Washington sentinel., 1900-06-09

Webster Davis is becoming interesting
as a psychol ogicsl study. His jump from
mediocrity to fame was meteoric. His
course sm~- has beeu consistently zigzag.
He had be n nOminally Assistant Sec
retary OF the Interior. say nominally,
advisedly, for from the best ir formation,
the most arduous part of his labors
consisted in his attaching his signature
to decisions carefully prepared by
others, and to the pay roll. Incidentally
he went forth armed cap-a-pie to defend
the Administration against all comers.
and without any vulgar inquiry into the
cause Of the combat, Indeed he dragged
the Administration by the hair OF the
head into an argument, in order to show
ITS benignant features and undeceptive
smile. 1t was thus on the occasion Of
the celebration OF the peace with Spain
in this city. He was one Of "your
orators" as Senator Pettus would say,
on that occasion Although the war on
the Flipinos had but just commenced,
dnA udA AAO JlaAC III AllC PNnNN BlON
gram, Mr.. Davis started with the
statement: The war with Spain was
right, the war with the FIlipinos is
right" and proceeded to a defense OF
the Administration on that issue.
Later we find him holding forth in
Ohio. defending the pension policy OF
the Administration 1t seems, however,
that the clean' ing Of Evans Augean
stable was too much for him For
although he spent but about a week in
Ohio, the shattered condition OF his
nerves necessitated a rest And OF all
places under the sun, which should he
choose but South Africa, disturbed by
the clash and clang of arms. But it was
said Consul Stowe at that place was
friend OF his. So far, so good. Mr.. Stowe
has consiste ntlY carried out his part ofthe
understanding between Mckinley and
Chamberlain. Mr. Davis was also the
recipient of attentions from Premier
Schreiner and Sir Alfred Miner. The
latter is the man who was sent TO South
Africa to smash Afrikauderdom. But
now comes strange phase OF the pro-
ceedings. Mr.. Davis suddenly started
for Pretoria. He even went (he says)
to fields Of carnage, to that very smoke
aud fire OF battle. What a strange ias
cination for a man with nerves shattered
to the point Of collapse from signing
decisions and paYrolls, and incidentally
defending the Administration But he
survived. And strange to say, the
nervous prostratiOn disappeared. II was
a clear case OF "Sfmilfa SfD8ili6HS
eayaHtHy." He returned home. Rumors
OF trouble with his superiors which had
preceded his departure. we're revived.
Stormy interviews with the President
we're limited at. His early removal or
resignation was foreshadowed. Dis
agreements on the BoeT British imbrog-
lio we're said to be the cause.
Soon his frieuds waited on the Boer
sYmpathizers and said that Mr. Davis
was desirous of making a speech in
support Of the Beers, It was pointed
out that he could not do that as an
official, owing his appointment to Mr..
McKlnley,l and retain his position. If
he had anything to tell calculated to
influence Mr., Mckinley, it could be told
in private, II it failed then he must
resign before his proffer could be
accepted. He stated in terms that John
Hay was more English than Joe Cham
berlain, and by innuendo, that Mr..
Mckinley was in the same boat. He
resigned. A meeting was called, and
he delivered himself. There was nothing
new on the Boer question in his speech.
But there was surprise, In answer 70
a suggestion from one OF the audience
that the Administration was under the
control Of England, Mr.. -lJavis made
these remarks: Let the administration