Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1898 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(Krom oar regular correspondent.) There is much sympathy expressed for Mrs. McKinley, who left Washington for Canton, Ohio, Saturday night, to attend the fun—al of her brother, who was killed, pposedly by a jealous woman, Friday evening. She was to have started to the Omaha -Exposition today, with Mr. McKinley and a party of officials and their wives. The went and will be joined at Ganrcjn, by Mr. Mckinley, but Mrs. McKinley will probably not goI Nothing could show more encouragement for democrats in in the Congressional campaign than the fact that republicans acknowledge their fear of losing four out of the eleven lowa districts, now all represented by republicans. A gain of thirty neats is all that is needed by the democrats to put the republicans in a minority in the next house, and the prospects of getting them and many more, is very bright at this time. * * • Mr. McKinley is said to be very much disgusted at the position takenjby Teddy Roosevelt, that his election to be governor of New York is necessary as an indorsement of the administration and the war, and it would not be surprising if he should take some way of letting it become known that he would not consider Roosevelt’s defeat an affront to himself or his administration, although - pressure is being brought to keep his mouth shut.

Ex-Senator Blackbum, of Kentucky, now in Washington, said: “The political outlook in Kentucky is as satisfactory as democrats could wish. Of the eleven Congressional Districts they will carry nine certainly, and of the remaining two there is more than an even chance of carrying one — the Louisville district. It seems to me that there is every reason to regard the condition of the democracy throughout the Nation, with complacency, and I believe that the gains made by the party in November, will be large in a majority of the states.” • • • Col. Phil Thompson, once a member of the house from Kentucky, who spends much of his time in New York, has been telling his Washington friends about the campaign. He said: “I believe that Judge Van Wyck will beat Col. Roosevelt, for Governor, by a heavy majority. There, is an element in the republican party that doesn’t like Roosevelt and will secretly rejoice in his downfall. He is cordially hated by the salocn keepers and their friends, for his course while Police Commissioner, and they will work like beavers to roll up the ballots for his opponent. Then, too, Judge Van Wyck is an amiable and upright man, with no blemish in his record, and conservative people think he will make a far better executive than tne brilliant, but rather impracticable rough rider. The strongest card, however, for the is the bad record of •the republican state administration. The tax payers are up in in arms over the canal improvement fund, and when they come „,to vote they are going to take a sure way of manifesting their displeasure with Gov. Black’s regame.” * • * Lawyers for the defense seldom bringout any testimony against the accused. The members of the Mckinley war investigation Comnffssion—“The Alger Relief Commission,” is what a local paper calls it—who have put the questions to the witnesses who have so far testified may not consider themselves Alger’s lawyers, but, if they were, their questions could not in the opinion of many unprejudiced persons, have been more carefully prepared to prevent the giving of undesired evidence. One witness— Col. Lee—who started to tell about some of the War Department’s mismanagement, in the matter of transportation, without being questioned upon the subject, was at once called down and informed that the commission was not ready to enter that branch of the investigation. He took the hint and thereafter only answered such questions as were asked. Gen. F. Vy Boynton reiterated his theory that flies were responsible torso ' much sickness at Camp Thomas, and another witness,—a brigader surgeon—indorsed it. Instead of trying to find, out, the Commission appears to be trying not to find out anything derogatory to Secreiary Alger s management of the complimentary to the Department. f * • ■ I

tigation, Quay adopted bluffing methods; told the Committee that he speculated in sugar or anything else, whenever he wished to, and in effect asked what the committe was going to do about it No real patriot will deny that the country would be better off if all such men as Quay were driven out of the Senate and kept out.

Parke County, Indiana, Court House. This building was erected some years agja. uribem labor and material was much dearer than at present. The contract was let for the building complete for $794000. The contractor was paid nearly full amount when building was only about one-half completed, by republican board of caamatsaaraera. He failed to complete the job and the work was taken up by next board, which was democratic, and tamdsed. Total cost of everything complete, including amount paid on first contract, SIIO,OOO. This court house is of a different style of architecture than any heretofore appearing in war enhsasan, and b said to to a nry fine, massive looking building, handsomely finished and furnished with all the modern improveusente and oosrveaatans. It is M# feet long. 80 feet wide and 146 feet high, being about large enough to take the Jasper county court house in oat of toe art inane endof its roomy proportions. Parke county has an area of 440 square miles, and the erases of 1890 gave it a popubdinmet 3QL2ML abort dsnhfe tort of Jasper.