The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-04-13
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Our Correspondent Talks in
General About Wash
ington.
(Conmunicated).
WASHINGTON,
April 9, 1900,

1t those responsible for Adj
miral Dewey's announcement of
his candidacy for the Presidential
nomination have the remoteSt
idea that he can get the Demo
cratic nomination away from Col
onel BrN an, they have another
guess coming TO them. There is
rot a Democrat III either branch
of Congress, in sympathy with
the Chicago platform, who does
not regard Col. Bryan's nOmina-
ton as already made, and the
Kansas City Convention as a
national meeting that will be held
to ratify his nomination. Admi-
raj Dewey says he is Democrat
and has always been one, al
though he has never cast vote.
If he had made that statement
when he first returned from Ma
Mia when his friend, Senator
Proctor, of Vermont, was repeat
eddy declaring him to be a Re
publican, it would have carried
more weight. But, anyway,
Democrats who do not vote are
not the sort of Democrats who
help the party to win elections or
who deserve Office at the hands Of
the party. If Admiral Dewey
becones an independent candi
date for President, he will render
material aid towards the election
of Colonel Bryan, as he would
probably get votes that would
otherwise go to Mckinley.
lfevery Democratic member of
the House will occupy his seat
and vote against he Porto Rico
bill, that iniquitous measure can
be defeated when it is taken up
this week. The Republican eau
Gus has declared in favor of pass
ing 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 a few who say that they will
actually vote against it, and it is
practically certain that owing to
ab>entees, vote against the bill
equal to the tull Democratic
membership of the House will de
/ feat 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 making acivil
government for Porto Rico is even
worse. Under it. the real gov
eminent of the island can he put
i'll the hands of carpet baggcrS,
and that such a government
would he productive Of scandals
was fully shown By the eXper-
fence during the e-conStruction
period i'll the Southern States.
The distinguished audience
which heard Hon. Webster Davis
first lecture on the war in South
Africa, indicates that those who
claim that majority of our PEG
pie sympathize with the Beers
are right. The lecture, which
abOunds with arguments show
ing why we should sympathize
with the two republics who are
struggling for their lives against
one of the worlds greatest EN-
pires, 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 Elections is con.
sidering the evidence and the ar
guments of counsel. An adverse
report is looked for from the
committee, but it is generally eX-
pected that the vote Of the Sen
ate will be in favor of Senator
Clark. 1t would require a two.
thirds vote to unseat him.
1t is regarded as significant
of coming change in the admins.
tration's Philippine policy that
the official announcement is
made that General Otis will
start for the United States at
about the time that the pew
Philippine Commission arrives at
Manila.
1t is we'll known that there was
much clashing between General
Otis and the old commission, al
though he was a member of that
body, as was Dewey.
The administration does not
intend that decision shall be
had on the question of the Con-
stitution following the flag, be-
fore 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 a test
case, be allowed to land. Repre-
sentative Mcclellan, of New
York, has offered a resolution in
the House, calling upon Secre-
tary Gage for the correspondence
i'll the case, and Senator Jones,
of Arkansas, offered a similar
.nrrlnA;n., l., LIZ l,n.nAn ~. al.