The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-04-26
CURRENT COMMENT.
Notes and Comments. Political and
Otherwise. On Matters of
Public Interest.
BY Andrew j. Palm.

That was a merited but almost cruel
stab that Senator Foraker gave Mr..
Mckinley few days ago on the floor
of the senate. He was discussing some
question when he was interrupted by
some ones asking him what President
McKinley's opinion was on the matter.
Foraker's sense of the eternal fitness of
things got the better of his political
caution. and he replied that the ques-
toner would better ask Mark Hanna.
Senator Depew likes to talk, and his
sense of modesty is so strong as to
prevent his talking a good deal about
himself. In recent interview he de-
clared that he never got anything ex-
cept by work. Almost in the same
breath he tells with evident pride of
receiving 5000, 900 as fee in single
case. The moral difference between
getting money for nothing and getting
hundred dollars for a dollars worth
of work is very slight, yet Mr.. Depew
seems entirely satisfied with it.
Judging by the amount of abuse that
Republican papers are bestowing upon
Bourke Cochran, It is safe to assume
that he is again in full harmony with
his party. Like all men who have
ability and a sense of honor he has
no use for a trimmer like Mckinley,
who has no idea today as to what he
will believe a month hence. Every
body despises a moral coward, and
| after all the flip flops of Mckinley on
| the currency question, Puerto Rican
question: civil service reform and GRIM
| inal aggression all thinking men have
come to the conclusion that he has
no convictions on any subject that he
has the courage to stand up for against
the wishes of Mark Hanna.
The subsidy scheme which Mark
Hanna and other millionaire members
of congress will try to force through
will compel the taxpayers of the United
States to pay for plants to be used by
these millionaires and their friends to
carry on shipbuilding, business that
they declare is profitable. This ship
subsidy scheme is not in the interest OF
the whole people. but Is intended to
put unearned public money into the
pockets of a few individuals by grant
ing them special privileges. 1t Ia on
par with the plan of levying tribute on
the consumer to protect such infant
industries as the Carnegie Steel com
pany, which makes a clear profit OF
> 100000 every day Of the year.
Some of McKinley's warmest friends
, and the ablest men of his party are
disgusted at his lack OF courage. He
changes front on important questions
, of government policy as easily and as
frequently as he changes his coat. In
, | sisting in his message that our plain
duty is to give Puerto Rico free trade
he lacks the spinal column to insist on
\ the performance of that duty, and fell
in with the members of congress who
were bribed into a deliberate attempt
to violate the plain dictates of the
e constitution by the tobacco and sugar
n trusts. Editor Kohlsaat, owner of the
q Chicago Times-Herald, one of the lead
ing papers Of the country, severely
criticizes McKinleys policy or lack o.
policy in dealing with the Puerto RicaI
It question. Kohlsaat Is radical Re
4 publican, and one of the men who help
ed to pull McKRley out Of the financia
u hole a few years ago; but Hanna II
3 the man who holds the line attached
II to the bit in McKinley's mouth, and h
:. drives him withersoever he will. /
. Mr.. Mckinley thinks he can better af
i ford to part company with the Kohl
r, saats than the Hannas he will discove
! his mistake later on.
In the canton of Berne, Switzerland
d the man who refuses to pay certall
taxes is punished by being prohibite
~ from entering a restaurant. The gov
- ernment reasons that the man who ha
money to spend for coffee. beer an
ID liquor ought to pay his debt to tn
te state. A law in this country forbid
a ding those who owe the butcher, bake1
~ grocer, clothier or dry goods merchar
y from entering saloons or theater
n would be a good thing both for tn
,e tradesmen and those who spend none
for drink and amusement that ought
go for the necessaries of life. PerhaI
such a law would be declared unconst
t, tutional on the ground of being cru
At punishment, for it would be terrib
punishment on some men to be denie
Vi Tho nrivilege Of entering a saloon.