The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-31
ANOTHER CONFERENCE.
Republicans Appoint Committee to
Wait on the President.

Wait on the President.
| WASHINGTON March 3O.-The Repub-
| licans of the House who are aggressvely in
| favor of prompt and energetic action in the
| Cuban matter and who met last night in
| conference held another meeting after the
| House adjourned tonight, AT last nights
| meeting fortysix members were present.
| Tonight they were reinforced by siXty-nine,
making total of 115. This constitutes
| considerably more than a majority of the
Republican membership of the House, and
the members present tonight say that it by
no means represents the full strength of
| those who will be satisfied with nothing
| short of the complete independence of Cuba.
Many of the radicals favor armed inter-
vention, and a few, like Representative
Marsh, of Illinois, believe the blowing up
of the Maine is casus belli.
| The speeches at to-night's meeting, while
vigorous and yielding nothing, were never
theless in favor of giving the President an
opportunity to mature his policy and of
completing the negotiations in which he is
now engaged Many OF the leaders in the
movement, including Mr.. Hopkins of Hi
nois, Mr.. Hull, of Iowa. Mr.. Tawney, of
Minnesota, Mr.. Bromwell, of Ohio, Mr..
Hepburn, of Iowa, and w. A. Smith, of
Michigan, saw the President to-day and all
he asked was brief delay. Action by Con-
gress before the pending negotiations are
completed, he told them. would embarrass
him and might result in complete rup-
ture. Mr. Hull and Mr.. Bromwel and
others explained this situation to the con-
ference. They counseled acquiescence in
the Presidents desires. A rupture with the
administration was greatly to be deplored,
ny1tu a
last resort. They informed the conference
that the President had said that the nego-
tations now in progress would either fail
or be successful by the end of the week.
He believed they would be successful. He
did not indicate their nature, they said, and
they pointed out that it would be mani
testify ruinous for the details to be made
public at this time. They said, further, that
the President informed them that he would,
in the event of the failure of the negotia-
tions, place the whole subject before Con-
gress and share with it the responsibility
for what might follow
Mr. Adams, of Pennsylvania, the ranking
member of the foreign affairs committee of
the House, in the absence of Mr.. Hit, who
is i'll, explained that the sentiment of the
committee was strongly against further de-
lay, although he himself was conserva-
tive BIT, he said, the committee was will
ing to defer to the wishes of the President,
and no action would be taken at the meet
ing Tomorrow On Monday, however, II
satisfactory solution had not previously
been reached action would be had. All the.
members present professed ignorance of the
details of the Presidents plans and negotia-
tons. although several said the President
assured them that if successful, they would,
he thought, be satisfactory. While these
different reports were made to the confer
ence. they were unofficial, and the confer
ence decided at last to appoint committee
of eleven to wait upon the President To-
morrow and explain their views of the SIT
uation, the committee to report at a meet
ing to be held tomorrow night. The com
mittee appointed consisted of the following
members: Messrs. Hopkins and Lorrlmer'
of Illinois; Joy, of Missouri; Subway Oh
New Hampshire Cooper, of Wisconsin; Ar
mold of Pennsylvania; Mercer or Nepras-
ka: Knox, of Massachusetts; Faris, of In
diana; Hager, of Iowa, and Smith, OF Mich
igan.
The Republican members of the Michigan
delegation in the House had conference
with the President to-day in when the
Cuban policy was reviewed. The delegation
comprised every Republican member from
Michigan. Representative William Alden
Smith acted as chairman. They informed
the President of the sentiment in their
State as well as the strong Cuban DISPOSE
ticn of the House. They urged that there
should be action, prompt and decisive ana
that the country as judged by the sehu-
ment of the House and of their own state
would allow little further delay. They IN
sisted that nothing should be considered
which does not affect the permanent re-
ncval of the Spanish flag from the island
and the assurance of a complete lndepehu-
cnce. 1t was suggested that no negotla-
tions should be entered into with SPAIN
without first giving the Cubans status
The President however. suggested that
that was a matter of detail. me delega-
ton with much feeling, Appeared 10 the
President never to allow the Maine lncldent
to become a matter OF interna tional arbl-
ration The President listened throughout
with great interest. He said ne desired 10
confer with the senator's ana rePreseenst Ia
tiyes and desired the widest LATITUDE OF uls-
cussion and conferences He hoped, how
ever that Congress would not act pTeclpl-
lately. The administration, ne aeuea, o6 Was as
pursuing a course it deemed proper, ana ne
wanted the fullest advice, even II tne sug-
gestion were not in accord WIN ms own
Meeting hourly important advices from Min
lister Woodford at Madrid, on Wnlch much
would depend. He said the admlnlstratlon
was pursuing a course conSonant with a
cool judgment, and that if there should be
war he trusted the country would De unlted
in support of whatever action was deemed
wise.
his willingness to call a caucus or the Re-
publican members to decide upon action
With relation to the Cuban situation II one
is desired But some of the most radical
Republicans do not believe caucus should
he held yet as they are of opinion 1t would
necessarily lead to open division between
Republicans in Congress ana the PRESIDENT.
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