The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-01-11

|"tf there IL 10 be an absolute sup
preston of all REQUESTS fer informa-
tion concerning the war with the
Filipinos, shall object to the tak-
ing up Of other matters during the
morning hour when such resolutions
are pending"
Senator Allen put a quick stop to
the rumor that he was to be brought
out by the Nebraska fusionists as
their candidate for President, by de-
claring that he was not candidate
would not be, and would not accept
the nomination IL it were unani-
mously rendered to him. He clincff-
ed it by adding:"Mr. Bryan un-
doubtedly will be the candidate OF
the democratic, populist, and free
silver parties for the Presidency,
and Nebraska will give him a unit
ed, active delegation to all three
conventions, " Senator Allen also
took occasion to say that there was
absolutely no foundation for the
stories of trouble IN the fusion ranks
because of his appointment to the
Senate; that his appointment had
been determined upon by the gov
ernor before Mr.. Bryan knew any
thing about 1t, and that the relations
between Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Hitch
cock and himself were of the most
harmonious character. and would
continue so.
There may be a minority report
from the Roberts committee, not
concerning the poylgamy of Roberts
which is regarded as having been
proven, but on the right of men,
Der Of Congress with proper creden-
tials to be sworn in. Most demo-
Gratis have been of the opinion from
the first that the proper way to pro-
was to swear in Roberts and then
take a vote as to whether he should
be expelled from the House. The
same opinion is held by many re-
publicans, but their party organiza-
tion is so rigid that they are not
likely to vote their convictions.
When orders issued this week by
the War Department are carried out
the U. s. government will own and
maintain two lines of ocean steam
ships, one from San Francisco to
Honolulu and Manila, and one from
New York to Cuban and P orto Rican
ports. In view of this, it wonld
seem to be about time for the re-
publicans to stop calling men who
believe that the government should
own all transportation lines cranks.
If it be right and proper for the gov
ernment to own two steamship lines
what would be wrong about its own
ing all the railroad, steamship and
telegraph lines, if the people 80 will
ed?
Instead of squaring the admins
tration with the users of hemp cord
and rope, Assistant Secretary Meik
lejohn's two contradictory state
ments about the war in the Philip
pines have nothing to do with the
present high price of hemp, have
served to direct public attention to
what looks like scandal involving
the War Department, or some of its
subordinates. How the things look
to outsiders may be judged from the
following remarks of Mr.. L. Pow
ell, Hong Kong business man who
Is now in Washington" :"The sur
prising inactivity of tho u. s. War
Department In the matter of OPEN
ing the hemp ports In the Philippines
is hard to understand. With the
price of hemp more than 4OO% above
the normal, and the whole supply in
the hands of few wealthy specula-
tors holding on for a still greater ad-
vance, 1t will be hard year for the
wheat-growers and shipping men.
American farmers use $4,000, 900
worth Of binder twine each harvest,
and II the bill should be swollen to
two or three times that figure no
doubt there will be some lively
kicking from them. 1t is openly
charged in the East that some of the
military authorities in the Philip
pines are on the friendliest terms
with the spec uiators who have COR
nered the market, and are represent
ing that to open the ports and ship
out hemp would put money In the
insurgents pockets. This Is abso-
lutely a false statement, for all the
hemp now stored at blockaded ports
is owned by American and English
merchants. There are no insurgents
in the vicinity of many of the closed
harbors, yet the military authorities
refuse to let reputable merchants re-
move their property"