The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-20
THE CABINET MEETS.
An Unusual Proceeding During
the Summer Months,
THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT PRESENT

While the Cabinet OmciaIs Refuse TO Re-
veal the Subject Under Consideration,
1t Is Believed Co Have Been Called to
Suppress Cuban Activity Here.
WASHINGTON, July 20.-For the first
tim in many years there was a midsum-
mer cabinet meeting in Washington yes
terday afternoon. In the absence of the
president, Secretary of State Olney appar-
emily came to Washington from Falmouth
for the express purpose, for he arrived at
noon and left the city this morning. Sec
rotary Olney called at the war department
soon after his arrival at the state depart
ment, to talk with Secretary Lamont.
The latter was absent at the time and
he failed to attend the abine meeting,
which was held later, although an effort
was made to summon him by telephone.
Secretary Herbert next received n visit
from the secretary of state, and about 4
o'clock the pair walked over to the state
department and were closeted in the of
flee of Secretary Olney. Here they were
Joined in the course of half an hour by
Secretary Carlisle and Attorney General
Harmon, who had been called by telephone
into the conference.
The conference lasted for fully two
hours, and from time to time Assistant
Secretary Adee, who has been acting as
secretary of state during the absence of
Secretary Olney, was called into the room
to advise the cabinet as to some point
under discussion. Whatever was the sub
iect or subjects considered cannot be
learned, and apparently it was resolved to
keep the matter secret, for each of the
persons present, as they emerged, declined
courteously, but positively, to answer a
single question touching their delibera-
lions. All that could be gathered was to
the effect that nothing had happened at
Gray Gables to give rise to any apprehen-
sion.
Still, there was an air of gravity in the
demeanor of the officers as they emerged
from the conference that would indicate
that some weighty and important ques-
lions had been under consideration. What
these may have been can only be sur
missed, without any tangible evidence of
probability. One theory is that the Mora
claim was before the cabinet in the shape
of some proposition from the Spanish
government for it's settlement that per.
haps involved the element of long time,
and consequently justified some hesita.
ton before it could be disposed of.
Another idea preached was that there
W o9 AA a6AI 4bSoNACAA 20 w IN
of our neutrality obligations towards
Spain that nae caused the sudden assem-
blage of the cabinet officers. This had
some color from the fact that the particu-
lar officers gathered at the state depart
I ment yesterday afternoon were Just those
who would be charged with the execution
; of the neutrality laws. The secretary of
, state would be clothed with general super
! vision, the attorney general would look
after the enforcement of the law ashore,
the secret airy of the treasury, through the
Y collectors of customs and revenue cut
, tiers, would care for the ports and coasts,
and the secretary of the navy would main
) tain the marine patrol. In further con
e flrmation of this theory, Senior Dupuy de
, LONE suddenly arrived in Washington
from Massachusetts.
= There are those who believe that it was
. this subject of neutrality which engaged
the most serious attention of the cabinet
O officers. 1t is known that they have been
watching narrowly the proceedings of the
S Cuban sympathizers who have been oper.
ating in the United States, and it is be.
lieved that the open and questionable oper.
ations at the New York meeting lately,
when u convention went through the
form of electing presidents for Cuba, has
given rise to some doubt on the part of our
p. government as to whether this was a pro
d ceeding that did not in itself constitute, al
least in spirit, an infraction of that prin,
ciple of the neutrality laws which forbid
l the use of the United States as a base OF
operations against a nation with which
the United States is on terms Of peace.
If this view was taken of the matter by
the cabinet meeting it is likely that il
y will be manifested through the issue OF
another presidential proclamation much
more sweeping in its terms than that al
" ready put forth, warning the residents o.
this country against any ~infraction of thu
neutrality laws, and this in turn may bi
followed by instructions to the judicia
officers of the government that will sum
. marily check any hostile movement
n against the Spaniards in Cuba from thi
country.
Minister DeLome was seen last night
but refused absolutely to be Interviews
as TO the reasons for his presence here a
a, this time.
California Fruft In Iondon.