The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
President McKinley's Visitors, and
What They Said.


WASHINGTON, April 9.--There were not
many forenoon callers at the White House
to-day. Assistant Secretary Day was more
prompt in making his informal daily call
than yesterday, and by o'clock this morn
iag he had reached the White House and
talked over the situation and the national
policy. The interview, however, occupied
scarcely five minutes and Judge Day inn
mediately took up his duties at the State
Department.
Senators Cullom, of Illinois and Burrows,
of Michigan, were the first of the senatorial
contingent to talk with the President. The
latter, just prior to the White House call,
had been to the State Department, where
he talked with Assistant Secretary Day.
He said he had heard the rumor of the
Queens intention to make final effort to
avert war, but he was not aware that any
dispatch on the subject had been received
from Spain in the past twenty-four hours.
He suggested that an armistice could be
effective only with the assent of both par
ties to it, and that in his opinion such action
by the Queen Regent at this time would
not change the situation. Senator Burrows
said that if, however, complete armistice is
actually proclaimed, to cover period of say
thirty, sixty or ninety days contemplating
the cessation of hostilities, it might present
a new and important phase of the situation
confronting the country. For he sug-
gested, lit would mean a recognition of
the belligerency of the CubanS, an official
admission of the existence of war and 1t is
to be borne in mind that the object of our
intervention is the procuring of peace. Now,
are we justified in going into a war under
the circumstances, when one OF the parties
offers to lay down its arms, and, as to the
bona fide intention of such a decree, are we
to question the good faith of a country and
ask if 1t means what 1T says 1t might nave
a material bearing in the present crisis and
it might not"
Inquiry in administration official circles
shows that the situation still remains I'M
changed. Nothing has been received recent
ly from Minister Woodford on the subject
of q proposed armiStice, or, indeed, upon
any subject. Even were an armiStice pro-
claimed by Spain there is authority for the
statement that it would not change the pur-
pose of the administration to force matters
to an immediate issue. An armiStlce at TINS
time, it is said, would not result in the post
ponement of contemplated action even for
q day.
Senator's and representatives who called
on the President this morning stated that
there was no reasonable expectation that
hcstilities could be avoided and that their
entirely to the contemplated action
of Congress on receipt of the Pres
ident's message next Monday. The
indications, it is said, now are that
the resolution authorizing the President TO
intervene in Cuba will not embody any dec
laration recognizing the independence of the
island but if such action is desired by a
majority in each house it will be made the
subject of a separate resolution to be in
troduced later. This conclusion has been
arrived at it is said, in Difference TO the
wishes of the President.
Senator Pritchard of North Carolina, saw
the President about IL o'clock. Subsequent
ly he said that he favored armed interven-
ton first and consideration of the subject OF
recognition of independence later. The sug-
gested armistice, in his opinion, would not
alter our course at all. He believed that
that was a question which concerned the
Cubans more especially, and its significance
would depend on the response, If any, of the
insurgents. He thought this country in the
light of recent events should proceed to in
tervene Immediately. Senator Elkins, or
West Virginia, and Representative Cannon,
of Illinois, chairman of the House appro-
priations committee, DolliVer, OF Iowa, q
member of the ways and means committee,
Pierce of Missouri, Lowering, of Massachu-
sets, Faris, of Indiana and others were
closeted with the President.
Late callers included Senator Hanna and
Senator Aldrich. who arrived together; Sem
ator Wilson, of Washington; Representative
Cousins, of Iowa, q member OF the House
committee on foreign affairs, and Repre-
sentative Babcock, chairman of the Repub-
lican congressional committee, several of
whom did not succeed in seeing the Presi-
dent.