The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-08-20

ing campaign In OnlO 1s OF grave i'm
portance. The reelection of Senator
Hanna is at stake, and it is desired to
concentrate during the last days of
the campaign all the strength of the
party in the west in that state. The
campaign in Rhode Island will be the
most important from a republican and
from a demoratic standpoint. During
the past few years the democrats have
been making gains in that state alarm
ing to their opponents, and unless q
vigorous fight is made they will this
year elect a democratic legislature.
Next year Senator Aldrich will come
before the legislature for reelection,
and if the campaign is lost this year
there will be little hope of regaining
sufficient ground next year to return
the republican leader of the senate.
There are also other state campaigns
which, while relatively of less impor-
tance from a national standpoint, will
still have a material effect ON the local
organizations, and for that reason il
is believed members of congress will
be reluctant to come to Washington
until the elections are over.
It is generally believed that the
members of the senate committee urged
upon the president their view that it
was advisable that the subject of finan-
cial legislation should be considered
in advance of the legislation necessary
to put the provisions of the Cuban
treaty into. effect, and that Mr.. Roose-
velt replied that if necessary to secure
the passage of both measures before
the regular session, he might be will
ing to call congress into session earlier
than had been anticipated, but, in no
event would he be willing to give his
approval to the consideration of finan-
cial legislation in advance of the reso-
luton necessary to put the Cuban
treaty into operation. This, it is
claimed by persons close to the presi-
dent, is the probable explanation of
the earlier convening of congress
rumor. On the other hand, it is
pointed out that by the adoption of the
plan suggested by Sentaor Lodge
a joint resolution expressing the ap-
proval of the Cuban treaty, to be
adopted by both houses of congress, that
subject would be disposed of with the
greatest expedition, and nearly three
weeks would remain for the considera-
tion of the Aldrich bill. So generally
has the demand for reciprocity with
Cuba abated that it is believed by
many of the presidents friends that
he would be wise in placing, in so far
as is in his power, those members of
congress who desire financial legisla-
tion in position where they would be
forced to vote ON the Cuban PROPOSE
tion before, they could accomplish the
end in which they will be chiefly in
terested.
On August 15 the general staff plan,
for which Secretary of War Root has
worked SO indefatigably, went into
will be controlled by a board composed,
presumably, of the most experienced
and capable officer of the army. Lieu
tenant General Samuel B. M. Young,
who became ranking general of the
army on the retirement of General
Miles, on August 8, will be the first
chief of staff, a position which he will
occupy until his retirement next jan
uary. The creation and organization
of the general staff has been, above
all else, the ambition of Secretary
Root ever since he took the war port
folio, and now that it is accomplished
Mr.. Root desires to retire from the
cabinet. He has placed his resigna-
tion in the hands of the president to
take effect whenever the latter sees fit,
but not later than January 1.
1t has been confidently predicted
that Governor Taft of the Philippine
would succeed Secretary
Root, and it is still regarded as prob
able that the president will offer him
some doubt as to his accepting it,.
Persons familiar with the progress of
events in the Philippines say that the
time is not far distant when the is
lands will be placed under civil gov
ernment entirely, that the census now
being taken will be followed by the
authorization by congress of local
legislature, and that when the war de-
partment will be called upon to relin-
quish it's control of the islands, that
their affairs may be administered by
the various departments of the govern
ment at Washington, as is now the
case with Porto Rico and Hawaii. If
this prediction proves true it is doubt
full if Governor Taft would care to as
sumo the greatly curtailed duties and
responsibilities of the secretary of war.
The post-office investigation still
drags ON, although it is claimed the
end is now in sight. The postmaster
general has determined on the dismis-
sal of M. A. w. Lewis, chief of the
division of supplies, for his extravagant
purchases of ink and other reprehen-
sible acts. John M. Masten, assistant
of the railway mail