The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-07-11
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, July 8, 100

| po"N'' 70 sui VI game, something
like "Ihlmble, thmble'-etc. that
numerous persons are engaged in
playing. The bonds IN this case are
those alleged to have been issued by
the agents of the Republic of Cuba,
and the proceeds to have been ex-
pended in fighting Spain. Where
those bonds are and how many of
them are out is question that is the
key to the game and not likely to be
fully answered until the holders of
them make demand on the Cuban
Government, soon to be established.
One man, who probably knows about
all that is to be known about those
bonds, and maybe has a big block Of
them himself, was in Washington last
week comforting with Secretary Root
and Mr.. Mckinley. That was Gen.
Maxine /. Gomez, who commanded
what the Cubans were pleased to call
an army when the Americans took
possession of Cuba, and he came
straight from the man who knows
even more about the bonds than he
does, because all that were sold had
to pass through his hands. That man
is Thomaso Estrada Palma, who was
at the head of the Cuban iunta in
New York, where he still makes his
home. Gen. Gomez talks lot of rot
about gratitude bringing him to Wash
ington, but some very clear signs in
dicate that his real object is to secure
administration influence for Cuban
Presidential candidate who can be
depended upon not to turn the cold
shoulder to Gomez and his friends
who have Cuban Bonds. But why he
didn't fix it up with Gen. Wood, in
Havana, without bringing the matter
to Washington, is little puzzllng,
although the fact that Gen. Woods
private Secretary is with Gomez in
| dicates that the visit to Washington
was approved by Wood.
Senator Tilman passed through
Washington last week, and he ex-
pressed some vigorous political opin-
ions. For instance, he said: at is
stupid to talk about the Democratic
party being the enemy of the business
interests. We did endorse the free
coinage of silver, but events have
proven that our contention as to the
need of more money was correct
The prosperity which the country has
experienced is simply due to the large
increase in the supply Of gold through
new discoveries. We are riding now
on the crest of the wave; but it will
not be long before we get into the
trough. Hard times will come, and
then what are the Republicans to do.
They have enacted high tariff and
have given us a gold standard and
when they find that neither of these
will avoid disaster, they will seek to
find some other remedy, the result of
which will be to help the rich without
regard to the poor" Of the future
Democratic policy, Mr.. Tillman said:
"We will be against carpet-bag gov
ernment for the Philippines, because
we know the evils which such govern
ment brings in Its train. do not know
that the money question will figure in
the next campaign, but l do know
that there will be plenty Of vulnerable
spots in the Republican armor which
we can attack" Of the probable
Democratic candidate Senator Till.
man said: 81 do not yet see a candl-
date in sight, but |, for one, will not
favor the nomination of any one who
has not been identified with the party
during the past four years. l do not
see how it is possible for so-called
Democrats to expect the Democratic
party to endorse in 1904 the principles
to which the Republicans are now
welded, and yet they are solemnly
discussing such proposition. They
expect the Democrats to move side
by side with the Republicans and
then win. That is not my way of
making fight"
Col. r. M. Johnson, Texas member
of the Democratic National Com
mittee, who passed through Washing
ton last week on his way to New
York, said of the political outlook;
The Democratic party is all right, and
it has fully recovered from the defeat
of 1900. What we want to do to win
next year is simply to take advantage
of our opportunities. The Repub-
licans seem to be all at sea on the
tariff question, and in my opinion the
tariff will again come to the front as
an issue. But there will be other live
issues besides the tariff in the next
campaign"