The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-02
CRISIS
IS HERE
The President is Writing His
Message to Congress
Which He Will Submit to That
Body Monday or Tuesday.
DEALING WITH CUBA.
Position of the United States
to Be Made Clear.
There Will Be No Evasion or
Doubtful Tone.
INTERVENTION URGED
BY a Large Majority of His
COunSellOrS.
The President Asks That the
Position of the United States
to Be Made Clear.
There Will Be No Evasion or
Doubtful Tone.
INTERVENTION URGED
By a Large Majority of His
COunSellOrS.
The President Asks That the
Army Bill Be Hurried.

washington, April 2--Preparat1on OF
the momentous message to be submit
ted to congress either Monday or
Tuesday was begun by Presi-
dent Mckinley at a comparatively
early hour this morning, after long
conferences with his cabinet advisers
and public men on the lines it should
take in order that the position of Amer
lea in this crisis may stand forth in a
clear, intelligent and justifiable way be-
fore the present and future genera
tions.
The advice proffered most urgently
upon the president has been recognition
of the independence of Cuba and inter
vention at once to end the horrors of
the situation. This course has been urg-
ed especially by senators and members
of the house. The president has lis
tened to all these views, but has not
expressed his own so freely.
Approaching the wish of congress that
the message be transmitted to that
body at the earliest practicable mo-
ment and the fact that a document of
its grave significance and its historical
ton and consultation with his official
advisers, he has determined to put
aside all but the most important matter
until the message has been put in shape
for submission to the national legisla-
ture. With this end in view, he denied
himself to a long line of callers today,
but saw quite a number of persons
whose knowledge and experience might
be of service to him in his task.
Throughout the day there were ru-
mors of all kinds in circulation and
there was much subdued excitement
among those who formed the throng of
visitors. Reports were even in circula-
ton that a special session of the cabf-
net had been hastily called and held
during the early morning hours, but its
falSity was proven quickly.
At IL o'clock there were no indica-
tions of a cabinet meeting, though it
was intimated that it might be decided
to call the cabinet in session during the
afternoon.
Assistant Secretary Day was a priv
ileged visitor at the White House and
was with the president by o'clock. He
had a long close conference with the
president and made a number of sug-
gestions as to the treatment of the dis
cussion of the situation to be incorpora-
ted in the forthcoming message. He
and soon after his arrival Major EaS-
ton, the presidents military aide Slip
ped in for a brief interview. Mr.. Abner
Mckinley came in from New York on
an early train and stopped at the White
House for few minutes to chat with
the family. Shortly after his departure
Mrs. Mckinley with large party of
young ladies, she was entertaining went
off in two of the White house brough-
ans for a drive in the crisp morning
air. Secretary Gage came over from
the treasury about 10 O'Clock and for
considerably over an hour remained in
important consultation with the preSi-
dent. Meanwhile large party of con-
gressional callers had assembled Among
them were Representatives Lacey of
Iowa; Pitney of New jersey and Low
of New York, who, however refrained
from interrupting the president Sena-
tor Frye of Maine, had a personal inter
view that lasted a few minutes in which
he urged immediate intervention
Later Senators Wolcott of Colorado
Elkins of West Virginia, Spooner of
Wisconsin, Gear of Iowa and Represen-
tative Hull, chairman of the military
affairs committee had brief interviews
with Mr.. Mckinley Representative
Hull'S conference related to the army
organization bill The president ex-
pressed his desire that the bill should be
enacted into law at the earliest possible
moment and said that it was wise to
have it on the statute books in readi-
ness for carrying out it's war footing
rious elimination of the present cri-
sis.
At the close of the conference, Mr..
Hull said the army bill would doubtless
be passed by the house next Monday
and that a few incidental changes re-
ceiyed would be corrected by amend
ments, when the bill is acted on by the
senate. There is mucn significance in
that bill up in congress The bill is an
amendment measure and provides for
the adoption of three battalion war for
nation in war times. About half past
II O'Clock. Secretary Long brought over
some friends to present to the presi-
dent