The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-10-21
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent
EASHNcrnN ID O. Oct 1h 1905

WASHINGTON, D. c. Oct Is. 1895.
Secretary Long poohpoohs the story
that the battleships Oregon and Iowa
are being held at New York until 1t is
known whether the Spanish Peace
Commissioners will refuse to accept
our terms OF peace, in order that they
may, in that event, be available to ac-
company fleet to the Coast OF Spain,
to do some more fighting, and says
that the battleships will start during
the present week for Honolulu, just as
they were ordered to do as soon as
they could get ready. AS matter of
fact, no member of the administration
has the slightest doubt as to the ac-
ceptance OF our terms and the negoti-
atiDg of treaty OF peace by the Peace
Commission, now sitting at Paris, al
though they expect the Spanish Com
missioners to splutter and delay doing
so as long as they consider it safe to
do so. The Spanish Commissioners
are not fools; they can see the newt
able as well as all the rest CT the world
can. The whipped nation always has
to bow before the conquering nation.
1t is semi-officiallv announced that
the Executive order exempting several
thousand Federal positions, which
were placed under the civil service
rules by Mr.. Cleveland, for no better
reason than to keep democrats in Of
fee, will not be issued, until after the
Congressional election. The war pre-
vented the issuing of this order several
months ago, and President Mckinley
is ayerse to issuing 1t now. because he
knows that the democrats would
charge him with doing so for effect ON
the Congressional Campaign, if he did.
The arrangements for President and
Mrs. McKinley's trip to the Omaha
Exposition was sadly interfered with
by the killing of Mrs. McKinley's
brother, at Canton, Ohio. The Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley left Washing
ton Saturday night to attend the fu-
neral, alter which the President will
join the party and proceed TO Omaha,
IN accordance with the original pro-
gram. 1t is probable that Mrs. Nc
Kinley viii remain at Canton, al
though she NAV decide to accompany
the President.
Before leaving Washington, Presi-
dent Mckinley signed an order auth
orizing the free admission to all Cuban
ports, in possession of the U. s. of
oxeE for work purposes, animals for
breeding and for food supplies, plows
and all agricultural implements, ex-
cept machinery This order, as yet,
applies to only lew ports, but it Will
apply to all Cuban ports very shortly,
as the Spaniards are to be hurried out
of Havana and the other ports they
still control. The order is intended to
help the Cubans by an immediate re-
sumption of agriculture
Advices received by the War De-
partment say that the Indian uprising
In Minnesota Is under control and that
no further trouble is anticipated
Instead OF being humiliated by the
testimony given before the War inyes-
tigation Commission. as his enemies
hoped he would be, Secretary Alger
has every reason to feel proud of what
the witnesses, including such nnen as
Gems. Joseph Wheeler, Fitzhugh Lee,
III. V.Boynton. and F. v. Greene have
said of the management of the War
The war veterans on
the commission have been greatly sur
prised to learn that Ia many cases
published in the yellow journals, a. In
hicting great suffering and hardships
on the troops, the soldiers had more of
almost everything than their own men
had at numerous times during the
civil war. Not single witness has
even implied either neglect or guilt on
the part of any official of the War De-
partment. Gen. Francis " Greene,
who participated in the Manila cam
paign, thinks the principal trouble In
looking after the troops during the
var was that army regulations fitted
for . time of peace we're Inadequate to
meet the sudden exigencies Of wak,
and be said In his testimony: ~The
only suggestion that would make Is
hat the army regulations, which are
now based on departments and posts
be adapted more for troops in actiye
These regulations are
framed f0- state of peace they DO
A. Il - -