Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-06-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent,

Washington, June lit has ALWAYS
been understood that Mr.. MCKINLEY
was absolutely lacking the sense of
humor. That understanding no long
er holds good. Whether Is was the
wording of some of the congratulations
shOwered upon him for his declaration
that he would not be third term can
didate that aroused the sense of humor
in him, doesn't matter. The fact re-
mains that he now has it. His first
exhibition of it almost frightened sew
eral members of the Cabinet, but they
have become accustomed to it now and
find it an agreeable change. The ex.
hibitiOn was in connection with some
of the congratulations Mr.. Mckinley
received during the past week. He
has little bunch of them on his desk
from his would be republican success
sOrs that are particularly fulsome in
tone. The first man he showed them
to, with perceptible chuckle, was
Secretary Hay. who loves a joke as
well as the next man, notwithstanding
his dignified and frowning looks, but
who could not hide his establishment
at Mr.. McKinley's quiet enjoyment of
the congratulations of these men for
having taken himself out of their way.
However, it soon spreads and no one
of those congratulations will meet Mr.
Mckinley Or any member of his Cabi-
net for a long time without arOusing
an inward laugh.
Has the administration promised the
Chinese minister to use its influence to
prevent a re-enacrment, by Congress
| of the Chinese exclusion law, which
will expire next May? That question
is deeply interesting the labor organ1-
cations and others who are working in
favor of a prompt re-enactment of the
law by Congress. There are several
suspicious circumstances. Tue Chinese
Minister, who has more pull with the
administration than any other mem
Der of the diplomatic corps is openly
working against re enactment, and Of
fcials connected with the administra-
ton have been saying that the senti-
| favorable to the Chinese than it was
1t is not probable that the administra-
tion would dare to openly favor
throwing our doors open to Chinese
immigration, but it is feared by the
friends of e-enactment, that it may
allow Senators and Representatives to
infer that failure to re-enact the Chi
nese exclusion law would not be dis
pleasing.
Senator Martin, of Virginia, who is
in Washington, on official business,
said of the work of the State COnsti-
tutional Convention, now sitting in
Richmond: 1.-The question of Suffrage
is difficult problem, but feel that
the convention will be able to solve it
to the satisfaction of the greater por-
ton of conservative Virginians.
| Teddy" has made BID for the sup
port of the "nigger'' delegates to the
Republican National Convention, by
appointing niger his messenger
this is the only appointment at the
disposal of the Vice President, al
though Senators told him that it was
against precedent to have ''nigger'
messenger around the Senate. Those
who know the sort of arguments re-
Iquired to get the ''nigger" votes in a
Republican National Convention, re
gard ''Teddy's" bid as joke.
The tariff fight in the Republican
lparty is already on. Senator Aldrich
Chairman of the Finance Committee
and of the Republican Steering Com
mittee, and who yields a greater infiu
ence with the Republican Senators
than any other man in the Senate. lee
the fight which resulted in hanging uE
all the administration reciprocity
treaties in the last Congress, and he ii
leading the new fight. He has served
notice on Mr. Mckinley that no treaty
with the new government of Cuba
which is to be established as a result
of the unconstitutional acceptance O.
the Platt amendment by the Cuban
Constitutional Convention providing
for tariff concessions on Cuban tobacco
and sugar, will be ratified by the Sen
ate; also that the fight against thj
ratification of the reciprocity treatie
already negotiated would be continued
This Is flying directly in the face o
Mr.. McKfnley's constantly repeated
declarations in favor of reciprocity ant
means a hot fight in the Senate, which
may later figure in the Congressional
campaign of next year. Mr.. Aldricf
is not the sort of man to 60 off hal
cooked; hence the belief that he is as
sured of strong republican backing.