The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-10-25
NhsHemnrrat- Star
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
Correspondence Dcmocrat-star.

Correspondence Dcmocrat-Star.
Washington, d. c., Oct. II, 1901.
Mr.. Roosevelt is feeling his political
oats so to speak, and is beginning to
show something like his old prancing |
form. He invited every member OF
the Republican National Committee
To come and see him: many Of them
have already done so and all OF them
will. His Ostensible object in invit-
ing these men is to talk over the po-
litical situation in their respective
States, its bearing on Federal appoint
ment, etc, but the talk isn't confined
tn their States. IL has leaked out
from a word dropped here and there
by the committeeman to Washington
friends that Mr.. Roosevelt gives each
of them an opportunity to say wheth.
er he will follow Senator Hanna or
himself when 1t comes to supporting
candidate for the next Republican
Presidential nomination and getting
delegates chosen to the national con-
vention. The opportunity is not
given by any direct implication that
he expects to be candidate or that
he expects Senator Hanna to be, but
by tactful hints, indicating the posi-.
bility that Senator Hanna and him.
self might differ as to who ought to
receive the nomination. 1t is under
stood that most Of the committeeman
have left Mr.. Roosevelt under the
impression that they would be with
him, but that very few of them have
actually committed themselves. The
most of them are old hands at the
game of politics and are wary about
binding themselves so far ahead.
Rear Admiral Crowinshield, chief
of Bureau Of Navigation called in de.
risi0n the Bureau OF Fabrication"
because OF its part in the conspiracy
against Schley, makes strong bid
for Congressional favor by recon-
mending in his annual report that
beginning with the Congress soon to
assemble the number OF cadets at
Annapolis be increased so as to allow
each senator, representative and del
egate to ppointments. the District
of Columbia one, and the President
ten. He says the increase Is neces.
sary, because under the present laws
forty officers are retired every year,
while the Annapolis academy only
turns out ten a year. He also seeks
additional ranks for favorites by rec.
Ommendng that four ce.Admirals
be created. If Congress should act
favorably upon the last recommend
alton before February, when Sampson
will retire it is likely that an attempt
would be made to make Sampson, who
is now at his Washington home and
practically an insane man for hours at
a time and will never be able to re-
turn to active duty, one of the vice.
Admirals.
SenatEbMcLaurin has the same
control Of S. C.-Federal appointments
that he had under the Mckinley re.
gime. This was made certain by Mr..
Roosevelt several days ago. Sometime |
ago Mr.. McLanrn got Loomis Bla.
lock selected for appointment as col
lector for internal revenue. That
brought A. e. Gates to Washington
to protest in the name OF the Repub-
lican State organization against the
appointment. After making the pro-
test Gates and Blalock made a deal,
and the protest was withdrawn and
an endorsement substituted, That
brought Mr., McLaurin to Washington
and he had Blalock's name wiped of
the slate and that of DR.. V. P. Clay.
ton substituted. That caused Gates
to free his mind by saying: Senator
McLaurin seems to be able to keep
the inside track in dispensing South
Carolina patronage. We un derstood
that the appointment Of Mr.. Blalock
was assured, but it was changed by
methods Of which we do not approve.
DR.. Clayton is nice man enough, but
with all the patronage of the inter-
nal revenue Office, he can't swing four
counties of South Carolina to his way
of thinking when the national con-
vention meets in 1904. The control
OF the South Carolina patronage will
never afford Senator McLaurin any
strength. He cannot be reelected by
virtue OF it," McLaurin got further
into Mr.. Roosevelts good graces by
endorcing r. o. Stewart, a relative OF
Mr.. Roosevelt's for postmaster at
Newbury.
II W. +. Wakeman, president of the
American Protective Association is
reappointed appraiser Of the port of
New York, Mr.. Roosevelt may have
to get new Secretary OF the Treas.
ury. Secretary Gage long ago became
disgusted with Wakeman's manage.
ment OF his Office, which is an impor.
tant one, by reason. OF the numerous
complaints made against him by New
York merchants and will oppose his
reappointment, while ex.Secretary
Bliss. who was responsible for Wake
mans appointment in the first place
and who is an old personal friend OF
Mr.. Roosevelt's Is demanding that he
be reappointed. The place being un.