Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-08-21

Notwithstanding Reports Of Hilarious Pros
perity-Root's Retirement from the Cabinet
Will Weaken the President - The General
Staff Plan Suggested for the Navy to Offset
the lncompetency of Secretary Shaw.
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. -, 1903.
The personality of the Democratic
national ticket continues to be the
most talked of political subject in
Washington. When General Miles
retired on August 6 and his retirement
was announced by stereotyped order,
signed by Corbin and unaccompanied
by word of congratulation or COM
mendation of his long and faithful
services, the possibility of German and
Miles as the Democratic nominees be.
came q subject of general discussion
but soon reports began to come from
the the South which dissipated the
idea that Miles could ever become a
Democratic candidate. 1t was shown
that the Southerners had never for
given Miles for putting Jefferson Davis
in irons and in some cities of the
South, Miles retirement has been cele.
brated. In Atlanta, the Statehouse
had been decorated with flags and
bunting in honor of the occasion.
1t is generally held in Washington
that Senator German is to-day the
strongest possibility and the Maryland
statesman's friends maintain that, as
leader OF the minority in the Senate
during the approaching session, Mr..
German will gain new laurels and will
enter next summers campaign with
not only the confidence Of his own
party but with the approval of that
large element of the Republican party
which rebels at the stand pat" policy
of the administration and desires
moderate tariff reform, especially in
those schedules which have been
raised to their present high altitude
at the demand of the trusts. Sound
money and moderate tariff revision"
is the platform for which Senator Cor
man stands and it is evident from the
attitude of the Eastern press that he is
regarded as very strong candidate, by
Republicans as we'll as Democrats.
Another possibility has doomed up
on the horizon recently in the person
of Judge Gray of Delaware. Judge
Gray undoubtedly profited much in
public opinion by the fairness with
which he presided over the Anthracite
CoalStrike Arbitration Commission
and the equity of the decision of that
commission reflected credit on all its
members and doubtless insured to
Judge Gray place in the affections of
the labor element. Now Judge Gray
is again acting in the capacity of
peace-maker between labor and capitol.
He presiding over the commission
called into existence to adjust the diff.
ferences between the Alabama coal
operators and their employees. Della
ware, though a small and southern
State, is doubtful one and it is re.
garded as not improbable that Judge
Gray's name will figure prominently
before the Democratic National Con-
vention. When asked recently if he
would entertain the nomination Judge
Gray declined to discuss the subject.
Just where ex Senator David B. Hill
stands these days is also a subject of
speculation by politicians. Mr.. Hill
has long been silent, but that he will
figure in the convention as a dark
horse is believed by some very astute
politicians, who claim that Mr.. Hill
advanced the claims OF Judge Parker
with a view to riveting attention on
New York but with the knowledge that
the Judge would never receive the
nomination and that any boom he
might receive would be premature and
could never survive long cold winter.
Speaking of political possibilities
your correspondent learns from au-
thoritstive, although confidential
sources, that the situation in Wall
street is causing grave concern to the !
Republican leaders. A valiant effort
is being made to put brave front on
and Republican newspaper correspond
ents are being asked TO state that
there is nothing to be feared, that the
liquidation is confined to Wall street
Spectators, that it cannot affect the
general prosperity and, in general, to
write dispatches calculated to uphold
the hands OF the bulls and counteract
the almost inevitable consequences of
the liquidation. The market is in q |
peculiar condition. There is no lack |
OF money but public confidence is
lacking. Thus far the capitalists have
been obliged to let go only their good
stocks and even they have sold low,
but if the time comes, as it is feared it
will, when the brokers and others have
to let their poor things 60 there will
follow q general panic which will bring
10 an end the boosted era of prosperity
which is calculated TO elect Mr.. Roose-
welt. If the prosperity of the west
weathers the present liquidation the
general situation will be safer than it
has been for some time but, as prom
inent Republican fiuancier describes
it, "the amputation has taken place
and gangrene has set in. If the doc
tors Morgan ct al can check it and
heal the stump the patient will be
better off than before, but il the gan.
creme spreads; we'll you can see what
the result will be-"
Secretary Root is to retire from the
Cabinet, not Immediately but probably
some time in December. Mr.. Roots
retirement will be serious loss to
President Roosevelt who has long been
opposing it, for in all the Cabinet there
are two men on whose judgment Theo.
dore Roosevelt relies, but two men
who can influence him for his own
good when he has determined upon an
injudicious step. Those men are Hay
and Root and of the two Root is, in
many instances, the more Influential.
1t is generally believed that Governor
Taft will succeed Secretary Root.
Through the operation of the general
staff plan, the direction OF the army,
which has heretofore devolved on the
Secretary of War, has been transferred