The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-09-15
AWAIT EVENTS
President Still Undecided as to
the Best Philippine
Policy.
Faction of the Cabinet Thinks IT.
Would Be Well to- Await
Events.
Full Cabinet Meeting Called for
the Purpose of Discussing
the Matter
And fer Deciding Upon Instruc-
ti0nS to Be Given Peace
Commissioners.

WASHINGTON, Sept. l4-Secretary
Long is in Washington again. having
run down from his New England sum-
mer home to meet the presidents wish
that there should be full attendance
at the cabinets meeting.
The purpose of the president in call.
ing for a full attendance at the cabinet
meeting was to submit to the members
the instructions which would be given
to the American peace commission ers.
The time is very limited in which to
properly charge the commissioners, for
as the America members will sail
from New York, On Saturday on the
Campania, they must leave Washing
ton Friday, SO that only a brief time is
available to close up their business in
Washington.
President Still Undecided.
It is believed that the president has
not finally and definitely concluded
upon line of policy respecting the
Philippines, whether they shall be re-.
tanned or relinquished. He was strong.
ly disposed at the time of the signature
of the protocol to acquire nothing more
than a coaling station at NEST, IN the
Phi :ppines. From the many inquiries
he has made of pablo men, and from
the notice he has taken of the attitude
assumed toward this question by the
press of the country, it Is inferred
that he is still open to convicti' II as to
the best line of policy to b. pursued,
and it is proba bic that his pr ncipal
purpose in calling the cab net meet ng
was to gather from the mem bers their
personal opinions, which are sup.
posed to be freshly acquired from con-
tact with the people where they have
been, as in the case of Secretary Long
and others, paying visits to their native
states.
Disposed to Await Events.
One element in the cabinet is dis.
pose d to postpone the final decision On
tae future Of the Philippines, arguing
that the matter might safely be left to
the discretion of the peace commits.
sioners, and pointing out that impor-
tant developments changing the whole
aspect of the question could fairly be
expected before the international COM
mission had taken up the subject for
consideration.
It is the present disposition to re.
frain from publishing instructions to
the peace commissioners, so that it is
probable that only the most general
ideas will be permitted to leak out.
This course is regarded as absolutely
essential in order to prevent the Span.
ish commissioners from obtaining an
advantage in the negotiations.
The officials at the navy and army
departments profess to feel more con.
ddence than they have heretofore ex.
pressed regarding the present situation
in the Philippine islands. In spite Of
all disquietlng reports that have come
of late from Newspaper sources indi.
eating the existence of critically
relations between the insur-
gents and the American forces of oceu.
patton, it is fact that for three days
past no word came to either state,
navy or war department from Manila,
in regard to disturbances or the fear of
them.
Have Confidence in Otis.
One reason for the confidence felt by
the war department officials in a
peaceable solution of the difficulties, is
their knowledge of the peculiar fitness
IF General Otis, the American military
for the discharge of such |
1uties diplomatic as we'll as military
las now confront him. The officials
ire confident that if by discretion and
clash with the insurgents
AN be avoided without losing any of
'ur advantage, General Otis may be
afely trusted to exhibit those qualities.