The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-03-04
OPINION OF LONG.
The Naval sscretarY Believes spain ir-
nOesnt Of the hsaine's Wreck.
But spain Nay Be ResponsIbls-Eo Dszal-
opments Of Importance Resolved
About the fnEestisatIoz-
Harznful Theo-lez

WAsHneroE, March 2-The main
interest Of the dayin connection with
the Maine inquiry centered IN . state
ment BY Secretary Long, following
the cabinet meeting, that in his per
sonal opinion any Official participa-
ton BY the Spanish government in the
blowing MP Of the Maine was nov
practically eliminated from the situa-
ti0n. This statement was not Of 8
formal or Official character, and was
made by Mr.. Long as he walked
away from the white house. As
usual, the various cabinet Oh
GERS are besieged with inquiries
as to the questions before the
meeting and, in response to
these opportunities, the secretary
rather casually summed mp the situa-
ton IN few words, stating that most
OF the time had been given 60 the out
RACES on cOlored postmasters IN the
south. Naturally, the Cuban situation
had been gone over, he said, bat there
were no actual Developments, and he
felt that public excitement over the
subject had materially abated. Then
be added the statement, in the same
passing way, that any participation
by the Spanish government in the
b blowing up OF the Maine was practi-
cally eliminated in his Judgment
This last remark was speedily given
wide circulation apart from the quiet
ing references which had accompanied
it. 1t Immediately started much com
ment and discussion and when Mr..
Long returned TO the navy department.
after lunch he found that what he had
intended to convey was being given
the force Of an Official declaration that
SPANS responsibility for the Maine
disaster had been eliminated In order
to make clear his meaning, as a per
sonal expression Of opinion, Mr.. Long
dictated the following st atement:
The main thing we talked about in the ca5l-
net we're the outrages On ths pOstmasters. enc
white man In Georgia ana one q colOred
man IN South Carolina In regard 20 the
Cuban situation, I said I thought things were
growing Quieter every day. and, Is far as my
judgment went, was inclined TO think that
any oficial participation on the part Of the
Spanish government in the disaster was now
practically eliminated
DISASTER TALK DOING HARM
WASHINGTON, March 2-Two weeks
ago the battleship Maine was de-
strOyed in Havana harbor and IN, spite
Of the greatest diligence on the part
Of officers charged with an inquiry in
to the affair the cause Of the disaster
is still shrouded in mystery 50 FAR IS
any Of the officials in Washington
know. Few Of those acquainted with
the formidable obstacles in the way
Of operations of the divers are sur
prised at this state Of affairs and il Is
beginning to be generally realized that
upon the testimony of the divers almost
altogether viii depend the success Of
the inquiry. Meanwhile the officials
Of the navy department have reached
the conclusion that harm is being done
by the brOaching of theories to &C
count for the explosion, so notice has
been served upon the experts who have
been heard from in the press that II IS
preferred they shall no longer discuss
this matter in advance of the report Of
the court of inquiry. One reason for
this action was the fact that the de-
partment was finding itself committed
invOluntarily to the support Of
the theory that the explosion was
Of internal origin, while, as a
matter of fact, both Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt have
been at great pains to show that the
department stood entirely neutral as
between the theorists and were pre-
pared to accept only the conclusions Of
the court Of inquiry as binding upon
It In consequence Of this decision
there is less disposition manifested
among the naval officers to talk about
tn e Maine affair in any phase.
THE COURT or IEQUIRR.
ky WEST, Fla, March 2.-The see
Ond days session OF the court Of In
quiry- IS over and nothing new is known
regarding the fate Of the Maine, at all
events outside the mem bers Of the
court Some who confidently declared
a week ago that the court had already
found that the vessel was inteDtional-
" blown up have modified this convic-
ton, and, for the most part, admit
that such reports must have been
based largely on speculation. Even
naval officers are, apparently, as much
in the dark as the civilians as 70 what
the courts opinion is at the present
moment Excellent progress has been
made IN the examination and the court
viii probably finish its work here to
day, when its members viii be taken
to Havana On the MangroVs.
The report that remnants Of z sub-
marine mine, alleged to have been
raised BY the United States naval
divers at Havana with the electrical
wires IN which they had been e1tan-
gled, were brOHgbt here on Sunday By
the MangrOTe and are now in the
warehouse OF the lighthouse depart
ment is denied in high Official quarters
DrOEned HiuseIf In sIIe Bapsissry-
PEoRIA. III, March 81. n. era
ham, janitor Of the Christian church
Of Cuba. III, was discovered IN tho
baptistry OF the church yesterday
afternoon, where he had drowned HIM
self He was 90 years Of age a1d
leaves widow and six children. 10
cause Is assigned for tho suicide
Frsuk james Eear Deash.
81 LOUIS, March 2-Fran1r James,