The age-herald., 1898-09-25
ADMINISTRATION
 NAILS ITS POLICY Diplomats Gather to Await Moves on
 Chess Board. WILL CHANGE WORLDS MAP All, or None of the Philippines, Is tie
 Sentiment. THE PRESIDENT IS MUCH TROUBLED Over the Fate of Cuba, and Predictions Are Made That the Flag Will
 Never Be Lowered
 Capital Gossip.
THE PRESIDENT IS MUCH TROUBLED
BY ARCHIBALD w. BUTT

t washington, September H.-(Special)- Washington is in a state of suspense. There is nothing to do here but wait, and that Washington is doing eheerfuly, after the preceding months of excitement.
 The diplomats are gathering from the -four corners of summer resorts, watching eagerly for the moves on the chess board, which will change the map of the world. There is little to be found out here. The administration is keeping it's policy well yelled, and no one seems able to predict with any degree of certainty what will be the outcome in Paris. Since the peace com mission left, however, the fate of the Phil ippines is absorbing the chief interest in political circles here. It is believed that the commission had not been given explicit di- rections regarding this group of islands as the president wanted to get more clearly the public sentiment on this point He is being urged from all sides to insist upon the retention of the entire group.
 At the state department the newspapers are carefully gleaned for expressions on this point. One official said today that a majority of the free silver papers were ad- Yocating the retention of the entire group. Ihe democratic leaders as a rule are op- posed to holding the Philippines and will undoubtedly fight it in congress, but the movement of their papers seem to have set m strongly in favor of their retention.
 All or none seems to ha -'.o sentence oftenest repeated 10 the president these days. It is thought hat Spain herself will a.mit before proceedings have gone far shat she will be unable to control any of the islands. Her forces have been dis credited that she will be unable to re- establish any Kind of a government there sserman's threatening attitude, too, has aiven the administration cause to stop and view the situation in the east The fact rat Senators Lindsay. Gray and other esrnncrats have come out in favor of re- taining the entire group assures the ad- ministration some support from the demo- crats should the treaty include all of the islands. There will be no question about the ratification of the treaty. The treaty, whatever it be, will have to be ratified. There will be no second filing at it. But the administration does not want to run contrary to public opinion in the natter
 The Fate of Cuba
 What is troubling the president more than the fate of the Philippines, is the fate of Cuba. The most outspoken do not hesi- tate to predict that the flag in Cuba will never be lowered. The administration seems to feel ths way without thinking it. The officials who will talk don't see any other way out of the dilemma. But how to reach the given point is darkening the horizon. Without meaning to do so, the government has discredited the insurgents before the world It has made it as impossible for them to govern Cuba as it has made it im- possible for the Spanish to establish them selves in the Philippines. The question has largely become one of annexng the island outright, or delaying matters and takeing It by a slower process. By garrlsoning and controlling the island for year or two the f,aI. fo fn 10 vote ould undoubtedly cast their ballot in favor of annexation.
 This is one plan proposed Another is to hermit Maxine Gomez to 0come president under the drec lion of this government, and after one term to shape things so that the Cuban party eWould ask for annexation The war resolutions could be explained away on the grounds that we went to the war to restore peace on the island, ana the only way to accomplish thls end IS to govern 1t ourselves. This Is the taih one hears about Washington, and rom aoinih- jstration men at this time. No one seems to advocate really letting the island go Manv would like to see it done in order to rarrv out the bond with the Cubans but tbere seems.no way to do it,, If taking ana holding land is crime. then Presldene Mckinley is in abotu the same pox as Mac beth when the latter explained that ne hao cone so far that to return was now as ted ions a to go ONST tnc uiilSiO iOhNS "N-'o this government could not return 1T It wanted to- Then, too, behind 1t all IS the real wish of every American to see Cupa a part of the United States.
 The Investigation Committee
 Jn.a mounting a committee to investigate the tdhduct of the war, President Mchin. lev is.really shielding congressman. Shoulo congress appoint the committee these very man would have to convict themselves be- fore they could cast stone at Alger or any one else The chief complaint made IS that the appointees were incompetent There Is not a member Of the mousse or seh- ate hardly who was not accessory to the fact before the crime Tpey are all tarreo with the same stick democrats and repub- ucans aIke The life of the president an inc secretary of war was made burden by members of the house or senate, who wanted this or that man, more often this or that son, appointed to a staff position. I do not know but three senators who did not have son, nephew or incompetent friend appointed to some office.
 As soon as congress meets one of these senators who "got nothing" is going to call for full list of appointments It will make some very interesting reading. Some of the democratic senators got several ap- pontments within their own families. I knew of one democratic senator who got two sons and nephew in the army No, if the president wants an honest investi- gation he had better appoint outsiders and not leave it to a committee from the house and senate Congress insisted that the reg ments should be made up in the states and that the staff appointments should be made by the president and not by the army officials or by examining boards. Find an incompetent staff officer and you will find the protege of a senator or in fiuental member of the house in nine cases out of ten. Congress voted down bill or- fered by the military committee which au-