The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-14
PEACE TALK PREDOMINATES
LITTLE ELSE Is HEARD IN
WASHINGTON NOW
personnel of the Peace Commission
and Conjecture as to What Will
BE Done With the Philippines
Take Precedence in Discussion of
the Transition From War to
Pence-Day's Successor.
Washington Bureau st. Paul Globe, J
C0rcOran Building.

[
Corcoran Building.
WASHINGTON, Aug 13.-(Speclal.)-
Peace is about all that is talked in the
nations capital these days. In these
discussions the personnel of the peace
commission that will meet in Paris to
perfect the work begun at Washing
ton is first, and the probable dispos,-
ton of the Philippines next. That Sec
retary of State Day will be the Amer
lean chairman Of the commission Is
universally believed, in and out of Off
cial circles, and that he will soon re-
sign the premiership has been regard
ed here as almost an open secret for
several weeks past. 1t is also given
out in an unofficial way that Secre-
tary Days successor In the state de-
partment has been selected, and that
he is Ambassador Hay.
SENATOR DAVIS SUGGESTED.
1t is said that Senator Davis, of Min
nesota, was urged to accept a place on
the peace commission but that he de-
cllned. His eminent fitness for the
work to be done is generally recog.
nized, but it is thought that the SEN
ator will not serve. In fact, 1t is given
out that he has positively declined to
permit his name to be used in that con-
nectlon. The president anticipates no
difficulty in securing a strong commits
sion, as he has many names from
Which to make his selection. At anv
rate, nothing official with reference to
the personnel of the peace commission
will be made public until all the mem
pers have been agreed upon, advised
OF their selection and given an oppor-
tunity to accept or decline.
TRANSPORTATION SCENES.
One accustomed to making daily Wis
its to the war and navy departments
would scarcely have recognized the
surroundings today when compared
With those that existed a few days
since. Then there was everything to
indicate that the officials were fully
impressed with the Importance Of be-
ing ever vigilant, while now there Is
an air Of calm about the buildings
that in itself is Indicative of peace.
Not that the attaches of the depart
ments are neglecting their important
duties, but because the tension has dis
appeared, and there is an unmistake-
able air of relief in the various gov
eminent offices upon which such grave
responsibility has rested since the war
with Spain was declared. Callers find
1T less difficult to get an audience with
officials, and the treatment accorded
them is far more cordial than in the
days when the tension Of war prepara-
ttons left no time to department at
taches to make themselves agreeable
TAKING NO CHANCES.
Government officials are proceeding
upon the theory that in time of peace
1t 1s wise to prepare for war. There
is always the possibility of there be-
ing a hitch in the peace proceedings
that might bring about a resumption
government is to be in the direction
Of putting the great battleships and
cruisers in first-class condition. The
value of the navy is fully appreciated
now, and there is nothing too good for
the men who have so gallantly upheld
the supremacy Of America during the
war with Spain. The American war
ships will be put in first-class shape
and as quickly as an army of skilled
workmen can accomplish the task.
WAR DEPARTMENT PROBLEMS.
While. the navy department is busily
engaged in getting the warships into
fine condition, the war department will
by no means be idle. There Is a vast
amount Of work to be done by that
branch Of the government service. The
disposition of troops and the final mus
tering out Of thousands Of the brave
defenders of the nation is in itself a
most stupendous task. There will be
no undue haste in reducing the nu-
merical strength of the American army
No less than 100000 men will be re-
tained in the service for an indefinite
period, and the present strength of the
forces will not be reduced with any
thing like undue haste.
CUBANS ARE IN LINE.
One of the most vexatious problems
Of peace is solved. There was grave
apprehension in official circles lest the
Cubans might decline to recognize the
peace protocol and abstain from fur
ther hostilities. This fear has been al
layed by the prompt action of the duly
authorized agents of the Cuban govern
ment, who have haStened to assure the
president that they are in accord with
his action and have shown their earn
estness by advising their president and
other officials Of the declaration of
peace.
PROBABLY THE LAST.