The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-04-27
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

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good record on that island as he has
made Assistant Secretary OF the Navy,
a position lie has held since it was
given up by Col. Roosevelt at the
opening OF the war with Spain, the
Porto Ricans will have cause to thank
President Mckinley for his appoint
ment. The civil rule of Porto Rico
will begin May /, and the new tariff
will go into effect at the same time.
No arrangements have yet been made
made FOR withdrawing the few troops
that are in Porto Rico, and it is
thought that they will be allowed to
remain for while, although they will
have nothing to do with governing the,
island, after the civil government takes
charge.
Secretary Root has recommended to
Congress that provision made in the
Army Appropriation bill for six adj
ditional Brlgadier Generals in the
regular army, in order that President
Mckinley may reward deserving Off
GERS for meritorious service.
Senator Chandler thinks Coy. Roose-
velt is the man to be nominated for
Vice President on the republican
ticket. Speaking about it he said:
II am for Roosevelt, and do not
recognize his right to say that he will
not accept thc'Vic Presidential nomi-
nation, if the National Convention
should name him. Neither do |
recognize the right of President Nc
Kinley or Senator Hanna to act for
the party in deciding upon the Vice
Presidency in advance Of the Conven-
ton. The delegates will name the
Vice Presidential nominee. Their
judgment must determine, any man
who is named will accept. The office
has never been refused, and if Gov.
Roosevelt is named by the Convention
he will accept"
Senator Fairbanks knows the politics
of Indiana as few men do, and how
much he thinks of the alleged repub-
lican revolt i'll that state, which is so
big in the columns of the anti-republi-
can press and so hard to find by those
on the ground, may be judged by his
having said of the political outlook;
"The administration stands in higher
favor today than ever before, and will
undoubtedly be sustained by the people
who are not prepared to check, inter-
rupt, or reverse the present prosperous
condition of affairs. 1t is not possible
that the people will repeat the mistake
of 1892. The republican party has
redeemed the principal pledges made
in 1896, and has brought prosperity to
all classes of our people. We are
quite ready to meet our opponents in
the campaign" OF the Porto Rico
tariff, now law, the alleged cause of
the alleged republican revolt, Senator
Fairbanks said: at is based upon
proper principles and will justify itself.
Ny information shows that a very
strong current in its favor is settingin
and as it becomes better understood
the criticism will decrease"
One OF The immediate effects of the
Clark investigation, which caused the
Senate Committee on elections to un-
animously report that Clark, of Mon
tana, was not entitled to the seat In
the Senate, which he spent something
like a quarter of million dollars "a
get, was the adoption by the House,
with only fifteen adverse votes, of
resolution proposing a constitutional
amendment for the election of U. S.
Senators, by direct vote of the people.
Spain's attempt to retain three is
lands on the outskirts of the Philip
pine group, was failure. The claim
was made on the ground that these
islands were out side of the geographic
cal bounds named in the Paris treaty.
This government has notified Spain
that its claim would not be recognized
for the simple reason that the demand
of this government, when the Paris
treaty was being negotiated, was for
the entire territory of Spain in the
Philippine and Sulu Archipelagoes,
and that demand was agreed to by the
Spanish Commissioners. The state
ment of boundaries was made merely
to set forth in definite form descrip-
ton of the territory ceded by Spain.
The three islands are not important,
but this government is determine that
no flag other than Old Glory should
fly over any OF those islands.
The Navy Department has made a
contract for the purchase of the sub
marine torpedo coat Holland, which
has been giving some wonderful exhi-
bitions on the Potomac river, and for
such other boats Of The same type as
may be desired in the future. $150,O00
is to be paid for the Holland.