Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent


from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June 6, 1901.
Is the Administration responsible for the
outbreak of jingoism against Germany,
just now figuring in some of the big news
papers? That question has been asked
very frequently in Washington of late,
and not few answers have been in the
affirmative, although what purpose OF the
administration would be served by a scare
or an actual war with Germany or any
other nation, is not apparent unless it be
scheme to work up public opinion in favor
of Congressional legislation for an enor-
nous increase in our navy. 1t is certain,
however, that men very close to the admin
istration, are doing their best to increase
the talk about Germany's intention to grab
one or more of the little republics on this
continent, regardless of the Monroe
doctrine. This is playing with dynamite.
1t is not probable that Germany wants a
war with US, and it is absolutely certain
that we don't want war with Germany,
but it is easily possible for fool talk here
and in Germany to get the whole peoples
so wrought up that some little incident,
which under ordinary circumstances would
ttAAOlAhu w AOuhA1iS,3 OAA OAtN Va
the most costly wars ever fought.
Senator McLaurin may continue to call
himself Democrat if it pleases him to do
so, but the fact that the distribution of the
Federal patronage of South Carolina is in
his hands, show what sort of Democrat
he is. The white Republicans of that
State, who have monopolized the Federal
offices for thirty-five years, except during
the two Cleveland terms are doing much
growing, but those who after re-appoint-
ment, are told when they come to Wash
ington, that it is necessary for them tc
have Senator McIaurin's endorsement,
before they can get it. Not little amuse-
ment was caused in Washington when the
news of Senator McLaurin's attempt to get
ex-senator Wade Hampton to throw his
influence to the administration movement
in exchange for the Office of post master at
Columbia Gen. Hampton is a poor man,
and one of the reasons therefor is that he
could never be bought. That was well
known in Washington through General
Hampton's long and distinguished services
in the Senate, and as railroad commissioner.
This must have been well known to Sena-
tor McLaurin, but, having changed him.
self, he doubtless imagined that General
Hampton had also changed. He was quickly
undeceived
The radical positition taken by Repre-
sentative Babcock, of Wisconsin, as to the
necessity for a revision of the Dingely
tariff, SO as to put trust-controlled products
on the free list, has, in the opinion of the
hide-bound protectionist Republicans,
made it impossible for Mr.. Babcock to be
Chairman of the Republican Congressional
Campaign Committee in the next campaign.
Mr.. Babcock's friends say that he decided
not to continue as Chairman of that COM
mittee before ne publicly announced his
attitude on the tariff. Democrats who
have been quietly keeping tap on the talk
about Mr.. Babcock's proposed tariff reform,
are decidedly pleased with the outlook.
They believe that the question will bring
about a war in the Republican party, com
pared with which the old Stalwart and
anti-Stalwart war will seem child's play,
and that the result is bound to be beneficial
to the Democratic party, not only because
it will hold the balance of power in Con-
gress, but because there is strong
probability that it will also cause it to elect
the next President If Mr. Babcock can
get the Republican votes he claims tariff
reform bill along the lines he advo-
Gates can be put through Congress with the
assistance of Democratic votes, and Mr..
Mckinley can vote it if he dare
Another row is on over the purchase OF
foreign made arms by the War Department.
The department ordered the purchase OF
one thousand German magazine pistols,
with the understanding that if after a
practical test by the army, they proved
satisfactory, twenty thousand more would
be bought. This brought vigorous pro-
test from well-known American fire-arm
company, which claims to have pistol OF
American design and manufacture. in every
way as good as the German pistol ordered
to be purchased for the army, and which
the Board or Ordnance and Notifications,
which recommended the German purchase,
did not even test The protest will not
prevent the purchase of the one thousand
German pistols, but it is likely to put a
spoke in the scheme to purchase twenty
thousand more of them Every man
wishes our army to have the best equip
ments to be had, but no man with the
right sort of blood in him believes that
foreign equipments should be bought
when as good can be had in this country
This purchasing of foreign made arms has
long been a touchy subject with the Or
dnance Bureau, and one which it has beer
almost impossible to secure official informa
ton about. 1t may be necessary for Con
gress to do little investigating on thi
subject.
President Kruger, of the Transvaal Re
public, will visit the United States il
October This announcement was made b,
Mr.. Montagu White, the Boer diplomats
agent, who has been in Washington TO
some days.