Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
CALMLY WAITING
The Presidents Attitude Oh the
Maine Disaster.
NO ACTION DECIDED upon
Will First Learn Conclusions of the
Court Of Inquiry.
NO CABLE NEWS FROM GENERAL LEE
Speculation on Length of the In
vestigation.
NO CABLE NEWS FROM GENERAL lee
Speculation on Length Of the In
MOVEMENT OF THE TERROR

'The President is perfectly poised on
this question:, said one of the best friends
of the chief executive in the country to a
Star reporter this morning Immediately
following important conference with
the President He is cool1y and calmly
awaiting the facts, and cannot be carried
off his feet by the excitement which is
again beginning over the Maine Disaster
While as anxious as any American citi-
zen to know the exact facts, the Presi-
dent has laid out course he will follow
On the best information the statement
can be made today that the President will
absolutely take no action of any kind, di-
rectly or indirectly. until the official re-
port Of the court of inquiry is made to
the Navy Department. On that report
will be based the course of this country
The President has implicit confidence in
the court He believes that ii will do it's
duty without fear or favor. He believes
that the American people will wait for
that report before beginning any demon
stration
Ihe President is anxious as anybody
that the court complete it's work as quick
ly as consistent with a full and fair inves-
hgation- He wants to know the facts and
intends to know them
The President has said to friends that
the people of the country want to know
What caused the explosion?" He in
tends that they shall know this, and he
intends to act will satisfy people
whom he considers fair and lust in all
things.
The administration states today that not
oisquietlng line has been received from
any source in Havana. Nothing has been
a1t
administration as TO the cause of the ex-
Ploslon, but this opinion is not so deeply
rooted that 1T will not quickly undergo a
Change if facts warrant it,
No Message Contemploted
Inc PRESIDENT does not intend to send
10 congress any communication which will
further aggravate the situation. In all
probability the facts as to Cuba which
have been called for by Congress- will ~
ne sent until the report of the board of
inquiry has been made
Regarding the news from Havana since
yesterday. the administration gives az ,,s
oehef that no such news could be ohtainel
III way to make 1t Trustworthy Tho
court OF inquiry and all connected with il
H@-'e oeen given to understand that not a
worn IS 10 be given TO the public until the
proper ume 1t Is not thought that tbis
injunction has been violated. That Is wbv
'he President and cabinet advisers refuse
10 believe that there Is any change in the
situation They say that IL there vare in
ucations that the Maine had been b,ou,,
up from the outside, indications at all ra-
liable, the officials in Havana would GER
tainly cable as much to the government
hi.owing to what extent such a revelation
would likely lead.
fS Is volcano today, but he stands firm
III the pehet that the people want to know
the truth from men appointed to ascertain
the truth He does not believe that the
country would have him take a step based
on supposition, and he does not nronosa -,
take such step As outlined in The Star
yesterday, he wants this country to he in
the right In every instance in this Cubs,
question, so when the time comes to act
IL VIII have clean record to show at the
back of what it does
No News From Havana.
Up TO noon today the President had NOT
received a call from Secretary Long or any
olncial of the State Department No news
from Havana had been given him. At
noon ne went down from his office to the
east room 10 give reception to the Ohio
deiesates TO the ID. A. r. A few minutes
later he gave special reception to the
CONNECTICUT delegates, and little later re-
ceiVed the congress in oody. The Pres
icent knew many of the Ohio delegates
personally.
After these receptions were over tn.
ffesident went TO lunch There were sew
efal important callers during the mornin,
however. General Grosyenor was one of
these. Senators Hale ard Elkins were
among the others.
ten Grosvenor stated emphatically that
tie government had received no news from
Havana or Key West tending to confirm
the latest dispatches from there to the
morning newspapers.
i still believe the explosion was an ac-
cident," said Senator Hale. as he left tie
White House in his carriage. 1.-The Navy
Department has not received a lire going
to show a change In opinion
Senator Elkins also saw nothing serious
in the situation more than at the beginning
If the Maine was blown up from TIE out
side,' he said. nobody believes that It was
done by the Spanish government. If 1t was
done by Spanish subjects do not see any
thing that will come out Of 1t but fo- Spain
to apologize and pay the indemnity required
by this country. She will do this. OF
course. II she should refuse that would be
another question
Many old soldiers some Of them former
comrades Of the President In war days. are
daily at the White House. They are i'm