The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Incidents of an Eventful Day-Several
Hurried Conferences.

WASHINGTON, April 6.-The war cloud
has led to a discontinuance of the presiden-
tial public receptions for the time being.
These receptions have been usually held tri-
weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri
days, and have been q source of great de-
light to the army of sightseers who flock
to the national capital. To-day the first
contingent of strangers that put in an ar
pearance at the White House were notified
that there would not be reception to-day,
and subsequently, it was announced that
there would be none during the week. With
the continuance of a grave crisis, or worse.
the outlook is that the occasions to which
all Washington sightseers look forward
with much interest will be indefinitely post
poned. This action is not by any means
the fruit of a desire of Mr.. Mckinley to
avoid the fatguing ceremony of grasping
several hundred hands and saying pleas
ant word or two to as many people, but is
due to the imperative necessity for the Sc
curing of more time for the executives own
use
The President has borne up well against
the trying events that have made great de-
mands on his physical endurance, though
he shows to some extent the effect of long
hours of elaboration over the situation.
The brisk air and a cool breeze which made
the stars and stripes fiutter gracefully over
the executive mansion and a cheerful sun
light that gave spring effect to the greer
lawn of the White House grounds drew
out a. large crowd to the mansion, few of
whom, however, had admittance to the
President. Assistant Secretary Day was
late in seeing the President and made up
for the delay in the briefeSt visit for days.
1t was long past o'clock when he was
ushered into the Presidents apartments
he h n rT1Hyi inc off
to the department Attorney Gene raj Griggs
came shortly afterwards and hurriedly pro-
ceeded to enter into an earnest conSulta-
ton. Representative Adams, acting chair
man of the House committee on foreign af-
fairs, and Judge Thompson, of Ohio, came
about the same time.
Assistant Secretary Day returned about
10 O'Clock. He was evidently in a hurry and
in no mood to be interrupted on an impor-
tant mission. Beyond the statement that so
lar as ne knew there would be no special
session of the Cabinet, he Vouchsafed moth
ing as to the situation.
Mrs. Mckinley drove out early. and the
porte cOchere was lined with d large curious
crowd of strangers as she left the White
House leaning on the arm of Major HE
stand the PRESIDENTS military aid, and
passed to her carriage 80.
Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, was the
first of the members of the Senate to see
the President. Senator Frye, a member of
the foreign relations committee, and Repre-
sentative Adams, the ranking Republican on
the House foreign affairs committee, were
Assistant Secretary Day was asked if the
recall of either Minister Woodford at
had been formally ordered. NO" was the
reply, but ample measures have been taken
to provide for them" Whether a draft of
the proposed message had been transmitted
to Madrid was not stated, but it is regarded
as probable that it already has been COM
municated.
Senator Fairbanks, of Indiana, has been
one of the most constant visitors at the
White House throughout the crisis. As a
personal friend of the chief executive, his
visits have been almost nightly as well as
daily, and he has made numerous sugges-
tions regarding the policy to be pursued.
He was with the President, as usual, this
Shortly after II o'clock there were two
more Cabinet arrivals. They were Secre
tary Alger and Secretary Long, and they
and the President had a consultation. Rep
reSentative Jerry Simpson, of Kansas, had
q brief interview with the President, IN
which he sought a pardon for constituent.
Owing to the press of time he had to post
pone his plea for clemency till tomorrow.
The copies of the MESA ge were printed at
strictest of instructions We're given to pre-,
serve complete secrecy until finally placed
before Congress- The copies arrived at the
White House by IL o'clock They were i'm
final scanning of the communication.
Attorney General Griggs stated at n:30
o'clock that he understood that Consul
General Lee would leave Havana to-day.
Whether all the Americans would be got
out of Cuba at the same time ne was not
sure. but Assistant Secretary Day was
credited at that hour with stating that all
of them would leave to-day.
At the request of the President. Repre-
sentative Hopkins. of Illinois, took Repre-
sentatives Berry Dem, Ky.), a member of
the foreign affairs committee Mr.. Sayres. of
Texas, the ranking minority member or the
ar ,ropriations committee, Mr.. Dinsmore
ODE a., Ark, the ranking member of the
foreign affairs committee, and Mr. New
lands (silver Rep, New, to the White
House this afternoon and showed them Gem
eral Lees cablegram. The cablegram said
that General Lee was feeding two thousand
Americans, and it would be impossible to
get them off the island before Sunday. He
said the condition of affairs was infiamed
and the transmittal of the message might
precipitate trouble The President frankly
explained the situation. He said the mes
sage would have gone in to-day had 1t not
been for General Lees cablegram. the
safety of American citizens in Havana, and
especially General Lees personal safety
rendered delay Imperative. The Democrats
III ovnrpSGad themselves as satisfied.