The evening times., 1900-05-29
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Hiii VIII Fight--A circumstantiaI
story comes from Albany to the effect that
David Bennett Hill has thrown Gown the
gauntlet 10 Tammany and will stubbornly
contest the proposition at the New York
State Convention on June to Instruct the
delegation to Kansas City for Bryan. 1t is
claimed that John F. Carroll. acting for the
absent Croker. broke faith with Hill by
announcing last Sunday that Tammany will
favor instructions. AS the story goes. last
Friday Hill met in New York former Sen
ator Edward Murphy. Patrick McCarren,
representing Hugh Mclaughlin. and John
F. Carroll, representing Richard Croker,
and they solemnly agreed 10 his suggestion
that, following an immemorial custom, the
delegation go to the National Convention
uninstrueted. Hill expected 10 insert
plank in the New York platform unequiyo-
caliy recognizing Bryan as the party lead
er. but he explained that il the delegation
should go TO Kansas City uninstructed il
could exercise a larger influence in the
nventiOn-presumably meaning that the
New Workers would be in a better position
TO demand concessions in the platform.
Hill's programme of opposition at the
outlined for publication. His supporters
make the bare statement that he intends TO
put up the fight OF his life" against CrOk-
er for the supreme mastery in New York.
His tight Will not necessarily mean harm to
Mr.. Bryan On the contrary, IL appears that
Hill believes his only show TO stand as close
to the national leader as he desires is to
destroy Cookers position as the undisputed
master of the situation in New York. Ii
he accOmplishes this he will have free
hand in the New York delegation at Kan
sas City and probably could force some
concessions. not necessarily in the plat
form, but in the matter of controlling the
patronage in the event Of Mr.. BTyan's elec-
ton A victory such as Mr.. Hill is striv-
ing for at present might also lead 20 re-
suits OF personal value at Kansas City
which would place the former Senator in a
position Of commanding influence there
second only to that Of Mr.. Bryan. In spite
OF his bolt in '96. there IS a deep under
current Of admiration for Hill among the
Democratic masses. and il he can demon
strate that he has lost neither his cunning
nor his prowess he may cut bigger figure
at the National Convention than any other
half dozen men there.
The Army ProGrhmme.-It is grad
ually being shown that there was a pal
pable trick in the announcement. made
with such unusual frankness a week ago
that Speaker Henderson had dehed the
Administration regarding the Army Re
organization bill 1t viii be recalled that
it was given out from Administration cir
cles that the Speaker had teen halei 10
the White House and there put upon the
gridirOn by the President. Mr. Hanna.
Secretary Root. and others who are sup
posed 10 be especially committed to the
Reorganization bill. and that General Hen
derson stubbOrnly and courageously stood
out against their alternating thEeats and
Establishments. Chairman Hull. OF the
House Military Affairs Committee, gave
out an interview Saturday Z .ght, in which
he admitted that the bin would not be
pressed for passage at this session, but
calling attention TO the fact that unless
something was done for the Army early
in the next session the nations military
establishment would be In z sorry plight
This statement. it is is declared by ex-
perts, is only 4 bid for public sympathy
for Army reorganization substantially
along the lines laid down by the Root
bill. That is TO say. the bill viii not only
be brought forward at the next session
but also powerful efforts will be made TO
SO amend it as TO make a material in
crease IN the standing Army far exceeding
the increase OF 3 600 Ia the artillery arm
proposed by the Root bill. For political
effect the twenty-one regiments Of volun-
teers now in the Philippines will be start
ed home the middle Of October or the first
OF November and when they are With
drawn force Of regulars entirely made
( quatc 70 the demands OF the situation will
be left in the rebelliOUs archipelago. The
cost OF bringing the volunteers home will
be about 50, 900, 600, and like amount will
have TO be drawn from the Treasury to
send an equal number Of soldiers across
the Pacific to take their places. This to-
tai Of $4,000. 600 for the single item OF
transportation OF troops viii be expended
for no other purpose than to impress up
oo the country the false belief that the
lnsurrection in the Philippines has been
suppressed, and that. therefore, great
should be the glory Of William Mckinley
When Congress reassembles in December
II will be shown that more troops are
needed in the Philippines. and as the
volunteer system by that time viii have
become unpopular the advocates of an in
crease of the Regular Army to 100. coo will
feel emboldened to unite their efforts to
that end.