The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-21
President Mckinley Spends Sun
day in Consultation
With Various Members of His
Cabinet
IN AFFAIRS OF CUBA.
Report on the Maine Looked for
This Week.
1t Will Be Made Public Almost
Immediately.

Washington, March 21-President
Mckinley did not attend church yester-
day morning, as is his custom, but in
stead spent two hours and more in con-
ference with several members of the
cabinet. Assistant Secretary Day call
ed about 1890 o'clock and remained I'M
til nearly 1. Secretary Long and Secre-
tary Bliss were the other members pres
ent. They remained less than an hour.
Commander Glover in company with
Mr.. Flint, who has been acting for the
government in the negotiations of the
purchase of ships, also called and were
shown into the presidents private Of
fee. The report of the Maine court of
inquiry had not been received, nor was
it definitely known when it would reach
here. 1t was said, however, early in
the present week, and as soon as re-
ceived it would be handed at once to
the president, and when it had been
read and considered by the president
it would be made public. Secretary
Long, in speaking of the report, said
that while fully realizing it's import
ance, the country, in his opinion, would
willingly accord to the president day
or two if necessary for its considera-
ton. The indications seem to be that
the report will be made public by the
middle Of the present week.
The presence of Charles R. Flint nat
urally gives inference that the presi-
dent and his advisors were discussing
the question Of acquiring additional
ships. Mr. Flint, whose commercial in
terests are largely with South American
countries, is believed in a measure at
least, to represent Chill and Argentine
in any negotiations which are under
way for the disposition of their war
vessels. A reporter asked Mr.. Flint if
he could say whether or not the Uni
ted States has secured possession of
the Gillian ship O'Higgins and the Ar
gentine ship San MARITIME, but he de-
clined to make any statement as to that
particular feature of the subject. When
pressed for information in regard to the
matter he replied:
have the Warmest friendship and adj
miration for the United States and her
institutions. Neither country is anx-
iOus to sell its ships to this government,
basing this indisposition on the belief
that we have an excellent navy of our
own. They want these vessels them
selves. If the time should come, how
ever, when 1t was apparent that the
United States needed these vessels they
would gladly part with them to US"
The attention of Mr.. Flint was called
to the published report that the United
States would purchase the Brazilian
torpedo gunboat Tuby, but this, he said,
would not be done so far as he was
aware, as there were no negotiations
under way to that effect.
Judge Day. Assistant Secretary Adee.
Chief Clerk Michael and other officials
were at the department all day. Also
at the war and navy departments
number of the chiefs of bureaus were
at their desks for several hours. The
most interesting topic of the day was
based on the dispatches from Havana
indicating a prospective conference be
tween General Pando and Generals
Garcia, Gomez and others of the insur-
gent army for the purpose of submit
ting to the latter a, formal offer of au-
tonomy. The basis of autonomy, as
outlined in the dispatches, apparently
found no credence with the officials of
the Spanish legation. They stated their
disbelief that a conference the
posed lines was probable, and added
that they had no information on the
subject. Minister Polo Y Bernabe ex-
pressed the opinion that the report from
Havana was unfOunded, as he said the
basis upon which it was proposed to
grant autonomy was absurd.