Middletown transcript., 1901-09-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

HASHlNUlON LETTER.
II He suspense of the past week is ended.
|, PRESIDENT Mckinley is dead. And
YET, though the flags are at half mast and
the colors, draped with black and franz
ing pictures of the President. are to be
seen everywhere as visible signs of
mourning, there is somehow an air of nm
reality about the whole thing. PERHAPS
not until the day of the state funeral will
Washington fully realize that the familiar
and genial presence of William Mckinley
has vanished forever from its streets. Ii
may be that the actual realization of tbe
tragedy has been less vivid here than in
other cities; for the news, flashing over
the wires, has as yet scarcely effected the
memories which practically everyone in
the city has of the dead President. He
was one of the men who seemed destined
to go through life without being over
taken by accident. His whole career was
SO natural, SO orderly in its development
| that his sudden taking off bv the bullet
of an assassin was one of the last thinos
his friends had thought of as likely. 1t
appeared far more probable that after
two terms of honorable service as chief
magistrate of the nation, he would re-
tire to his home at Canton to enioy
peaceful and well-earned quiet in his old
age. But it was not to be.
~
Old residents here are inevitably COM
pairing the scenes of to-day with those
which followed the assassination of Gar
field. At that time the city was thrown
into a wild excitement, and all sorts of
rumors flying about. To-day there is
little II any excitement; there has been
little during the past week The domi-
nant feeling is grief, and even that is sub
dued rather than demonstrative.
~
1t Is, OF course, to be expected that the
possible course of Mr.. McKinley's sue
cessor Will occupy much of the attention
OF the public. While not so well known
here, personally, as the late President,
Roosevelt is too thoroughly a national
character not to be familiar to every
Washingtonian. There is room for
much speculation as to his views and ac-
tons during the next three years Per-
haps no two men so radically different in
temperament as Roosevelt and Mckinley
ever occupied places on the same ticket.
1t is one of those historical combinations
which seem to have been dictated by the
ingenuity of a novelist. Mckinley was
cautious, prudent, polite, and never
made an enemy if he could help it.
Roosevelt is bold, impetuous frank, and
never hesitates to make an enemy rather
than give up what he believes right.
Curiously enough, these two men, both
both earnest, both devoted
to the welfare Of the country as they un-
derstood it, arrived at practically the
same point of view on the main political
problems of the age; and it was this
which made it possible for them to oc-
;upy respectively the positions of Presi-
lent and Vice President. 1t is this, too,
which makes the question of Roosevelt's.
uture actions so interesting. While
most people undoubtedly expect that he
will make some radical departure from
he policy laid down by his predecessor.
t is quite possible that he may dc moth
ng of the kind so far as large public
uestions are concerned. He will certainly
ave his own notions of right, and fol-
DIV them unswervingly, but at the pre-
ent stage of his own and the country's
evelopment, those notions may coincide
cry nearly with those entertained by
fr. Mckinley.
~
That some changes will be made in the
abinet appears practically certain. 1t
annot be foretold when this will happen,
r what the changes will be; for the mat
r will depend on party politics and also
, some extent on the health of Secre-
Try Hay, who is said to be much broken
nee the death of his son. Should Mr.
ay resign, as it is thought he is anxious
do, the filling of his place would be a
after for very interesting speculation
he three Republicans of prominence
ho stand nearest President Roosevelt
e Senators Lodge, Walcott and Depew.
be chief objection to Walcott would be
for there are unwritten po-
.ical laws which forbid the choosing of
Secretary of State from Colorado.
here is also a geographical reason
,ainst Depew, as he, like Roosevelt, and
DOT, is from New York; and a New
ork Cabinet would not help the Presi-
mt much if he were contemplating can
dacy for reelection. Although Sena-
r Depew is very many things besides a
lmorist, his appointment to a position
this sort would also, perhaps, give too
uch opportunity to Democratic cartoon
IS. This leaves Senator Lodge the
ost eligible candidate of the three and
is man of Roosevelt's own sort
e man of inherited traditions and liter
y ability, who goes into politics from
nviction. Lodge a. Secretary of State
,uld remind good many people of
wells career as Minister to England,
d that was successful. Secretary Root
good friend of Roosevelt, and also,
rhaps, the best available man for the
ace; but political reasons might possibly
zee him cut. Secretary Wilson would
" where he is; he is Western man,
lich is good, and the best Secretary of
.ricultural the Department has had in
ong time; and that is better. Secretary
ng's relations with Roosevelt are
her problematical, and will continue to
so till after the decision of the Schley-
npson case. Mr.. Long has not had
Y quarrel with the President-he sell
N, if ever, quarrels with anybody
it is possible that internal dissensions
the Department might make trouble
;ween them, or that the clamor of DO
cal opponents against alleged Depart
Mt methods might force MIR. Long
ignation.
***
he only important thing which has as
happened in the Schley Court of In
ry is the resignation of Admiral How
4 and the selection of Admiral Francis
Ramsay, retired, for the vacant place.
is said that Admiral Howison is not
ry to be relieved of his delicate and
rous duty, and that Admiral Ramsay
entirely competent to fulfill it. He
ceeded Admiral Sampson as superin-
dent of the Naval Academy and dis
yuished himself by his firmness and
q judgment in suppressing cadet re-
ion of some what the same nature as
late trouble at West Point.
~
he Maryland Union League Club has
elled Senator Wellington for his ut
nee at the time of President McKin-
5 assassination, and many Southern