The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-08
to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 7.-Congress is
about to put an instrument of tremendous
power for the promotion of peace in the
hands of the President. The proposition to
place at his disposal emergency war
fund of $50 00,C00 carries with it a vote of
confidence and is notice to the world that
the Congress of the United States is in
thorough accord with Mr.. Mckinley and
prepared to back him up without limit.
The President will therefore have the ben
eft Of whatever moral force attaches to the
action of the legislative branch of the gov
ernment, as well as $4,000, 1000 to expend at
his discretion for the protection of the coun-
try in case it is needed. government
that can only borrow a few paltry million
dollars by making ruinous sacrifices cannot
but be impressed with the spectacle of a
nation that votes it's executive a $50 900, 900
war chest as though the amount was tri-
fie, an endowment to be considered as a
contribution for mere preliminaries.
The $5000O,0OO proposition is the great,
overshadowing event of the day. 1t is the
direct result of a conference of Republican
leaders in Congress at the White House to-
day. Before o'clock the chairmen of the
great committees OF the Senate and House
war, navy, appropriations and foreign af-
fairs-and several other leaders of recog-
niZed standing and influence, received sum-
mons from the President to meet him in
his Office in the executive mansion for con-
sultation. The conference that followed
was the most important that has been held
in the White House since our civil war, and
will be historically notable. There were
present, besides several of the Presidents $
official advisers, Senators Hawley, chair
man of the committee on military affairs;
Hale, chairman of the committee on naval
affairs; Davis, chairman of the committee
on foreign affairs; Allison, chairman of the
committee on appropriations; Fairbanks,
Mr.. McKinley's close personal friend; Gull
lom, an influential member of three or four
great committees, and Representative Ding
ley, chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee and personal representative of
Speaker Reed; Cannon, chairman of the
appropriations committee; Boutelle, chair
man of the committee on naval affairs;
Adams, vice chairman of the committee on
foreign affairs, besides a long list of others
who were on hand merely to show that
they were ready to back UP the administra-
ton in whatever might be desired The ag
gregation comprised the men into whose
hands the people have given control of the
responsibility of directing the country's des-
tiny in this emergency.
The great party leaders went to the
White House fully impressed with the grav-
ity of the situation confronting the coun-
try. To the most OF them the prospect
looked exceedingly black and it was the
common expectation that before the day
closed Spain would commit some act or
make some declaration to bring on an
armed conflict. There seemed to be small
chance of escape from that confusion yet
before 10 O'Clock advices were received by
the President which put decidedly more
cheerful complexion on affairs and inspired
hope that trouble might, after ALL be
averted. Assurances were given by the
Madrid government that the recall of Con-
sui General Lee would not be insisted upon,
at least not for the present. 1t was rep
resented to the President, however by
Spains representative, that it would be
gratifying to that country if other means
could be provided for transporting relief
supplies TO suffering Cubans than war
ships 1t had never been the Presidents
intention to give offense by using our war
vessels for the transportation of these sup
plies, and inasmuch as the Spaniards were
displaying a softer tone he himself felt dis
posed to soften somewhat and this after
noon orders were issued for the dispatch
of the cruiser Montgomery to Havana to
relieve the dispatch boat Fern, which will
carry the supplies. The Fern is a naval
vessel but not a regular war ship.
These new developments were laid before
the White House council of leaders and
caused profound sensation Of relief 1t
lifted great load from them. 1t was de-
cided, however, that this would be proper
and fitting occasion for conspicuous dem
onstration of confidence in the President,
and the suggestion was made and adopted
to place at the Presidents disposal the sum
of $50.0O0.000 TO be used at his discretion if
the need should arise for an extraordinary
emergency expenditure for the Nations
protection. The consultation lasted about