The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-06
Message To-Day.


men and diplomats, is that the crisis
will reach its climax this week, aud
that the question of war or peace
will be determined within the next
seven days Senators and represent
siives met and conferred ali day
about the gravity of the situation,
and at the White House the Presi
dent consulted with several members
of his cabinet and other confidential
advisers regarding the message
which be is preparing to send to con-
gress' At the state, war and navy
buildings active work was going on
and altogether it has been a day of
suppressed feeling No definite day
has been yet announced when the
message is to be sent to congress and
all that seems to be absolutely certain
to night is that it will not go in to-
morrow Tuesday. possibly, but more
probably Wednesday or perhaps
Thursday In addition to the physi-
cal work of preparing the compre
hensive document upon which the
President expects to rest Americas
case with the world there are other
reasons Why those in charge of the
war preparations will welcome every
hours delay War material which
we have ordered abroad ia not yet
shipped, and the factories in this
country which arc at work day and
night making powder and projectiles
are anxiou. for delay Some of the
factories in Connecticut with con-
tracts have telegraphed Representa-
tive Hit, urging all the delay pos
sible They say every day now is
precious
There is still divergence Of opin-
ion as to what the President will
recommend in his message indeed,
there seems to be still question as
to. whether the President will make
any specific recommendations. Some
of his most intimate friends, howev
er, assert emphatically that his recon
mendations will be specific and Wig
orous, and such that his party and
the country would willingly follow
when he points the way One Of
these said to night that the Precedent
is his strong desire for peace and his
earnest hope that war might possibly
be avoided, was yielding somewhat
to the sentiment of the leaders of his
party and the country. He has not
given up hope yet that hostilities
may be averted. There are those
who believe the President has not
yet made up lis mind ae to the-exac
course he will pursue. and there
seems to be question as to whether
consular reports and the. diplomatic
correspondence is to be transmitted
with the message.
The suspense caused by the neces
sary delay in the preparation of the
message is very trying upon mem
bers of both houses. and the most
universally discussed question in
Washington tonight is whether con-
gress can be restrained until the
message is transmitted Eli realize
the difficult and arduous task of pre-
pairing our case fol- the worlds in
spection and the care which must be
exercised, aud there seems TO be no
disposition to "unduly" hasten the
President The party leaders are
extremely anxious to avoid breach
with the executive snch as would
occur if congress were to take
the initiative After a careful
canvass of the situation to day
they believe the radical Republicans
can be held in line a few days longer.
until Wednesday arleast The con-
ference o; Republicans of the house
who have been insisting upon prompt
action hold another meeting to NOR
row. night While many Of them
are now in favor of giving the Presl'
,der. more leeway than they we're
last week, it is realized that 25 Re-
publican votes in the house would,
with the Democratic and Populist
votes, be sufficient to act.
Itcan be pretty confidently asserted
that all the Republicans of the house,
with possibly exceptions which could
be counted on the fingers of one hand,
can be controlled until Wednesday.
After that, what might happen if the
President asks for further delay ls
problematic. Mr.. Bromwell, of Ohio,
for instance, who expresses hope
that he will not be obliged to part
company with the President, says he
will vote with the Democrats if ne
cessary to overrule the speaker after
Wednesday Mr. Cooper of Wis.
cousin has made similar statement
The Republicans of the house com
mittee on foreign affairs have held