Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-04-19
From our regular correspondent)

Did Aguinaldo bargain for his own
capture, for price, and have the
American people been made the vic
tins OF a colossal official bunco?
That is a startling question, but cir
cumstances have caused it to be asked
in Washington, since the cable news
reported Aguinaldo to be buying dia-
monds and jewelry, and it is decidedly
pertinent, too. Diamonds cost money,
and if Aguinaldo has been buying
them, where did he get the money?
ANY money that was found at his
headquarters when he was captured
would, if usual methods were followed,
have been confiscated as contraband
of war and turned over to the United
States Military authorities, who would
have turned it into the United States
Treasury. None of the many detailed
statements of Aguinaldo's capture
have said anything about the capture
of any money, yet it is presumably
certain that he had some. All these
things, and more, have been talked
about in connection with Aguinaldo's
purchase OF diamonds. 1t may be all
straight, but as one high army officer
who was in the Philippines until ie-
Gently, put it, "There seems ample
ground for the suspicion that there
has been something doing between
Aguinaldo and the men who handle
the secret service funds of this govern
ment in the Philippines" The same
officer said 1T would not surprise
me at all to learn that the Filipino
who was supposed to have betrayed
Aguinaldo was acting under that willy
chaps orders all the time, and that
the capture was all carefully arranged
in advance by Aguinaldo."
If it be possible to get square deal
with the administration, in rivalry
with the Morgan steel trust, the latter
may find itself knocked out of several
million dollars of government money.
The Carbon Steel Company, of Pitts
burg, has sent samples OF heavy sr-
NOR plate to the Naval Ordnance
proving grounds. below Washington,
with the request that il be subjected
to the severest tests. This armor
plate was made by an entirely new
process and it is claimed to be. in
every way as good, if not superior, to
the armor plate which the govern
ment is paying the Morgan steel trust
$3.50 ton for, and it is offered for
$3.50 ton. If the tests substantiate
that claim, and the government buys
the new armor it will save something
like $3.50, 900 on each CT the nine bat
tleships now under contract. But
when the pull of the Morgan trust is
taken into consideration that sc if" is a
formidable one, as it is certain that
the big trust will not let more than
81 900 900 get away from it if there is
any way to prevent. So it will not be
surprising if the tests OF the new ar
NOR plate should be followed by an
unfavorsble report, although it is said
to have stood every test required before
samples were submitted to the govern
ment.
Although the Legislature that will
choose his successor will not be elect
ed until next year, Senator BILLY"
Mason is already actively at work to
become his own successor. He thinks
he put in some good ticks this week
when q number OF Illinois men were
in Washington to attend the unveil-
ing of the equestrian statute of Gen.
John A. Logan. Last year it was gen.
orally understood that Mr.. Charles G
Dawes was to be the Mckinley candi.
date for Senator, but that was when
Senator Mason and Mr.. Mckinley
were on the outs. Now Senator Ma.
son sings Mr.. McKinley's praise:
everywhere, and when asked whether
the Mckinley influence will be used
against his reelection. smiles in q
knowing and satisfactory way ant
says he guesses not. Illinois Demo
Gratis who have recently been il
Washington have not been disposed Il
do any blowing, but most OF them be
lieve that there is an excellent fight
ing chance to elect Legislature tina
will send Democrat to succeed Ma
son, and say that they are going t.
try hard to do it.
A Washington man who has jus
returned from the Philippines, wher'
he spent year, doesn't enthuse owe
the islands as place for American
to 60. He said: 81 lave had all tn
Philippines that l want. After
twelve months sojourn over there,
am frank to say that / do not believ
it any country for a white man. 1t i
a rare thing to find an American tina
J does not wish to get back to the State
as quickly as possible. The spirit @
: discomfort and desire to get away fin,
expression in the army that has beel
S to subjugate the islands. and tn
, United States soldier that is satisfies
with his lot is an exception. The eli
: mate is bad in that whenever ma
gets sick there is no bracing or recu
perative quality in the air, and recoy
cry to health is exceedingly slow. NJ
belief is that the capture of Agninald
t will not put an end to our troubles j
g the Philippines; there will be plent
OF revolutionary leaders to keep up
desultory warfare, and the chance
II are that the fighting will go on for III
y next ten years."
: Gov. Allen, of Porto Rico, probabl
under orders from Mr.. Mckinley, hs
. issued general denial OF the recer
= stories alleging suffering among til
}. poorer natives of the island becaus
d they have no work, aud charges ths
, the stories have all been instigated
one native editor, who is disgruntle
because he was not given an offic
1t is q little odd how that one Por,
l. Rican editor should have been able ,
;, influence a score or more OF reputab
/. American correspondents to send mi
2 representations to their papers.
DIM