The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-03
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Trouble Ahead in Texas.-The news
from Austin that the Hon. Joseph Weldon
Bailey has suddenly returned there, after
having left Texas more than a week ago
for Washington, has excited an interest In
this city which is not wholly confined to
Texans. The announced purpose of Mr..
Bailey's unexpected presence at Austin at
this juncture is to pave the way for the
election of delegation to the Kansas City
Convention instructed and pledged against
expansion. Mr.. Bailey is a contractionist,
and in the last State convention OF the
Texas Democracy was ingloriously defeated
on that issue. In that convention the bold
and ambitious young Texan fought val
lantly for declaration in the platform
dshning the position of the Texas Democ-
Iacy as one of Incorporating hostility
TO the extension, of the national domain
and sovereignty. and demanding the sur
render of all of the fruits of the war with
Spain. Senators Culberson and Chiffon
took significantly conservative attitude,
and induced the party to declare for heml-
spherical expansion-twi2 brother of the
real article. To this principle both of the
Senators stand pledged at present, as Go
all of the other leaders cf the party IA
Bailey. The latter recently has achieved
very notable victory over Mr.. Chiffon
in the Senatorial car'paign. and it is gem
orally conceded that Mr. Bailey will be
the next Senator from Texas. But II he
insists upon whipping The party into the
support of all his views. as he seems Bent
upon doing on the expansion question, well
Informed Texans assert that he may not
have as smooth sailing for the Senate as
he now seems to be convinced is ahead OF
him. Senator Cuiberson is irretrieyab!y
con nitted &c the form Of expansion de-
scribed. He is gentleman of very great
determination and doggedness as well as
of high attainment. If Mr.. Bailey should
wrench the rarity in Texas from the at
titude in which it was placed by Senator
Culberson and his followers something
very akin to open reputation of Mr.. Cul-
berson naturally would be Inferred. 1t is
not considered that Senator Culberson
tamely would submit to this sort OF bust
ness. Hence a lively fight between him
and the vindctive Mr.. Bailey for control
of the delegation to Kansas City is conf
IDENTIFY predicted. While Mr.. Bailey is
more nearly on Mr.. Bryan's platform on
the expansion issue than is Senator Cuiber-
SON. still Mr.. Bailey refused for long
time to support the Nebraskan four years
ago and is said not to be on such terms
of amity with Mr.. Bryan as would justify
the expectation that in a struggle between
him and Senator Culberson Mr.. Bryan
would care to aid Mr.. Bailey. Altogether.
therefore, the situation in Texas appears
TO be getting mixed and threatening.
Croker's Gradual .lxpatriation.-
An English gentleman of high repute. who
is now in Washington. gad who is close
personal friend of Richard Croker. ex-
pressed to Times representative yester-
day very great surprise at the apparently
well authenticated report that the famous
Tammany chieftain has purchased the
English estate. Vantage, instead of the old
Croker homestead in ireland. Il am GER
tain," said the English gentleman, that
something unlocked for six or eight weeks
ago has interviewed to prevent Mr.. Croker's
purchase of Ballanagarde, the old es-
tate of his ancestors in County Limerick
l know that negotiations for the transfer
of the freehold in this state to Mr. Croker
have been in progress for some time, and
! had understood before l eft England
short time ago that the deal was about
closed. 1t may be, or course. that Croker
still intends to purchase Ballanagarde and
make his permanent nome there. He is
amply able to keep two such establish
ments, as he is very rich man. Proba-
bly, 1t is his intention to keep his stables
at Vantage. which is In the center of the
finest horse section o. Ell gland. and make
3allanagarde his, resi.,crce. That place,
one of the most beautiful IN all Ireland,
has been in the Croker family for 300
years. and l speak ai.isedly when /
tell you that II is Mr.. Cookers fixed
purpose soon to retire from American pol
itics and transfer his citizenship to Great
Britsin. 1t is. of course, possible that
he has reconsidered this determination.
nut l consider that hardly probable. At
the close of the forthcoming campaign in
this country expect Croker to formally
surrender control of Tammany and go back
to Great Britain as subject of Queen Vic
toria. Mr.. William Waldorf Aston re-
nounced his American citizenship nearly
a year ago and became a naturalized Brit
ish citizen. If Richard Croker should DO
likewise, | venture the prediction that he
will not be so harshly criticised as Mr.,
Astor has been"