The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30
POLITIGALfNoTEs AND GOSSIP.

! IOBil tOALi NUIEO ANU OUOOlf.
VIII Nominate Bryan.-It seems to
be foregone conclusion that the Populist
National Convention which meets at
Sioux Falls, S D., on May .. will nomi-
nate Mr.. Bryan for President and leave
the second place on the ticket vacant to be
filled by the Democratic National Conven-
ton which meets at Kansas City July 4.
1t also appears TO be pretty well settled
that the Mid Road Populists. who will
have a National Convention at Cincinnati
while the regulars are in session at Sioux
Falls, will make an effort to nominate
Admiral Dewey. At first this suggestion
was received as a joke but it is being Sc
riGusly urged by Ignatius Donnelly. Whar-
ton Barker, and other leaders Of the ex-
treinists. and unless Admiral Dewey's
friends are able to put an effectual stop
to it the scheme will be contaminated.
Nobody believes Admiral Dewey would ac-
nept the nomination. On the contrary 1t is
thought he would decline 1t in terms that
would set every caliopean voiced Mid
Reader bowling with rage. Then il the
Admirars name should be presented TO The
Kansas City Convention and any considera-
BILE number of votes should be cast for
him there the Mid-Roaders would claim
this as ar excuse to fight the Democratic
ticket with renewed vigor. AT present
they are without plausible excuse, but
are extremely anxious TO find one. What
ever befalls there is no likelihood that
they will nominate Bryan. This. at any
rate is the opinion of the best informed
POpulist leaders in Washington. Senator'S
Allen, Butler, and Pettigrew were much
in conference on the subject of the two
Populist Conventions during the latter
half Of the week just closed. They could
not be prevailed upon to give out state
ment embodying their conclusions. il their
conferences have yet progressed to that
stage. Senator Pettigrew. however. very
freely and frankly avowed the belief that
the Sioux Falls convention would nominate
Mr. Bryan virtually without opposition,
and that while there may be a strong eff
fort TO name running mate for him.
still the probabilities are that the Vice
Presidency will be left vacant for the ac-
ton of the Democrats at Kansas City.
The consensus of opinion is that this Will
preserve the fusion in CLOSE States of the
West, in spite of the efforts OF the Mid
Roadets to the contrary. and that the free
silver Republicans will strengthen the
fusion arrangement by ratifying in their
National Convention at Kansas City the
action of the other two conventions that
will have nominated Mr.. Bryan.
Rewards Newspaper Men.-The Pres
ident's selection of Mr.. II. B. f. Macfar-
land for one of the District Commissioner
ships over the claims of clamorous horde
of hungry politicians is a reminder of Mr.
McKinley's apparent fondness for the gen.
tlemen who write for the newspapers. 1t
is said that a careful investigation Of She
thousands of appointments Mr.. Mckinley
has made since coming to the White House |
reveals the interesting fact that he fas
placed in official positions more newrpa-
per men than men in any other calling. |
He has in his Cabinet one newspaper man |
of acknowledgements General Charles I,
Emory Smith. The Hon. Perry S. Heath. |
Assistant Postmaster General, and who is |
reported to enjoy relations with Mr.. Nc |
Kinley almost as close as those of Mr. |
Hanna. was an alert and nimble chaser |
after the always elusive news item in |
Washington only a few months before Mr.. |
McKinleys election. One of the best con- |
sulships, that at Liverpool, is now held by |
Jim" Boyle, who was a good reporter in |
the West when MIR. Mckinley was elected |
Governor of Ohio, and who went to Column |
bus as the Governors private secretary. |
Mr.. J. Addison Port T, who recently re- |
signed thefresponsible post of Secretary to |
the President, is a Connecticut journalist. |
Mr.. Walter Is. Stevens, of the st. Louis |
Globe Democrat. and Mr.. Charles NJ. |
Pepper. of the New York Herald each |
in turn declined to accept from Mr.. Nc |
kinley the position OF Secretary of the new
Philippine Commission, which pays sal !
AIRY Of $4,000 a year dozen or more of |
the tirst-ciass consulships are being held
by newspaper men on appointment of Mr..
Mckinley. to say nothing of the innumer-
able billets in the various departments at
Washington he has placed in the hands of
favorite journalists he has known for
years. 1t is said that no other President I
put in the public service as many news
paper men as has Mr.. Mckinley When
he was in Congress he was one of the best
sources Of news the correspondents in
Washington had, ana he associated with
them great deal. All of the older CORE
spondents know him very well. and re-
gardless of political affiliations or the
glamour of great office that blinds most
people to the faults Of its incumbent they
hold him in high esteem.