The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1900-05-31
Washington Letter.
(From our own Corresponds

fFrom our own Correspondent
The army reorganization bill which
has passed the Senate and is now
pending in the House applies only to
the artillery and does not attempt to
rovide the men who will be neces-
sary to take the place of the present
infantry and cavalry organizations
which will go out of existence on
July l, of next year. On that date
the present augmented organization
will be cut down to the strength
prior to the Spanish war. This will
operate to diminish the enlisted force
in the Philippines to 10000. There
are now under General Macarthur
$4,000 volunteers and 81 900 regulars.
All Of the volunteers will be dis
charged, and fully 10000 regulars
will be sent home. The return will
begin about the 1st of the succeed
ing November. It will be necessary
to authOriz new regiments soon after
Congress meets next December, and,
with the delays incident to legisla-
tion, it may not be possible to &C
complish all that is desired in main
tanning sufficient force in, the Philip
pines. If this should be the case,
and if our flag should suffer disgrace
there, the Democratic Senators will
be to blame, as they have given posi-
tive warning that they will talk and
talk and talk until Congress adjourns
rather than permit any measure to
strengthen the line of the army to
pass the Senate. Owing to this noti-
fication, which they could undoubt-
edly make good, War Department
officers say that there will be no at
tempt to act Oh this matter until the
next session of Congress. by that
time, they say, the situation in
the Philippines may have changed.
Nevertheless, the officers who have
returned from Manila say that there
will be for long time a great deal
for our troops to do, and that 10000
will not begin to furnish the force
necessary for the ordinary policing
of the Islands under the most favor
able conditions.
AS was anticipated, the Democratic
party is rejoicing over the country's
disgrace in Cuba and is preparing
with fervor to exploit it in every
way In the hope of gaining sadly
needed capital for the campaign. As
= matter of course, what has happen
ed there might just as well have hap
pcned under a Democratic regime.
Rogues arc not found in any one
party, though, as q matter of fact,
there seems TO be more Of them
among the Democrats than among
the Republicans. The assertion that
the men charged with the frauds
were selected for their political rea-
sons alone is the merest calumy.
Major Rsthbone had been an assis-
tant postmaster general of the United
States, and had filled the place salts
factorily. On the line of fdemonstrat-
ed fitness for the place Of Director of
Post of Cuba, it. was a civil service
reform appointment. The same is
true Of Mr.. Thompson as postmaster
at Havana. He was a man of un-
blemished reputation, and had served
~ postmaster at Indianapolis-an Of
fec Of Importance in our own postal
service. Was he not to be accounted
competent for like dutiss in a city
the size of Havana? The small fry
under charges or suspicion had had
such experience in affairs as ordi-
narily would recommend them for
tho places they sought and obtained
The duties were simple, and easily
within the capacity Of a good clerk
and accountant. Tney were all chos-
On as carefully as possible. That
they turned out to be rogues seems
TO have been due to some unsuspect-
ed twist in their moral natures. Ger
tainlY, the administration was not
responsible for it.
Thosa who object tn fha sale If