Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-18
The President and General Lee Have
a Long Conference.
STATE OF AFFAIRS IN CUBA
The End of the War Cannot Be
Seen.
p r o M MEN T CALL E r s

day.
Il do not see an end to it," General Lee
answered, ard then the consul general
went on to give his reasons to the Presi-
Gent. He pointed out that the topography
| of the country is favorable to the insur-
gents and to a continuation of the war
Nearly everything else, he said, is equally
favorable.
The President listened to what the Vir-
gnian said, but expressed no surprise, as
he has been aware for some time that the
Spaniards are not able to conquer the in
surgents. He has not been ignorant of
that fact since shortly after he was in
augurated.
Gen. Lee came here from Virginia by
request of the President. He arrived at
the White House a few minutes before 10
O'Clock. Judge Day, assistant secretary of
state. was then with the President, con-
sulting about consular appointments. At
10 O'Clock Judge Day left and the con-
ference between the President and Gen.
Lee began. Ii lasted for an hour and
half, and Secretary of War Alger was
present the greater part of the time. This,
however, is not construed as having
belligerent meaning.
General Lee was naturally reticent about
what took place fr the room, but said to
newspaper men that he bad simply re-
counted the true situation to the President,
Informing him ir the strongest language
that he sees no end to the war.
Gen. Lee to Go Back to Cuba.
The President is we'll known as a good
listener. and this was his attitude during
the conference. He listened and said lit
tie. He did not once intimate his purposes
or outline the policy the administration in
tends to pursue.
Just before General Lee was ready TO
depart the President said to him: "Gen-
eral. | want you to go back to Cuba"
General Lee answered that if that was the
Presidents wish he would consent to re-
turn. Nothing was said to how long
General Lee Is expected to remain in Ha-
Vana before Il republican will be appointed
hut 1t is almost sure that General Lee will
not be succeeded fer a long ti:,,e, possibly
not at all, if ne desires to remain. General
Lee will return to Havana about the mid
die of October He left for Covington, Va.
this afternoon.
1t is impossible to relate what General
Lee said to the President but it is beyond
doubt that the Havana consul general is
getting tired of inaCtion. He Is said to
have Informed some Of his intimate friends
that he would not remain in Havana If
positive action is not taken within q few
months after his return He is willing 20
return now, because he will be glad to be
factor in the settlement of the war, and
he has a belief that the President is not
going to indefinitely postpone action
When General Lee came to the city in
response to the Presidents request it was
with a feeling of indifference whether he
returned to Havana. He told few OF his
friends that it was ifnn,ateriai to him but
that he would go back if requested and if
he saw a chance for a settlement of the
war. He is naturally ambitious to take
part in bringing the war to an end. and
hopes that some of his suggestions to ac-
connliSh this may be adopted.
Recalling Old Times.
When Gen. Lee reached the door leading
to the Presidents room he met Charlie
Ioef!ler, the veteran doorkeeper The two
nen held a reunion, talking of war days
In the days before the war Gen. Lee and
Charlie Loeffier were members of the
famous I'd Cavalry, now the 9TH Cavalry
Gen. Lee the first lieutenant of Com
pany E and Charlie Lceffler was IA private
of Company II. Gen. Albert Sidney John
Ston was the colonel of the regiment Gen.
Robert f. Lee lieutenant colonel, Cen
George II. Thomas and Cen VIM. Hardie
majors. Gen. Van Dorm was the senior
captain of the regiment: Gen. Kirby Smith
was next in rank as captain, and Gen.
Hood was the senior first lieutenant. Other
men who afterward became famous in the
civil war were officers in the same regi-
ment
The ID Regiment was sent into western
Texas 20 fight the Comanche Indians. The
regiment had lively work for a long time
In 1859 a big band of the Comanches took
refuge in a gulch on the Cinnamon river
Gen. Johnston detailed four companies to
dislodge and capture them. One company
each was stationed on the hllsides. Com
pany 3 was sent i:..o one end of the gulch
and Company H tito the other, the object
being to surround the Indians The red
rlen were gradually pushed into danger
Gus hole and knew that capture was inev-
liable. They threw uD some Dreastworks
and decided to fight. The two companies
closed in on them and a rush was made
far ftn hrnp -nrt-c
first man over. but was shot down. receiy-
ing a bullet through HIS lungs. 1t was
thought he was killed. He was popular in
the regiment and there was a VOW to kill
every Indian and to take no prisoners
This VOW was nearly carried out. Charlie
Loefiier was the first man to reach Lieut..
Lee, pulling him from under a pile of un-
derbrush which had toppled over on him
when he fill. Mr.. Loef,ler was a fighter
himself and had to drop two Indians who
were preparing to brain Gen. Lee with the
butts of their muskets. y.
General Lee encountered another inter-
esting figure at the White House. This
was Col. John S. Wise, formerly of Vir-
ginia. General Lee defeated Colonel Wise
for governor OF Virginia. They SWouped
stories of political days.
Il remember that election for governor"
said General Lee to Colonel Wise An old
negro who voted for you for governor,
came 10 me the next day and asked for
money to go to a circus. 4>
Why, john said, aren't you ashamed
to come to me for money; when you voted
for Wise for governor
Mars FttE,' was the answer, suppose
I did vote for Mars WISE Wasn't it count
ed for your 1 gave him the money" +
The Presidents Next Trip.
President Mckinley will probably not
leave Washington fer Massachusetts before
Tuesday of next week. and probably not
then. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Nc
Kinley and Executive Clerk Cortelyon.
They will go to North Adams, Mass, in
the Berkshire hills. and will be guests of
w. ID. Plunkett, an old friend, who went
to Somerset last week and prevailed upon
the President to make the trip. The Pres
ident will probably not return until the
last week of this month. -
Among the callers at the White House
this morning was Mrs. Virginia Campba.t4
Thompson daughter of Alexander CamD-4
bell, the famous founder of the Camnhcl-
lite or Christian Church Mrs Thomson
is an applicant for a place in the Congres-
sional Library. She Is backed by practi-
caliy all the followers of her fathers creed
In Ohio alone there over ON vo.ar,