The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-17
WASHINGTON LETTER,

1t will strike many as having been
fittingly started in London, from
whence Hanna's two administra-
tions as breyet- President has been
so strongly endorsed. Senator
Hanna was in Washington when
Perry Heath's London interview
launching the boom was published,
He denies being a candidate for
President, but he does it so jovially
that everybody can see that he is
tickled almost to death with the
idea. No one who knows the re-
lations between Perry Heath and
Hanna and between Hanna and
Mr.. Mckinley will believe that
the Heath interview was a surprise
to either of the other two men, and
there is little doubt that the full
power of the Administration,
through the army Of Federal Office
holders, will be exercised to push
the Hanna boom along and make
his nomination possible, unless the
Republican press attacks it so
viciously that its impracticability
will be plain. That is what the
Democrats fear. No Democrat
can be found since the boom started
who does not sincerely hope that
Hanna will get the nomination.
Democrats wish him to get it, not
only because they think he would
be easy to beat, but because they
enjoy beating him more than any
other man that could possibly be
nominated. The Heath interview
is in reality feeler of the Repub-
lican pulse, especially Of the edI-
torial pulse. So that it depends
on how it is received by the Re
publican editors whether the Han
ma boom will be withdrawn or
pushed.
Representative Latimer, Of
South Carolina, who is candidate |
to succeed Senator McLaurin, is
in Washington on business. Speak
ing Of South Carolina politics, he
said: John McLaurin has been
speaking in the State in favor of
Republican policies, and it has
been suggested that answer him.
However, l do not believe in rush
ing into campaign that is eigh
teen months off, and | shall choose
my own time to>say what Ihave to
say" OF Gen. Wade Hampton's
refusal of the offer of the post
mastership Of Columbia, Mr.. Lat
inner said: 81 have no doubt the
offer was made In the hope of Sc
curing the influence of that grand
old warrior in favor of Senator
McLaurin's plans, and he has
shown that his influence is not to
be- secured in that fashion. There
sn't money enough in the world
% buy Gen. Hampton"
Trade has not to a satisfactory
,xtent, followed our flag into the
Philippines, if boots and shoes
nay be considered fairly repre-
of other articles of COM !
nerce. Although it is a fact
generally admitted, both at home
md abroad, that American shoes !,
re the best and cheapest in the
world, an official statement from !;
he War Department shows that
10Th Spain and Germany sold
many more boots and shoes in the
philippines last year than the {
United States the exact figures 9
'eing Spain, $74, 1873; Germany, '
50. 241 the United States. S7 832. 1
Ar. McKinley's contention is that
1e took and intend to keep the :
philippines solely for commercial :
easons. In view of the tremen-
Gus amount of cash we have put h
nd are putting into the Philip o
ines it would seem that our trade
ught to make a better showing
han 1t does in boots and shoes to
cave Mr.. McKinley's contention
ny standing at all.
The statement has been very
ositively made in Washington
ais week by those who are be-
eyed to speak for the Admins
.ation that Minister Conger will !
OF be allowed TO return to China,
nd that his resignation viii be :,
ccepted at the expiration Of his
resent leave Of absence. It is m
lid that the Administration re-
ards his public interviews on e
latters pertaining to China and II
le articles published over his sig