Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-03-22
AGAIN WORRIED
OVER OOUBCE-OEALlNG IN RE-
GARD TO CANAL BILL

!, II IS Said the President is in a Panama Deal
Senator Proctor Sent to Cuba to Ascertain
the Exact Situation-Bryan's Tribute to the
+ Late President Harrison-The New Montana
Senator-Delaware in Line for Democratic
Control-0epew Floats with a Fin" Up.
From our regular correspondent
u WASHINGTON, March Is, 1901.
Mr. Mckinley has squally times
: ahead on the Isthmian canal aues-
ton. The patronage he has at his
, disposal is keeping Republican Sena-
tors and Representatives from publicly
talking now, but that will not hold
D good long. He is accused of having
acted in bad faith, in order to prevent
> the Senate passing the Nicaragua Ca
nal bill, by withholding semi-official
, knowledge he had before the adjourn.
ment of Congress that the British
government had decided to reject the
, amended Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
And worse yet, he is accused of stand
Ing in with the ring that is trying to
unload the Panama Canal on this
government. The last accusation
seems hard to believe, but circumstan.
tlal evidence is certainly in its favor.
Whatever may have been his object
preventing the passing OF the Nicara-
qua Canal bill is the only logical one
The did withhold until the present
week the rejection of the treaty from
the public. The rejection was not Of
hcially handed to Secretary Hay by
the British Ambassador until early in |
the present week, but Secretary Hay |
admits that the administration knew
OF it before Congress adjourned. Mr..
McKinley's future troubles are not
likely to be lessened by his having in
structed Secretary Hay, who was so
completely bamboozled by Lord
Pauncefote in the old treaty, to open
negotiations for a new one. 1t is
among the probabilities that the 18th.
milan canal question will split the Re-
publican party in the near future,
probably during the next session of
Congress.
1t is evident that the administra.
ton isn't altogether satisfied with the
reports of the situation in Cuba, sent
to Washington by Gen. Wood and
other administration agents, which
differ so radically from reports sent
by competent and reputable CORE
spondents of American newspapers.
In order to get another view OF the
Cuban situation, Mr.. Mckinley has
sent Senator Proctor as his personal
and confidential representative to see
what he can find out about the inten-
tions OF the Cubans. That Senator
Proctor's trip was made Unexpectedly
by him was shown by the fact that he
had called a meeting of the sub-com-
mittee of the Senate Military Com
mittee, of which he is chairman,
charged with the duty of investigating
the alleged connection of 1t. Col.
Heistand and a number of prominent
War Department officials with the
Philippine hemp scandal, for this
week, and that he left Washington
without notifying the other members
OF the committee of his change of :
plans. After it was learned that Sem
ator Proctor had gone to Cuba, Sena-
tor Hawley was made chairman of the
subcommittee and the investigation,
which already shows the earmarks OF
q whitewash, was started.
Mr.. William ]. Bryan passed
through Washington this week, on
his way home from New York, where
he went to get pointers for the better
ment of his newspaper plant. He de.
clined to be interviewed on politics.
but said of the late ex-President Har-
rison: He was always respected by
his political opponents as clean,
conscientious and able statesman.
Those who differed from him could
criticise his politics, but they could
not attack his motives. His conduct
after retiring from Office was such as
to strengthen his hold upon public
esteem. The death of such man is
distinct loss to the country"
Hon. Martin Maginnis paid this
high compliment to Montana's new
Democratic Senator: "The State of
Montana could not have settled upon
more suitable man to represent it
than Paris Gibson. Mr.. Gibson is q
man OF fine parts and a stanch Demo.
crst. He has been the best sort of a
Democrat all bis life. He is now
nearly seventy years of sge, but is TO-
bust and hearty, and in the full vigor
of his mind. He will make, in my
opinion, as good Senator as the
commonwealth of Montana has ever
had"
1t seems to be the general opinion
in Washington that the failure of the
Republican Legislature of Delaware to
elect two Senators will result in re.
storing that State to the Democratic
column. Speaking of that failure a
we'll known business man of Whining
ton, who was in Washington this
week, said: 1.-THE people of Delaware
have become resigned. They have
been for considerable period OF time
with only one Senator in Congress
and suppose they can get along for
while without any. think that Del.
aware has learned what it has to ex-
pect from the Republicans and will be
found in the Democratic column the
next timeit has an opportunity"
Senator Depew is known as a smil-
ing conciliator rather than fighter,
but if his own words are to be de-
pended upon he is likely to figure as
fighter If the announced intention of
Mr.. Mckinley to appoint Col. Sanger,
OF New York, Assistant Secretary of
War, in spite of the protests of Sena-
tors Platt and Depew, be carried out.
Speaking of threats of what the ad-
ministration would do il he opposed
the confirmation OF the nomination of
Col. Sanger. which have been heard in
administration circles, Mr.. Depew
said: eff a fight is to be declared
against me in this matter l will be
prepared for it, and will fight it to
the bitter end. / do not intend to
sacrifice my constitutional right or re.
sponsibility through fear of losing ia
vor with those in authority" There
are reasons for the belief that Sena.
tors Plat and Depew are merely max.
ing a big bluff for tho pury.oeo ~ lad |