The Anaconda standard., 1898-12-11
is GOING TO PORTO RICO
Mckinley Planning a Trip to the
New Colonies.
AN OLD FICTION REVIVED
An Absurd Notion That the President
For.eits His once by Leaving the
Boundaries OF the United
Statss-Wiu Visit Cuba.

New York. Dec. ia -pecial 70 the
Tribune from Washington says: A re-
port that the president intends 10 visit
Cuba and Porto Rico at the first favor
able opportunity has become known in
the state. war and navy departments
and was quickly made the subject of
serious speculation among variou.' ON
cials on account os the exceedingly IN
teresting questions IL raised.
Among other things. there was a
spontaneous revival Of the fiction that
the chief executive could not pass the
boundaries Of the United States with
out forfeiting hiJ Office. IL Is peculiar.
how persistent Is the notion. even
among higher officials. that some cor
stitutional or statutory restriction con-
fines the executive TO American soil.
when. as a matter ot fact although
none OF President McKinley's predeces-
sors have ever left the country during
their terms of Office. the restrictions
alone exacted were consideration OF
propriety or precedent which no one
could hold to apply in the present in
stance.
IL was generally recognized the pres
| ident might naturally wish to make
/ personal tour Of inspection in those icl-
ands as soon as he could spare the
/ time from pressing public business in
Washington and that no valid objec-
| tion could stand against such a tour
/ as he was understood to contemplate.
/ IL is pointed out. however. that ~ would
| be practically impossible for him to
] spare the time requ site for such an ex-
| tended voyage 20 Porto Rico before
/ congress adjourns on March 4. which
| H.. fortunately. about the best time OF
/ the year to make a short stay In the
| tropics.
During the first six weeks OF the new
! year in addition 10 the continuous ex-
ecutive routine business. the soc al obli
cations involved in the programme Of
| public receptions and state dinners
| would restrict the president closely TO
! Washington and after next weeks
southern tour. he will hardly find IL
possible to leave the white house for
more than two days at n tine before
| the beginning OF Lent in the middle OF
| February. For the ensuing two wee'Ss.
with the rush OF legislation. which
marks the closing days of a short ses-
| sion Of congress. there will be no leis-
ure for the executive and therefore his
pennant could hardly fly In the haroors
Of Porto Rico before the middle OF
March.
With Havana only a single nigat's
run for the dispatch boat Dolphin from
Tampa. there might he n chance for the
president to spend two whole days
there In weeks absence from WASH
ington and remain always in close tele-
graphic communication with the execu-
tive departments 50 that N crittcal
emergency occurred he could be in a
railway train speeding toward the cap
ital within Il hours. No thought is en-
tcrtained. however. Of a presidential
trip to Havana before the Spansh flag
Is hauled down on Jan. l.
Practical unanimity Of opinion pre-
walls among officials that the contem-
plated visit of the president 10 Havana
has as fun warrant as his trip 10 Porto
Rico, so long a. the American tiag flies
over Cuba. although z few quibblers
may hold that Porto Rico itself IL not
actually a part of United States terri
tory until congress has made deciara-
tion to that effect. either I'm so many
words or by ratifying the peace treaty
OF Paris This fine point is not serious
Iy raised except b show that Porto Rico
and Cuba must be considered Identical
I'm view OF the fact that they are gov-
erned precisely alike. by military on
GERS under the immediate direction OF
] the rFesiueut dS toDlfudhurl III Nhitt.
The belief Is expressed that the presi-
dent would not care 10 set foot on Gu
| ban soil IL II We're held 20 be foreign
territory. much as he might wish 20 see
the country, for that might be a peril
Gus precedent to esta blish. But no one
appears 10 controvert the right as well
as the advlsability Of an executive
visit TO the new American possessions
provided IL does not entail too long er
| absence from Wash ngtOn.
Before the war with Spain the ex-
pediency Of a preside ntial visit to Ha-
wall was thoroughly canvassed. II was
held by competent authorities that the
president would not be compelled Ia
States. even momentarily. during such
a tour. as he would be conStructively
on American territory on a nationa
vessel even when on the high seas. II
this case. however. the long voyage
would have required the president &c
be without means OF communication
with Washington for az least a week al
time and even had there been a cabls
TO Honolulu ne would have been out OF
touch with the country for at least two
periods OF five DAYS each. These con-
sderations prohibited further coctem-
plation 0f the visit.
When the president visits Porto Ric,
and cuba ne viii undoubtedly be ac
compa1icd by Mrs. Mckinley and sew
eral members of the cabinet. with thsir
wives. and although the stay OF ths
party in each port visited will not Be
longer than a single day. an absence ci
two weeks from Washington would 10
necessary. 10 Is probable that Secre-
| tary Alger and several army officer,
viii 10 90 san Juan. santiago. Havals