St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-06-09
NOIES FROM washington.
Fresh Items of Interest Upon Ques-
tions Now Before the Amer
ican People.
RUlAoUs RESULTS OF REPUBLICAN, RULE.
The Public Deceived Regarding the
Philippine Situation - Workmen
Thrown Out ofEmpIoyme Rt-Amer-:
teen sympathy foy the Boers-Dem-
Ocrats Are Gaining.
fsnecial correspondenee.l

Especial Correspondence
Two pieces of important news re-
garding the Philippines have been re-
ceived in Washington Lieut.. Perkins,
son of Senator Perkins, of California,
is responsible for the statement that
400 volunteer officers serving in
the Philippines have rendered their
designations. They don't like war,
nor the climate, and are anx-
ious to come home. If this is true
regarding the officers, it is doubly true
regarding the rank and file. Could the
soldiers have their way about it. prac-
tically the entire army would be back
in the United States as fast as the
transports could bring them. 1t is no
reflection on the patriotism of these
men that they have lost heart and in
terest in an unpatriotic war.
The second fact referred to is the
statement of Edwin Wildman, a broth
er of Rounseville Wildman, former
United States consul at Singapore, and
prominently connected with affairs in
the Philippines. Mr.. Wildman declares
on the highest authority that the pub
lie is grossly deceived regarding the sit
uation in the Philippines, that the in
surgents are active in every direction,
conducting raiding parties almost
within sight of Manila, and that it will
take a large increase of force to make
any serious impression on the situa-
ton.
These statements coincide exactly
with other reports reaching Washing
ton, and made public through these
letters. The American people are get
ting thoroughly tired of McKinley's
war in the Philippines, and are sure to
give expression to their feelings at
the polls next November.
Workmen Thrown Out.
One of the largest of the federal steel
plants, the one at Joliet, Ill, has shut
down Indefinitely, throwing 5000 hands
out of employment. Almost the entire
output of this plant had formerly been
shipped to the plant of the American
Steel & Wire company, in the same
city. That concern having shut down
the federal steel plant had to follow
suit. There will be more plants shut
down within the next 30 days. The
iron and steel output is now thousands
of tons weekly in excess of the demand.
Following the steel shutdown will
come the closing of blast furnaces
and mines. Less freight will be hauled
on the lakes and on the railroads. The
demand for coke and coal will lessen,
and in score of directions thousands
of laborers will be thrown out of em-
ployment. This comes directly in the
face of recent statements that the iron
and steel interests had orders ahead
that would keep them busy for over a
year. That statement is now seen to be
false.
Tt is believed by good judges that the
days of the old financial panic, in which
everything comes down with crash,
are gone. Nowadays the great trusts
and corporations which control so
largely the manufacturing business of
the country control the banks, and are
therefore at no time embarrassed for
funds. But when their market fails
them, they simply have to stop pro-
dmcing. The result is lethargy and dry
rot. Such condition is now rapidly
approaching. Before November busi-
ness in many industries will be at a
standstill, and the republican cam
paign orators will be preaching ''pros-
perity" to thousands of workmen out
Of employment.
The Boer Question.
The arrival of the Boer delegates in
the United States will give emphasis
to two matters of great Importance.
First, thepwill demonstrate that Amer
lean sympathy is overwhelmingly with
the Beers and against Great Britain.
Secondly, emphasis will be given to the
fact that the opinion that Great Brit
ain is successful administrator of col
onies is not well founded. Great Brit
aims white colonies are successful be-
cause they have no home rule. British
administration of India is failure be-
cause India has not a home rule nor
anything approaching it..
Information received in Washington
relative to the famine and cholera situ-
alton in India contains the severest re-
fiections on the British administration
of that unhappy country. The June
monsoon of 1899 failed to bring the ex-
pected rains over a territory as large
as the state of Texas and containing
population of 40,000,000 people. It was
then known as absolute certainty that
that whole region would be famine
stricken by the first of January follow
ing, and that millions of people would
starve to death unless they were fed by
the government. Thus, with over six
months warning, the British govern
ment failed to provide the necessary
relief machinery to avert starvation,
although in other parts of India there
were, and are to-day, sufficient food
supplies to meet the emergency. The
British government is to-day spending
about $4,000 a day to relieve these 40,-
100000 people, but is spending over a
million dollars day in an endeayor to
exterminate or conquer 25o,o0o people
in South Africa.
Whenever any member Of parliament
tries to raise his voice to call attention
to the situation in India, he is imme-
diately frowned into silence, and the
weak excuse is put up that the British
government is unable to do more for
the relief Of India on account of the de-