The age-herald., 1898-03-15
WAR GOSSIP
AT WASHINGTON
Special to The Age-Herald.


 dent had made up this mind to go to the capital it would not need any great knowl- edge of inside facts to arrive at the con- clusion that he would pass the treasury building and proceed up Pennsylvania ave- nue in order to carry out his intentions.
 So it may be said that when the reports continue to go out from here that the presi- dent will do this or will not do that they pretty nearly represent the facts in the case. The only value that a correspondent or congressman, too. for that matter may have here comes from his experience in putting two and two together and mark ing down four. This preamble is merely in answer to the comments one oftentimes sees or hears that what one sees in the papers must be taken with a grain of salt
 It does not take a man with extraordi- nary ability to draw the conclusion that preparations for war mean the fear, if not the probability, of it. Neither does one need official notice from the president that he wiH recognize the independence of Cuba in order to arrive at the conclusion tha! such is his policy. Given the active prepara- tions for war which are being made, the hastening of troops to the seaboard the intentions of the president as made known by those in power who are close to him, it is not such a difficult matter to guess correctly even If 1t were only guessing
 The relations between the president and the leaders of his party in the house are very close. The relation between the lead- CTS in congrss and bhe corps of correspon- dents here are also very close. It Is no wonder then that the policy of the admin istration can be given to the public before an official notice Is sent from congress to the white house. During this crisis the correctness of the reports in the daily newspapers has been exempliied to a re- markable degree. For instance it was fully a week before the officers of the navy knew that ufTe army was getting on war foot ing and vice versa. In consequence they both denied that there were any special preparations being made
 To have taken the word of any one man in any one department would have been about as wise as going to policeman to find out the policy of "a mayor of city. But if the man whose business it is to keep himself and others informed as to the gem eral movement of current events saw preparations being made on ones beat and similar preparations on another, and on every beat in the city it would be natural to conclude that something of an extraordi- nary nature was on foot. But the work here is not merely the labor of putting two and two together and drawing conclusions but also of keeping in touch with men who have the carrying out of orders given from headquarters.
 The president had determined to inter- vsne even before the De Loqne letter was written or the Mains blown up. The Maine disaster was merely an incident, but one which gave the president the opportunity desired in which to make active prepara- tions to meet the consequences which he believes will ensue upon the fulfiilment of his plans rspecting Cuba. The public may not be aware of the fact that the officers of the administration oftsn put out, through the press in an anonymous sort of way, some plan proposed merely for the sake of testing the temper of the people. Again men in high office often talk freely of their conversations with the president which show the tendency of events, but it would be a breach of confidence to repeat such remarks but which are used as the basis often of dispatches with a view of informing the public of the trend of eventt in which they are interested and which they have a right to know.
 The president has no kick to make at the treatment he has received. He has been in congress long enough to know that con- fidence is, as rule, observed among news paper men. He has talked freely to corre- spondents here who have been to Cuba In many cases they have been able to gather from his remarks and from his ques- tions some of the arguments which are now moving him to act.
 At the present time there Is no doubt that the administration Is preparing to in. tervene peaceably in Cuba, if that be possi- ble. Undoubtedly, the president wants to avoid war. The appropriation which he asked of congress was made with this end in view. Any poker player knows that it would be losing game to play without the money to meet the bluff. In order to play stiff hand fellow must have some- thing besides nerve. Congress has put money in front of Uncle Sam with which he can see the Spanish Uon about ten mil. lion better.
 The proposition will undoubtedly be made by the administration to secure the inde. pendence of the island before resorting to an open declaration of independence. Con- gress stands in the way of the culminatiou of this scheme. Members of the house and senate will not accede to any plan in which this government stands sponsor for the debt of foreign country. It is not believed here, either in diplomatic or con gressional circles, that Spain would con- sent to sell Cuba, even if this country should guarantee the payment of the debt.
 It Is more than probable that Spain would meet such a request by offering to Cuba autonomy, such as Canada enjoys, and would suggest the United States as a me- diator This would be made merely to fur ther delay matters. Those who are sufii- ciently close to the president deny that he would accede to such a postponement or a settlement.
 Congress must now be reckoned with. The president has made himself responsi- ble to congress by asking for a war appro- ryiafiou Without the martial aSsura nee