The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-12
G0RMAN GOSSIP.

The Presidential Aspirations of
the Willy Statesman of Mary
land.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 1o:-Sen-
ator German returned from Europe
last week, and, if the Senator has any
presidential aspirations, he must have
been much gratifed at the situation
as he found it in this country. When
interviewed by the host of newspaper
men who awaited his coming to
Washington, the Senator was almost
as noncommittal as uusal. He ap-
peared to be in excellent health, and
the rudy complexion gained at sea
gave him a particularly hale and
hearty appearance. With his usual
afability the Senator received the
representatives of the press, but man
aged to dodge all leading questions
/ with the adroitness Of which he is
famous. He declared that it was too
early to talk Of candidates, but added
the fate of the democratic party was
too important matter to permit of
personal considerations. The next
convention must select the man capa-
BILE of leading the party to victory
and adopt a platform with but q single
purpose, success. He defined the
issues as tariff reform, economy in
| public administration and honesty in
public Office, although he added that
it was impossible to foreteu what an
other session of Congress would bring
forth. Senator German was told that
Judge Parker had made trip south
and had proved a Disappointment to
the Georgian, at least, in that he had
talked law to them rather than poll
tics, but the Senator only smiled and
said it was too early to discuss men,
the right man would appear at the
proper time.
Washington politicians are taking
considerable interest in the Ohio
situation where Tom Johnson, mayor
of Cleveland, has announced that be
will be a candidate for governor if the
party desires. It is generally believed
that Mr.. Johnson's chief object is the
defeat of Senator Hanna and that he
will lend his support to any Other
candidate if an apparently stronger
man appears in the arena. The defea1
of Senator Hanna is regarded by cas-
tern democrats as an end devoutly tt
be hoped for as it would result in sad
| ly demoralizing the republicans ane
would pave the way to democratic
victory, removing the head of mos
undesirable element from nationa.
politics. It is generally appreciated il
! Washington that most Of the corruption
in the PostoEice Department. was due
to the Hanna style of politics, he
having, as has been already told il
these letters, saddled Perry HEATH
| when the latter was first assistant
| postmaster General, with several thou
sand political pledges, made to accom-
plish his own election to the Senate
| and that of the republican candidate
| for President.
! On Saturday last, General Nelsor
| A. Miles, having reached the agt
| limit, "a years, retired from his posi-
ton of general commanding the
army" and General Samuel B. M
Young was appointed to succeed him
This appointment is regarded by Gen
eral Miles friends as marked eyi
dence of the vindictiveness of Secre
tray Of War Root and the antipath,
in which General Miles was held BY
the President. 1t was the intention
of Congress to confer On Miles the
honor of being the last officer to FL
this place, the new staff law, which
goes into effect August Is, abolishine
the position. General Young is absen
from Washington and will not return
until the 18th, and no harm would
have been done by leaving Genera
Miles former position vacant unit
the new law went into effect, but tht
discrepancy of dates gave Secretar.
Root an opportunity to rob the retir
ing General of this slight honor, and hs
promptly avaiied himself of it.
! 1t is regarded as somewhat remark
able that Secretary Root should hay
been the designer of the general stat
law which, it must be admitted, cor
rects the defects in the military sys
tenn which made General Miles posi-
tion almost untenable, but which ais
Twill have the effect of robbing tn
| Secretary of War Of all opportunity o
/ making great name for himself, il
! the future. Under the existing ia9
! the Secretary Of War and the ten head
1 of staff bureaGs have had ali power il
I the management of army affairs ant
I the position of general command
! ing" was aa honor without propor
tionate power. Under the new law
/ the ranking general Will be the chic
/ of staff made up Of these burea'
! heads and the staff WILL be almost su
1 preme, so that the powers Of tn
| Secretary of War Will be MATERIAL,
! curtailed. One of the virtues OF th
/ new law rests in the fact that sn.th
| future no adjutant general can, b.
Systematically seeking the favor of th
Secretary of War azd of the polite
| ians, secure the inordinate powers ant
promotion which has been acquired b,
! Adjutant General Corbin. Aaothe
beaeft Will result from the direction
of the army by experienced oSlcers
instead off civilian secretary Of wa
appointed, usually, for political rea
sons and largely influenced by Syco