The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

GOBl l1OhE Mules AMI UtOOlt.
The District Democrats.-It is con-
sidered very significant in local political
circles that nqhe 81 the Holmead or oppo-
sition faction, soscalled. was present at
the meeting OF the Democratic Central
Committee at Meyers Hotel Thursday
night. II is rumored, with what authority
cannot be stated. that the Ho,mead faction
have refrained from taking any part in the
Democratic Genital Committee proceedings
since Mr.. Jamesi.. Norris was favored by
the Democratic National Committee with
out even hearing the contest between him
and Mr.. Holmead This action of the Ma
tional Committee has created in this Dis
triCt the greatest apathy toward the Ma
tional Committee. though il has not
estranged the Democrats from Mr.. Bryan.
All the Democrats of the District have ever
been able to do is to contribute funds to
the National Committee to help the ticket,
and the hearts of the District Democracy
are centred on Mr.. Bryan's success. OF
the six delegates who fought the battle OF
free silver in the District in 1895 and went
out to the Chicago Convention in its be-
half. five were then opposed and are now
opposed to Mr. Norris and all his works.
In the April primaries their influence viii
be thrown in favor of a delegation to Kan
sas City which will be not only repre-
sentative, but anti-Norris in every respect
VIII Pay to Watch.-Strictly on its
intrinsic merits proposition soon to be
brought before Congress by the euterpris
ing people of Dallas, Texas will be worth
watching. but aside from that it will be
interesting to see if such measure can
get through the National Legislature as
easily as its promoters seem to think it
can. The proposition is simple and direct.
II involves an expenditure OF only four
and a half million dollars Of Government
money to make the Trinity River Eavi-
gable from Dallas to the Gulf. Army en-
gineers have, after careful Investigation,
declared the scheme feasible. and that
the work can be done for the amount
stated. The tonnage to be accommodated
is enormous. and for that reason II Will
be extremely interesting to watch the
course Of events after the proposition is
formulated into a bill and presented TO
Congress. 4 waterway from the centre OF
the northern line Of Texas to the Gulf
would mean such a lowering Of the rates
of transportation as the railroads would
not willingly submit to. Therefore the
prediction is made that the Trinity River
bill will not get through Congress. But
IL il should slip through it would demon
strate that the contractors know trick
or two, as well as the railroads The
Texas delegation. of course. is unit for
the bill. Naturally. therefore, the iau-
roads will not look to that delegation Tor
the means with which to Kill the bill.
The opposition is expected to come from
art Of "a where
a Texas railway manager knows lot
single soul and hence could not be eX-
pected to influence the view of a states
man. But there are other railroad men
in these remote sections who will see to
il that their representatives az Washing
ton keep a close eye on the peoples
money and not permit it to be wasted IN
making waterways in Texas to compete
with the railroads down in that neck OF
the woods This. it Is said, is what is
meant by the close relations that now eX-
ist between all the great railroad systems
of the country headed by the New York
Central and the Pennsylvania. However.
as the Texas promoters Of the Trinity
River enterprise speak confidently or the
success Of their scheme it may be that
they were wise enough to make arrange
ments with the railroads for their bill to
90 through before they came to Congress
with it.
Gen. Leonard Wood, - Somebody
somewhere has given the alarm ttat there
is a Republican Vice Presidential boom
raging for Gen. Leonard Wood. II is
not known whether the boom started IN
Cuba. where General Wood is now sta
toned as Governor General, or whether it
started in the War Department. where
there is a very keen desire for something
TO happen to get General Wood out of the
way Of several ambitious soldiers in the
staff departments. The Adjutsnt General
Of the Army has been essayiDg statesman
ship for so long a time that il is regarded
as not impossible that the Wood boom
came gushing out OF the mighty mind OF
General Corbin. The report connecting
General Woods name with the Vice Pres
idential nomination is laughed AT by the
politicians In the first place they say that
Woods politics are unknown No one here
can say whether he is a Repub lean or
Democrat There is an equal lack Ct infor-
nation as to the section Of country to
which he belongs He was an inconsp icu-
Gus army doctor until the Hon. Theodore
Roosevelt met him in Washington and
took a shine 10 him. Through Roose-
yeIt's influence. together with the lucky
circumstance that be was brought into
contact with Mr.. Mckinley as the Pres
ident's Doctor he was made colonel
Of the Rough Riders at the outbreak Of the
Spanish war, though Roosevelt got all the
glory for the organization as well as toe
roudu.t Of that regiment. This experience
gave Wood his long coveted opportunity TO
get in the line Of the Army. and that he
would now let that opportunity slip by him
those who know his temperament and de-
sires best say is ridiculous. General Wood,
il is known earnestly desires to stay in
the Army He is assured Of commission
as Brigadier General in the regular estab-
lishmeut as soon as the various schemes
fer recognizing the Army takes some
definite shape. 1t is thought 90 be this GER
taiuty that has suggested TO some Of me
politicians in the Overcrowded stan Of the
Army the ACCESSIBILITY Of shunting him OF
into politics But the politicians refuse to
take seriously the mention OF his name for
Mr. Mckinley running mate. The friends
of General Wood say he will laugh when
ne hears what the Army politicians are
trying to do with him.
~ e. senator Chnndicr.-Tbp Hon
William f. Chandler is recuperating at the
Hot Springs Of Missouri from the arduous
labor he has been doing in the Senate since
the openiug Of Congress in December
When he is well rested it. is expected that
he will go back to New Hampshire for
brief spell TO learn at close range some
thing Of the conditions there that bear on
his POLITICAL future There is an uuwritten
but uubroken rule in New Hampshire