Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-23
Effect Of Straightforward Dealing by
the Administration.
WILL NOT FIGURE IN CAMPAIGN
Both Parties Looking IntentIy for
Material for Literature.
THE FIELD OF ACTIVITY

The prompt and straightforward manner
in which the administration has dealt with
the Boer delegation is likely to go long
way toward neutralizing the efforts that
are being made to have the Boer war figure
in the political campaign in this country.
A considerable element in the opposition to
the republican party are counting on the
South African war-sympathy for the Beers
and tmpatience at this governments not
showing a friendly interest in the struggle
of the Dutch republic to maintain its in
dependence-for campaign material with
which to influence the votes of American
citizens of German birth. They think to
couple this with the policy of colonial gov
ernment Of acquired territory and express
sions of suspicion and hostility toward the
German government which have been pub
licly uttered by some republican leaders
to prove that the administration is being
dominated by Great Britain, has no sym
pathy with republican government and no
respect for the liberties of mankind. Any
thing but very prompt and frank dealing
by the administration with the Boer en-
voys would have kept the question hanging
In the air and opened the way to endless
agitation, but 1t is believed that the course
of the President and his Secretary of State,
when the situation was made embarrass-
ing for them as it could be. will take all
the force out of agitation of Boer sentiment
for political purposes.
Everything Looking to the Campaign.
Every move that is made at Washington
at this time is viewed with reference to its
possible influence upon politics. Nothing
Of any consequence is thought of in either
congressional or executive circles except in
association with politics and the approach
ing campaign. The question considered
with reference to every measure before
Congress is what its political effect may be,
and that which has no politics in it is
counted as hardly worthy of consideration
The program of legislation. the character
of debate. the point of view of every propo-
sition, are all influenced by this one upper
most thought. The proposed shortening of
the session. the shelving of important pub
lie measures and the dictation of the votes
of men in Congress against their known
convictions are in compliance with what is
conceived con l to be party exigency: Most Of
latter end of the session, if not from the
very beginning, have had no purpose to in
huence legislation. but have been directed
all the speeches is being selected an i'm
mense amount of material for use in the
literature of the stump.
The Field of Activity.
Both parties are looking In the same d.
rection for the field of action this fall, and
they agree that the firing line will run
through Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michi-
gan and Minnesota. The republicans are
turning their attention to these states, be-
cause it is reported to them by those on
whom they rely for information that the
resentment among all classes of people
aroused by the Porto Rican tariff legisla-
ton Is more general and more intense
there than in the east, and because there
is more or less apprehension of disafrec-
ton on account of anti-expansion senti-
ment among the Germans. The democrats
turn in the same direction for the same
reason, and the added reason that they see
little justification for the hope that they
might be able to carry New York. New
Jersey or Connecticut, and, therefore, must
fight for the great middle west in order to
make a satisfactory showing of electoral
votes. From this line of greatest activity
both parties expect to see the course of the
battle extend westward across the country
to the Pacific The republican national
committee expect to make most deter
mined effort to restore reliably to the re-
publican column all those states where the
silver sentiment appeared strong in 90
ington and California both parties intend
The "Prosperity' Issue.
In taking an inventory of this campaign
material the republican leaders show dis
position more strongly developed they
consider the matter, to make the most Of
the prosperity issue. They find in this
a thing which they believe will awaken a
responsive sentiment throughout the coun-
try, without complications arising from diff
ferences of opinion within the party.