The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-10-30
Will They Be Opposing Pres
idential Candidates?
ADMIRAL LOOMING UP
Platform Handicap Likely Should
He Be Nominated.
OF CANAL SCANDAL
Senator Nelson Is Expected to Be
Very Prominent In the Next
Session.

From TTs Journal BareSu. Room Is. Post
Building, WashissgfosG
Washington. Oct. S0.-The eastern press,
has begun to take notice of the fact that
Admiral Schley is looming on the horizon
as a democratic presidential possibility
availability were pointed out in these
dispatches two months ago. Time is only
making the case stronger In the Balti-
more Sun Of Monday morning, this week,
there was long article from Washing
ton, printed on the first page, quoting
a number of prominent southern demo-
Gratis as to their choice Of candidate in
1904. Singularly enough, many Of these
ination Of Arthur Pue German Of Mary
land, one CT the strongest Of the gold
democrats; others of them favor the nom
ination Of Richard Olney; while consid-
cradle number point to schley as the best
man. Among those indorsing Schley is
Former United States Senator Marion F.
Butler Of North Carolina, chairman of
the populist national committee, who
says that if Schley is the democratic
nominee, he will poll the solid populist
VOTE just as Bryan did in 1896.
The argument in favor of Schley is a
powerful one, from the democratic point
of view. He is a national hero, and the
heart of the people has gone out to him
in an unusual way on account Of the
no on, uybinb ho hoe of bol
hands of the bureau Of fabrication" in
the navy department. Nobody would need
to ask, once ne were nominated, "who is
Schley?" and "Will he be a popular can
didate?" He stands before the people
very much in the same attitude occupied
by Grant at the close of the civil war.
He has no record in politics, and there
fore nothing to explain. He will be Ga
years old in 1904, and to-day shows no
signs of age or of bodily infrmity. The
people would be expected to take to him
as flies to molasses.
Roosevelt, on the other hand, will have
made record in the Office of president
by 1904, and any real or apparent mis-
take he may make will operate as
handicap. The question Of platforms and
political principles aside, the race be-
tween the two men would be very ex-
citing and presumably very close. With
platforms added, however, the handicap
may be on Schley's side, unless the demo-
cratic convention Of 1904 is more wise
than many that have preceded it.
NELSON It Is predicted in Wash
ington that Senator Nelson
TO THE of Minnesota will take a
lively hand in tariff and
FORE. reciprocity debates and
pOn1nitfap work this wi
ter. For years he has not been an ex-
treme prOtectionist, and in the stand |
which it is believed he will take he will |
correctly reflect the sentiment of his con-
stituents. While congress in the end may
not be able to accomplish much along
either line, it is pretty well agreed that
there will be a lot of talk in both houses.
The decisions which the republicans make
regarding these two questions will deter
mine the lines along which the next cam
paign will be fought. If the party ratifes
enough Of the reciprocity treaties to COM
nit itself thoroughly to that principle |
and gives evidence of a desire to adjust |
the tariff to existing conditions, the demo- |
Gratis will go into the campaign of 1902 |
without issues and the republicans will |
win another overwhelming victory; but If, |
as now seems more likely, the republi- |
cans fail to accomplish results in these |
phasize that failure in their congressional |
and state platforms, and thus pave the |
way to making the issues for the presiden-
tial campaign of two years later. 1t is
great opportunity which the republican |
party has, but so much of selfish local in
terest and Of expediency enters into the |
work Of congress that it is a question
whether it will be able to rise to the op-
SCANDAL Look out for a scandal
over isthmian canal legis-
OVER lation this winter! Some
bill is pretty likely to be
CANAL. passed, but before it is de-
cided to chose the Nicara-
qua or Panama route a lot of congress-
men will be Influenced" Coils P. Hunt
ington, who, by the way, used to take a
lively interest in canal legislation, was
wont to say that it had cost him $25 000,-
300 to teach congress its duty. There are
to the late Pacific railroad |
magnate who are quite as intent on teach |
ing congress what 1t ought to do. 1t
would take Philadelphia lawyer to IN
tangle the network of conflicting interests
mixed up in this canal business. Monsieur |
Hutin represents French interests which |
amount 10 millions. With the Panama
people it Is all or nothing. Then there are
the Maratime company, the Gragin Ayre |
syndicate and a dozen other cliQues. all |
with itching palms. There will be some |
thing doing in the lobby line.
NO NAVAL In spite of all the talk
that is being INDUCED in,
INVESTIGA- it is unlikely that con-
gress will investigate the !
TION navy department. Prom |
inent members of both |
houses, who belong to the naval commit |
tees, have expressed themselves as favor |
ing an investigation, and, indeed, the |
facts would seem to justify their position; |
but in the end it is quite likely that what
ever reforms may be necessary-and they !
are rather numerous, judging from the |
disclosures of the Schley inQuiry-will be |
brought about through executive orders |
Should the court of inquiry sustain Schley, |
which is almost foregone conclusion, the |
president, himself familiar with navy de- |
partment detail, will no doubt hold that |
the department has been sufficiently hu-
and will quietly give out the
word that he will personally look after |
the matter and see that reforms are in /
augurated. Such a program will have a /
two-fold effect; it will save the depart /
ment further disgrace, and at the same |
time prevent scandal which might be |
turned to political account in the next |
1t Is the impression here that |
the president, after congress gets to-
yether. will consult with the leading men |
In each house who belong to the naval |
affairs committees, and map out a pro-
gram of reform which will meet their ap- /
proval. This program will then be car
ried out, and further publicity avoided.
While there is no doubt of the sufficiency
Of the grounds for investigation, it Is q |