The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-07-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular corrr.ponaen,.
Washington, Jaly, %, 1901


OF the absurd story that he saw
and approved the proofs OF that
portion of the volume of Maclay's
History OF the navy, which refers
to Rear Admiral Sehley as n cow
ard, by ordering Commander
Wainwright, Superintendent of the
Naval Academy. to strike the vol
ume from the list of text books us
ed. In addition, the Secretary
made public n statement in which
he said: "l know nothing of Ma
lays incorporate abuse OF Admir-
al Schley, and it is absurd to say
that would endorse his language
when he calls Admiral Schlcy n
coward. Admiral Schley is no
coward. No one In the service who
knows him has ever for moment
doubted his bravery or his gallan-
try In action" OF the publication
alleging the navy department to
be opposed To congressional In
vestigotion OF Admiral Schlcy's
conduct In the West Indian Cam
pain, Secretary Long said; at is
unjust to the department to say
that II will oppose any investiga-
tion OF Admiral Schley's conduct
in the West Indian campaign. As
n matter of fact, | wrote n lerter to
Senator Hale, Chairman OF the
Naval Affairs Committee OF the
Senate. during the last session Of
congress. in which asked him to
have an investigation Of this entire
Sampson -Schley matter by u COM
mittce of Senators, or joint COM
mitec OF both houses"
-
Gov. Allen OF Porto Rico, passed
through Washington. enroute to
Canton. to confer with President
Mckinley concerning the procla-
nation declaring free trade be-
tween the T.. S. and Porto Rico.
Gov. Allen was ready enough to
talk about Porto Rico and Its stca-
dy increase in prosperity and
bright future, but he smiled and
changed the subject when he was
asked II the report that he would
resign the govcrnorship and not
return to- Porto Rico, was true.
-
William Vaughn, Chairman of
the Alabama Republican State
committee, who Il in Washington
on business said: alt looks as
though the republicans in the con-
stitutional convention of Alabama
might have deciding vote, al
though they are only II or 20 out
OF i55 delegates. II Is already cvi-
dent that the democrats are badly
divided among themselves. On
the suffrage plan they have pre-
scented two different reports, and
the best democrats In the conycn-
tion and OF the state are against
grandfather clause. Senator Pet
tus has declared that its adoption
would be unwise, and Senator
Morgan has said quite as much.
Then there is perplexity about the
payment Of the poll tax ms pre-
requisite for voting. One OF the
democratic members OF congress
has investigated and found that
the negroes in the Black belt pay
1900 poll taxes, where the white
only pay 5000. To be sure, the
negroes are largely in the majority
there. but the democrats are not
certain that the poll tax provision
will give them any great aid in
supprcssing the negro vote. The
convention will probably he in
session until Christmas before it
straightens out all the tangles.
II james l.. Norris, the District
of Columbia member OF the Demo-
cratic National Committee knows
what he Is talking about, Mr.. Bryan
has lost his hold upon that COM
mittec. although he had been gem
orally supposed to thoroughly
dominate majority OF its mem
hers, as well rs upon the Ohio de-
mocrncy. Mr. Norris declares very
positively that he has received let
ters from majority OF the mem
bers of the democratic national
committee. endorsing the action
OF the Ohio convention in throwing
Organism overheard. That decla-
ration ought To furnish Mr.. Bryan