Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-04-12

/ The resignation of Webster Davis. as
| sistant secretary of the interior, Ii
! one of the severest blows ever give;
! the administration.
To put it briefly, Mr.. Davis resigns
because he wishes to be free to tel
| the people the exact conditions OF thu
Beers and what he learned Of then
! during his recent visit to South Africa
| He cannot do this and retain his i'm
| portant position under this admins
tration. President Mckinley is Sc
| thoroughly committed to the Anglo
| American understanding that he viii
not allow an employee of the govern
ment to tell the facts about the
Beers, who are making such brave
struggle for liberty.
| Popular sympathy has been with
the Beers all along and Mr.. Davis
dignation against Mckinley for his
pro-British attitude.
Mr.. Davis is an orator of splendid
ability. He stands high in the coun-
sells of the republican party. He went
to South Africa with an unprecedented
| mind. He is now enthusiastic in be-
| half of the Beers on account of the
| things he has actually witnessed. He
says the British censorship has not
permitted the Beers side of the ques-
ton to be known. He proposes that
it shall be known.
Mr.. Davis first speech on the sub
ject will be given in Washington, but
he will be in demand all over the
country. In addition to the recital
of thrilling story of Boer patriot
ism, every speech will be of necessity
an earnest protest against President
McKinley's policy. That a man of
such ability and heretofore a loyal
republican should be arrayed against
the administration on so important
an issue is enough to deepen the
gloom and encouragement which has
characterized the republican counsels
for some time.
McNinley's Blunders.
There begins to be serious question
whether Mckinley is after all prob
able candidate for reelection. He has
piled up such mountain of blunders
and has so thoroughly offended the
powerful and able men in his own
party, that even at this late day the
republicans seem to be casting about
for more availab candidate.
The movement is a quiet one, but
there are indications in Washington
that the search for the man is being
made. The republicans cannot con-
ceal their anxiety over the outcome
Of the presidential election, and it is
becoming more apparent every day
that they fear defeat on account of
the division in their own ranks. It
can hardly be said that any one
candidate is being mentioned in Nc
Kinley's stead. In fact it seems diff
icult to pick one who would combine
the requisite qualities for an enthusi-
astic and united party campaign.
Still the feeling against Mckinley has
been gathering force. The Webster
episode gave it renewed momentum.
Democratic Prospects.
Democrats in congress are much
pleased over the recent action of the
democratic national committee il
sending out warning that all dele
gates sent to Kansas City should be
Il
and reaffirmation of the Chicago plat
form seem to be conceded without
question. but it is thought that no
precaution should be spared to make
assurance doubly sure. In Washing
ton the local Bryan enthusiasm is
very marked and the democratic lead
ers in congress receive encouraging re-
ports from their constituents as to
the prospects of democratic success
in the campaign. While the repub-
licans are constantly divided by quar-
rels and seem to be getting farther
and farther away from the people,
the democratic harmony and enthusi-
asm increases in like proportion.
No Pretense of Principle.
During the closing hours of the
senate debate on the Porto Rican bill
all pretense of principle was dropped
and the discussion dropped merely 20
the plane of party tactics and politi-
cal expediency. Senator Depew, who
bids fair to become as much of an
oratorica1 nuisance as the youthful
Beveridge, quoted statistics whose in
accuracy might pass muster in an
SpcSCd, Dut
the republicans look rather weary
and melancholy. Senators Spooner
and Cullom could find no better argu-
ments than to plead for time in
which to let. the great and good
Mckinley" work out the unconstitu-
tional salvation of Porto Rico.
The Ship Subsidy Grab.
The ship subsidy 100000 grab is
before the house. Representative
Grosvenor, of Ohio, champions it in
a long Introductory report in which
various arguments are very plausibiy
put. The only trouble is that the
alleged facts on which the arguments
are based do not exist at all. From
start to finish the bill is a Standard
Oil subsidy. 1t is designed to give
every Standard Oil tank steamer
which would build it three
times over every two years.
Much ado is made by Representative
Grosvenor over the high wages to be
paid to American seamen on subsi-
died vessels. The fact is that the
bill only provides for American off,
GERS and the crew may be Lascars or
Japs for anything the shipping trust
cares. The one thing certain is that
the cheapest kind of seamen viii be
employed. Conditions and wages are
already so bad on American-owned
vessels that American seamen cannot
be persuaded to man them. The sub
sidy bill is for the benefit of the trust
owners and not the trust employed