Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-28


Titles and that his services, II rendered.
would be accepted, but it is not considered
Ekely that he would be given higher rank
than that of a brigadier general. and an
act Of Congress would be necessary for
that purpose. 1t is said In oficial circles
that the matter has not even been con-
sidered.
Official denial is given to the report that
Minister woodford has informed the State
Department that five Spanish warships
have sailed for American waters.
No War Signs at the White House.
The White House is the most unwarlike
pace in the country and has been since the
Meine disaster. But for the hundreds Of
offers Of soldiers going to the White House
by wire and letter each day there would
probably be no thought in the heads of
the many officials there of a conflict of any
kind. These offers are daily received, and
come from organizations of all kinds. In
dividuals make the same offers.
This morning an old colored man, at
tired in a blue suit, an old army coat and
battered hat, marched to the White
House in the most imposing manner pos
sible.
Il wants ter see de Pres s'dent. he said to
the policeman at the door, assuming an
important air. II wants ter volunteer fer
de war an I'm ready ter perceed to de
frunt' He was told to put his applica-
ton in at the War Department, and he
went away in that direction. Yesterday a
populist from Kansas went to the White
House in search OF Representative Green,
populist, for the purpose of being enlisted.
Congressman from maEy states frequent
ly say to the President that their states
DIV to fr,ro oich ftnr, dc Of
Despite all these things there are 10
official words to hang the idea on that
troops will be wanted at the front. The
Presidents visitors today had nothing ex-
citing to give him. Secretary Lorg was
visitor, but he said that he had not re-
ceived a word from the south since Satur-
day. Secretary Alger was also with the
President a few minutes. Outside of these
and Representative Dingley there were no
visitors upon whom comment could asso-
ciate connection with the Havana situa-
ton.
Denounced by the Administration.
Every official of the administration pro-
ne Unces absurd and unqualfiedly false the
story that Senator Hanna has been to New
York to feel around among the bankers
II ere to ascertain If they would take
srsin. The falsehood is one of the first in
the large number already sprung to excite
men IF prominence to denunciation of such
methods. Heretofore they have considered
fakes as among the things which- have 10
be tolerated, and have not kicked. This
tire, however, they wish that something
could be done to punish perpetrators of
such stories.
Secretary Gage Is unmeasured in his de-
nunciation of the falsity of the story in
every way. Chairman Dingley of the ways
and means committee of the House, after
leaving the President today, characterized
the story too absurd for sensible people
to put the slightest belief in. Secretary
Long did the same. 1t is stated at the
Treasury Department that there has not
been even an indirect contemplation of the
issue of bonds. The administration, at the
cabinet meeting last Friday, did discuss
the possibility of a demand for indemnity
upon Spain, but there was not hint of the
question of a bond issue. 1t is said that
Senator Hanna has not talked to Secra-
tary Gage upon this subject or upon the
possibility of war in any shape. He went
TO New York before the cabinet meeting
last Friday.
The story is carried so far as to say that
ehC Vk engraving anu printing Is
already at work upon the plates from
which the bonds are to be issue1. Every
official of the treasury denounces this. 1t
is emphaticalIy stated that not printer is
at work upon a plate for a bond of any
kind Occasionally there are changes In the
form of some Of the bonds being reissued.
but this is not the case now.
1t Is well known that no war loan could
be made without the sanction of Congress
President Mckinley and Secretary Gage
could request that Congress do this, and
pending such legislation and the issue of
the bonds, it might be ossible that Sena-
tor Hanna would go to New York to see
what could be done. President Mckinley
and Secretary Gage have no power to issue
tonds except to keep up the gold reserve
and even teen Congress has something to
say.
Has No Thought of War.
plation 20 the thought OF war with Spain
He does not believe there will be a war
If ore cannot be honorably avoided. he will
be among the first to say so. and advocate
prompt and decisive measures, but he sees
nothing IN the situation to indicate that
there will be war. He has bean misreprc-
ssnted in many papers. but his position is
being approved b. men Of all classes
throughout the country. He is receiving
numerous letters from all directions along
this line.
Dissolution of the COrtes.
The State Department today received the
following dispatch from Minister WooGford
at Madrid:
Decree dissolving Spanis! cortes. Feb
ruaIy 26. New ecrtes will meet April 2a"
The dissolution of the cortes had been
expected, and it may be attended with i'm
portant results. The two parties. liberal
and conservative, will now appeal to the
country. and on the result will depend the
political complexion of the ministry. The
Sagasta ministry, now in power, is liberal
Its retention Of power means much at the
present junctur.. for it was on the advent
of the Sagasta regime that Gen. Weyler
was recalled. the reconcentrado DEGREES
were annulled, and thu present plan Of
Cuban autonomy was put In force. The
policy now being pursued by Gen. Blanc,
in Cuba is an entire reversal of shat under