all other political managers. A strong
Bryan man said: IL still hope for Mr..
Bryan's election, but my judgment tells
me that nothing short of a miracle can
accomplish it,"
Reforms are cometimes contagious
Although none of the South and Central
American governments were represented
at the Cars peace conference at the
Hague, the preparatory steps toward the
court Of arbitration provided for at that
conference, appear to have imbued our
southern neighbors on this continent with
the idea that If a court for the arbitration
of disputes between big nations Is good
thing, 1t must also be good thing for the
little nations. Consequently movement
lisxon foot to get the matter before the
Pan-American congress, shortly to as
senable In the city of Mexico. The plan
provides court of international arbitra-
tion, modelled after that provided for by
the Hague conference, except that its
Jurisdiction will be confined to this conti-
nent. This is good thing, and If put In
to spractice, ought 10 stop the wars and
rulnors Of impending wars which keep the
little republics to the south of us stirred
up all the time, to the detriment of their
people.
Paymaster General Bates recommends,
In his annual report, that the law allowing
, ten and twenty per cent extra pay to Off
GERS and soldiers serving In the island
possessions Of the U. S. and Alaska, be
amended so as to include all soldiers serv
ing in countries beyond the limits of thu
u s.. proper, and that the amendment
take effect from May 26, 1900, the date o
Z ftkB law Under the law, as it Is nov
! stands. men serving in Cuba, Porto Rico
u and the Philippines get the extra pay
s while those serving In China do not. Gen
o Bates doesn't think this fair.
J. Professor w. B. Parker of Pennsylva
q MIA, a chemist who has made a study O
y high explosives, expresses the opinion
that no smokeless powder has yet bee
- made that can be safely kept for an
- length of time without deterioration an
n liability to explode without apparen
lr cause. He thinks the recent explosio
e at the government proving station o
% the Potomac, below Washington, wa
ls caused by smok eless powder, which o
n naval officers had declared to be perfec
80 One of those who believe that natior
= al election In this country Is one Of th
" most uncertain things on earth Is A.
Of Bracker, of Albany, N. Y, who Is visi
g. ing Washington. He said, while discuss
ing the subject: "It has been demonstr'
rs ted time and again that no reliance ca
lg be placed In ante election indications.
s- am republican, and / feel as contidel
la as one can Of an event in the future, th'
OF Mr.. Mckinley will be reelected. By I
ne way of reasoning can any man make hin
"a, self believe that Mr.. Bryan has chanc
'e- but l have noticed the way elections 6
as for years, and freely admit that l wou
OF not be least bit surprised over regul
ne landslide for the democratic candidate. u
ne If Senator Sullivan of Mississippi we
at not a comparatively new man In publ
or life, the accusation contained in 81
ne against him for breech of promise OF ma
1e, riage, filed In Washington several da
lss ago by Miss Lection of Mississippi, wou
ng have created much more of sensatio
se- The suit alleges that Miss Lection W
liza brought to Washington by Senator Sui
ed van and lived with him as his wife VIII
Use being introduced as his niece, and that
80 time they lived in Alexandria, Va, ope
gh ly as man and wife, under an assum
9. name. Senator Sullivan has set up t
led usual defense The wol
OK part of the nasty mess is that neitf
ose Senator Sullivan nor his friends ha
lad denied that he brought the young WON
ere to Washington and lived with her as
18th wife. The most they say is that
woman has no claim on him. That N
WI be, but his state, the U. s. and comm
BILE decency, has claims upon every man 81
ary to the l.. 8. senate claims, which In t
ore case have been ignored. Things are
as they once were. No public man {
or0 openly live an immoral life and retain
'er, respect and support of either his imme
to ate constituents or of the general publ
em-
So 1t Does.
An old gentleman when passing
Gle boy selling newspapers at str
30QG rp or rom rL.o oH.