Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-09

! cd tnat the PRESIDENT Is playing FOR time
and that every minute is being utilized
to make preparations for war. Other
members believe that the President has
received word from the court of inquiry
that the explosion was an accident and
that he is taking measures to have it ap-
pear that the court is making a most ex-
haustiye and deliberate investigation in
order that no cry may be raised that
snap verdict was returned.
AT the Navy Department the impression
was given out that Secretary Long was
greatly disappointed at the word which
came from Key West that the board of
inquiry would not be able to report for
several weeks. Secretary Long had ex-
pected all along that the report would be
in before this time. He said that he did
not think the President would be content
to wait so long and that an intimation to
this effect had been sent to Key West
The men.Lc.s 0f Congress. however, are
skeptical of the assertion that the Presi-
dent is no wiser than the public, and many
insist that every bit of important testi-
rHOny is sent to him in cipher dispatches
almost as soon as it is presented to the
board of inquiry.
1t is believed by some that Srain is pre-
pairing the way to contest any finding
that the battleship was blown up by acct
dent. With the wreck sinking deeper and
deeper into the mud of the harbor, it may
be difficult to prove any assertion to the
contrary. 1t has been asserted by Span
iards that there were mines in the harbor
and there has been no denial until Senior
du Bose made the unofficial assertion Sat
urday. Shortly after Blanco became cap
tain general of Cuba there were reports
,, from Havana of explosions in the harbor
which excited people, but were explained
as caused by experimenting with explo-
sives in the harbor, where Spanish officers
were planting mines and torpedoes. 1t
has never been denied that Havana was
protected by these modern defenses. The
denial at this time is looked upon as the
beginning Of more diplomatic maneuvers
by Spain 10 delay and escape the RESPONSE
bility for blowing up the Maine.
Excitement Is Abated.
Everywhere in Washington abatement
of unrest and excitement of the past fort
night is noticeable and it is now quite evil
dent that the administration has settled
down to the belief that the naval board
be ready to report for two or three weeks,
and that in the meantime the Government
and people can only wait as patiently as
may be for the verdict.
The action Monday of Senator Hale and
Representative Boutelle, chairmen, re-
spectively, of the Senate and House COM
mittees on naval affairs, in pigeonholing
the recommendation of Acting Secretary
of the Navy Roosevelt for legislative au-
thority to enlist az once 1900 additional
seamen deprived Senators and Represent
atiyes of an opportunity to discuss the sit
uation growing out of the Maine disaster.
Naval preparations go on as before, but
the diplomatic policy of the administra-
ton with regard to the Cuban question
is held in allegiance. Those close to the
President say that he is less appreher sive
of the consequences of the disaster than
he was week ago. These represent Nc
kinley as being inclined to think that the
warlike spirit of the people which broke
out so fiercely upon receipt of news that
the Maine had been destroyed is subsiding
somewhat
That the disaster to the Maine has up
set completely the Presidents Cuban pol
icy is Indicated by the fact that the time
has already arrived when the ultimatum
of the administration was to have been
sent to Spain. 1t was generally under
stood the Sagasta ministry would not be
permitted to postpone beyond March it's
reply to the demands made upon it by
Woodford, but the President knows no
more now officially as to whether Wood
ford's mission is to meet with success or
failure than he did when the minister for