Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-04-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 8, 1900

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WASHINGTON, April 8, 1900
If these responsible for Admiral
Deweyss announcement OF bis candidacy
for the Presidential nomination have the
remotest idea that he can get the Demo-
cratic nomination away from Col. Bryan,
they have another guess coming to them
There is not q Democrat in either branch
of Congress who does not regard Colonel
Bryan's nomination as already made, and
the Kansas City Convention as q national
meeting that will be held to ratify that
nomination. Admiral Dewey says he is a
Democrat and has always been one. If be
had made that statement when he first
returned from Manila when his friend.
Senator Proctor, of Vermont, was repeatedly
declaring that he was Republican. it
would have carried more weight. II
Admiral Dewey becomes an independent
candidate for President, he will render
material aid towards. the election of Colonel
Bryan, as he would probably get votes
which would otherwise 60 TO Mckinley.
If every Democratic member of the
House will occupy his seat and vote
against the Porto Rico bill, that iniquitious
measure can be defeated when it is taken
mp this week. The Republican caucus has
declared in favor of passing the bill just as
it came from the Senate. but there are
quite a number of Republicans who say
they will not vote for the bill, and few
who will actually vote against it, and it IS
practically certain that owing to absentees,
q vote against the bill equal to the full
Democratic membership Of the House, will
defeat it. Both sides are working hard to
get their absentees in Washington in time
to vote. Bad as the tariff clause is in
principle, the section of the bill providing
a civil government for Porto Rico is even
worse. Under it, the real government of
the island can be put into the hands OF
carpet-baggers, and that such govern
ment would be productive of scandals was
fully shown by the experience during the
re construction period in Southern States.
The distinguished audience which heard
Hon. Webster Davis first lecture on the
war in South Africa, indicates that those
who claim that a majority of our people
sympathize with the Beers are right. The
lecture, which abounds with arguments
showing why we should sympathize with
the two republics which are struggling for
their lives against one of the worlds great
est empires, was applauded from start to
finish. Mr.. Davis is receiving invitations
to speak in behalf of the Beers from every
section of the country.
Hearings in the CLARK case have been
closed and the Senate Committee on Elec-
lions is considering the evidence and the
of counsel. An adverse report
is looked for from the committee, but it is
generally expected that the vote of the
Senate will be in favor OF Senator Clark.
It would require tw0-thirds vote to un-
seat him.
1t is regarded as significant of coming
change in the Administrations Philippines
policy that the official announcement is
made that General Otis will start for the
United States at about the time the new
Philippine Commission arrives at Manila.
It is we'll known that there was much
clashing between Otis and the old COM
mission, although he was member of that
body, as was Dewey.
The administration does not intend that
decision from the Supreme Court shall be
had on the question of the Constitution
following the flag, before the Presidential
election, if it can possibly prevent it. This
has been shown by the action of Secretary
Gage in ordering that contract laborer,
brought from Porto Rico to New York, for
the express purpose of making test case,
be allowed to land. Representative Nc
ClellaD, of New York, has offered resO-
luton in the House, calling upon Secretary
Gage for the correspondence in this case,
and Senator Jones, of Arkansas, offered a
similar resolution in the Senate, which was
at once adopted. How this action on the
part of Secretary Gage strikes the Demo-
Gratis and Populists in Congress may be
Judged from the following expressions of
opinion Senator Tillman-"I don't blame
the Republicans for trying to dodge the
issue, for they must realize that the decis-
ion of the courts will be against them. Ii
| had my way l would force the admins
tration to take cognizance of the question,
by going TO Porto Rico and securing a ship
load of contract laboreTs and bringing them
to the United States. A tremendous howl
would 20 up from organized labor, which
would compel the administration to sub
nit to test of tie law Senator Butler,
Chairman of the Populist National Com
mittee-" There is no doubt in my mind
that the Republican party is afraid to have
the matter tested in the courts pricr to the
Presidential election Representative
Sulzer, of New York" They are afraid to
make the issue.n