Little Falls herald., 1900-09-21
.M'KlNLEY IN A MUDDlE.
Hard Propositions at Home and
Abroad Confront Him, !. s''.->~
WHY DID HE FUNK THE G. "A. R.7

The influence of Imperialistic Illu-
sions-Hidins the Truth About the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Failures In
creasins - Organised Labor's Re-
port. KIN the 'sFull Dinner pail''
Arsumeat-,Thes strenuous :Roose-
| Welt.
Especial Washington Letter.l
! The G. A. r. is very cross because
President Mckinley changed his mind
and declined to attend the Chicago re-
union. The Republicans as we'll as
Democrats are wondering what it
means. The excuse of pressing busi-
ness in relation to Chinese matters is
hardly worth consideration.
There is far less to be feared on that
score than when the president remain
ed in Canton and transacted business
over long distance telephone.
The excuse of official dignity will
hardly hold. President Mckinley did
not scruple last year to make rear end
car speeches from one end of the coun-
try to the other in order to help out
several doubtful states when there
were merely state elections on hand.
There could be no improperly in the
administration discussing matters of
national interest at the G. A. r. re-
union.
The Democrats believe that the adj
ministration has concluded that a poll.
nv of Gil TN a,.f1f fn r;oI: I:o,,
is it's only chance Of reelection. The
rhetorical bombast in which it usually
indulges about the Philippines would
make a painful contrast with Bryan's
clear cut analysis Of the issue and his
we'll defined policy for its solution.
If the administration can find no ad-
equate defense for Imperialism. the
masses Of the voters are likely to con-
clude that the policy is one of those
mistakes which can only be remedied
by change Of administration. The
Republicans show manifest reluc-
tance to be judged on the record of this
administration.
The administra ton shows signs Of
still being under the influence Of its
imperial illusions. Now that our citi-
zens in China have been rescued there
is no reason why our troops should not
at once withdraw
While the administration is very eau
tiously feeling public sentiment on the
matter, yet the war department is hur.
riedly preparing to winter our troops
in China. The reply of Mckinley to
Ii Hung Chang indicates that our
troops may stay in the country indeti.
nitely. Nobody can forecast when
''order will be restored.'
Great Britain would like to have the
cooperation of the administration in
restraining Russia. 1t is admitted that
the foreign powers intend to seize the
government of China and then divide
it's territory.
While denying any desire to grab ter
ritory. yet the administration pursues
just the course which is likely to land
this country in the midst of serious
foreign complications. 1t looks like
the old scheme of putting forward one
motive to soothc the people while Sc
ClClAJ pul dAOluC1 POA1Cy.
When concealment is no longer pos
sible, Mckinley will probably whimper
about mot hauling down the flag" The
fact that war taxes are still being
levied, makes it easy to undertake an
unauthorized war without the consent
Of congress.
More troops are being sent to the
Philippines. None are being sent home:
The censorship on Philippine affairs
is now so rigid that the country is ex-
pected to forget that we have 10000
troops around Manila and are spend
ing about $4,O0O,OOO a month in exter-
minating the Filipinos. The special
commission which is sitting in Manila
is using some rather peculiar methods
in it's experiments. 1t released a num-
ber Of political prisoners" On; their
promise that they would endeavor to
persuade their countrymen to lay down
their arms. The plan failed;&lbut it is
interesting to know that imperialism
has already gone to the length of: i'm
prisoning men for political offenses. 1t
Is an earnest Of what may happen in
this country If the tendency:,.ds not
checked.
The commission is getting ready to
report about the 1st of November. 1t
will, of course, declare that! the Fill
pinos have been assimilated and give
Chinese complications as the excuse for
not sending the troops home.
Dun and Bradstreet's continue to re-
port extreme dullness in all branches
of trade. Each week records more fail
ures than the corresponding week last
year. Bradstreet's notes no special
change in the employment of wage
workers. Either it has not accurate
information or does not care to pub
lish it.
The official reports to the American
Federation Of Labor show that strikes,
lockouts and reductions Of wages are
going on all over the country. Scores
Of factories are shutting down indef-
nitely. This means that "the full din.
ner pail' argument will seem a bit iron
fcal to thousands of wageworkers.
Hanna is trying to persuade a num-
Der of the trusts to reopen. their fac