Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-07-05
AN UNRELIABLE GAGE.
HE THINKS OF STEPPING" DOWN
AND OUT"

ministration-Thc Fight Over the Pension
Service-Even Some Republicans Have Had
Enough of Trusts-Another Blunder Of the
Treasury epartment-McKinley Intends to
Manage the Ohio Campaign in Person.
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, June 2S, 1901.
Secretary Gage is chatting under the
muzzle that has been put upon him
by the administration. and some pre-
diet that it may result in his resigna-
ton. Since turning The matter over
to the diplomatic branch of the gov
eminent with the hope of reaching a
satisfactory settlement of the tariff
war with Russia, into which Secretary
Cages laundering construction OF law
plunged this country, Mr.. Mckinley
informed Secretary Gage that he must
cease talking for publication about
the acts which led to the tariff war.
This Mr.. Gage is inclined to regard as
a reflection on his judgment, but
whether he will take it seriously
enough to resign is not yet apparent.
Those best informed express the opin-
ion that the interests which placed
Mr.. Gage in charge of the financial
branch of the government will inter-
vene, if necessary, to prevent his re-
signing, as they do not wish to take
any chances with a new man.
The Republican fight over the con-
troll of the Pension Bureau is growing
sensational. Commissioner Evans
this week made statement-his first
public resistance to the demand for
his remova!-that breathes defiance
between the lines and may be consid-
cred dare to Mr.. Mckinley to re-
deem the written promise of the Re-
publican National Committee to Gen.
Daniel E. Sickles, during the cam
paign last year, that Evans would not
be continued at the head of the PEN
sion Bureau during this administra-
ton, il Mr.. Mckinley were reelected.
Mr.. Evans intimates that in addition
to the desire OF the pension sharks to
control the work OF the Pension Bu-
reau there are Republican politicians
who wish change because they have
not been allowed to dictate in defiance
of law appointments and promotions
in the bureau. Taken all in all this
statement of Mr.. Evans would be "hot
stuff in much colder weather than
that which Washington is now pass.
ing through, and his friends say he
has unlimited ammunition for more of
the same sort and that having become
tired of being abused for doing his
duty and standing between the gov
eminent and q ring OF pension hooters,
he will use it without regard to who is
hit ii the fight against him is kept up.
Democrats are playing the role of in
terested spectators in this fight. Gen.
Sickles, who used 10 be Democrat,
and who is a leader on the anti-Evans
side, was a Mckinley stumper both in
1896 and 1900, and Corporal Tan
ner, who seems TO be second in COM
mand, is a Republican who was sum-
marily kicked out OF the Office Of Pen.
sion Commissioner by the late Benja-
min Harrison for doing the very thing
that Evans is being fought for not do
ing.
The opinion is increasing among
Democrats that the Republican talk
about revising the tariff so as to hit
articles is nothing |
more than vote-making bluff. In
many Congressional districts in the
West and Middle-west there is q |
strong sentiment among the Republic
can voters against trusts. 1t is to |
keep this vote from being lost to the
party that the tariff revision talk was
started, and it is expected that a con.
siderable number of Republican Rep
resentatives from that section will
make speeches during the coming ses-
sion OF Congress in favor of taking the
duty off trust controlled articles, not
because they expect or really desire
any legislation along that line, but be-
cause the speeches will make good
compaign documents in next years
Congressional fight.
1t seems that Secretary Cages Or
der imposing countervailing duty on
Italian sugar, on the suspicion that
Italy was paying an export bounty on
sugar. was as big blunder as that
he made about Russian sugar. The
Italian government has officially in
formed this government that it does
not pay bounty on sugar exported,
just as Russia did. Matters of this
sort are too important and far-reach-
ing in their effect to be determined
upon without absolute knowledge OF
the facts.
Within few days-probably next
week-the advisory headquarters of
the Ohio Republicans will be estab-
lished in the Canton home of Mr.. Nc
kinley, and the adviser-in chief will
be no less parsonage than Mr.. Nc
Kinley himself. Although there is no
national issue involved in the Ohio
campaign this year, unless the election
of a Legislature that will name Sens-
tor FOraker's successor can be consid.
cred such. Mr.. Mckinley is very anx-
ious that the Republicans shall win,
not that he would grieve to see Fora
ker lose his seat in the Senate, but be-
cause OF its moral effect on the Con-
gressional campaign OF next year. As
a shrewd politician he recognizes that
unless the Republicans can retain
control of Congress many OF his plans
concerning the Philippines will be up
set, as he has no idea that all those
plans can be put into effect through
legislation by the present Congress.