The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-24
ELIMINATION IS AT HAND
FEELING ALMOST UNIVERSAL
IN OFFICIAL CIRCLES
with the White House the Scene of
Frequent Consultations, With
Emergency War Preparations
and with the Maine Report I'm
pending Definite Results Expect
ed In the Near Future

WASHINGTON, March 23.-The feel
ing was universal throughout official
circles today that the elimination of
the Spanish crisis was near at hand.
With the report of the Maine court
OF inquiry only little while off, with
the White house the center Of long
and earnest conferences between the
president and the party leaders Of con-
gress and with exceptional activity to-
ward emergency preparations in the
war and navy departments, there was
abundance of evidence that definite re-
suits regarding the Maine disaster and
the Cuban question in general were
about to be reached
Among the presidents callers were
Senators Cockrell, Turpie and Foraker,
Gen. Dan Sickles, former United States
minister to Madrid, and Representative
William Alden Smith, of Michigan,
who has recently returned from a trip
to Cuba. The call of Messrs. Cockrell
and Turpie was regarded as particu-
larly significant, as they are repre-
sentative Democrats in the senate, and
their visit followed that Of Senator
German yesterday. 1t was generally
understood that in the present emerg-
ency the president desires patriotic
unity without reference to party.
Secretaries Long and Alger also con-
ferred with the president during the
day.
Secretary Long said that the Maine
report probably would reach Washing
ton tomorrow night. If, however, it
did not come before o'clock Thursday
evening Mr.. Long said he probably
would not receive it until Friday morn
ing, when it would be laid before the
president immediately. The secretary
did not think the president would give
the document any consideration at a
late hour. 1t was more probable, he
thought, if Lieut. Mark arrived at a
late hour that he would take the re-
port to a hotel for the night.
There has been no change in the plan
of sending the report to congress early
next week. probably Monday, accom-
panied by a message from the presi-
dent. 1t is definitely settled, however,
that the message and the papers ac-
companying it will relate exclusively
to the Maine disaster. 1t will not take
up the fearful conditions Of affairs In
Cuba. as shown by the reports of Unit
ed States consuls, these being reserved
for subsequent action and a later mes
sage to congress.
No FGIrmnlities.
In addition to the press dispatches
concerning Lieut.. Marks trip, Secre-
tary Long has received his own off,
way. There are no plans for meeting
him or for any formalities on his ar
rival He will come direct to Secretary
Long and place the report In his
hands. The secretary will convey 1t
at once to the president.
This will give an opportunity for it's
consideration by the cabinet at the
regular meeting on Friday. After de-
livering the report Lieut.. Mark will
probably return to his post on the Yer
mont at New York.
The remark attributed to Admiral
Sicard at Key West yesterday to the
effect that the case of the Maine was
perhaps the most peculiar in the his
tory of modern times. is interpreted
here as clearly indicating that the di-
rect responsibility for the explosion
cannot be placed.
During the progress of the investiga-
ton the law officers of the government
have been giving the legal side of the
case their close attention, and tbs
statement is made that the case of the
Maine is indeed most peculiar. The
records, it is said, do not show that
ever before. in the intercourse Of ma
tons, has vessel Of one power been
destroyed in the waters of another
without the cause of the disaster and
the responsibility for it being known
beyond dispute.