Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-12
Members of the Cabinet Were Disap-
pointed.
[ET BEFORE SIGNING OF PROTOCOL
Secretary Long Was the Only Ab-
sentee.
REST FOR THE PRESIDENT

| When the cabinet went into Its regular
| session at II o'clock this morning not a
| word had been officially received of Mad
| rids agreement to the protocol. AT least,
that is what Secretary Day said as he en-
| tered the White House to attend the cabi-
net meeting President Mckinley also told
| several of his visitors that he did not know
| anything about Spain's action except what
| he had seen in the newspapers. Notwith-
standing this lack of official information,
| the President was confident that there
would be no prolonged hitch and that the
| war would soon close. This confidence was
| based on a general knowledge of the situa-
ten and not on anything positive, although
it was reported that M Cambon had re-
ceived dispatch from Madrid saying that
| authority would be forwarded NJ. Cambon
| to sign the document.
| Cabinet members had expected that the
! situation would be in definite shape when
| thay met this morning, but there was no
| great amount of disappointment these Off
| cials being familiar with Spains slow gait
| in everything. Had the protocol been sign
| ed this morning the subject under consider
| alton by the cabinet would have been that
| document. The day would have officially
| marked the closing of the war, and would
| have been agreeable to these men who have
| borne the brunt of the hard work for
| months past.
| Vacation for the President.
Secretary Long was the only absentee
! from the meeting, having gone to his coun-
| try home in Massachusetts for a short rest.
| 1t is thought that a number of other high
officials, including the President, will feel
| justified in going away for few days
| when the protocol has been signed and
peace commission gets to work. The Pres-
| dent needs a rest more than anybody else.
! Even when the peace commission begins
| its sttings he will have to be in constant
| touch with the American members but he
would be able to keep in communication
with them outside of Washington. He has
| not indicated an intention to go away, but
| it is believed he could be induced to take
short rest if the situation becomes easy.
The mass of work coming up before the
regular session of Congress will, however.
| prevent his taking anything like the vaca-
\ tion which he needs.
Senator PIatt Urges Gen. Tracy. r.
Senator Platt of New York talked with
| the President today about placing New
York man on the peace commission. The
Senator has, 1t is understood, recommend
| eed ex-Secretary B. F. Tracy for one of
| the commissioners. Senator Platt desires
| to see him honored by this appointment
| and considers that no man Is better fitted
/ for the work. Whitelaw Reid has been
| mentioned for peace commissioner, as well
| as being a suitable man to succeed Secre-
tary Day. Senator Platt is not favorable
to Mr.. Reid for either of these places.
1t is said good authority that Secre-
| tary Day is the only man who has been Sc
| lected for a place on the commission.
Others are under consideration. Exam
| bassador Eustis and Mr.. Coudert are
among the other New York men who have
been mentioned
Two Commissions Provided For.
The cabinet adjourned without word of
| official news regard ng Spain's intentions as
| to tie signing of the protocol. So certain
| was the administration, however, that
| Spain would sign, that much of the time
| of the cabinet was taken up in disc ussing
| tentative peace arrangements. 1t was
| learned for the first time that the protocol
| p, Divides for two commissions, one to sit
| at Paris to close the terms of peace, the
| ott er to sit at Havana to arrange the mat
| ters of military evacuation. Owing to the
| desire of thu President that the Spanish
troops in Cuba shall get out as rapidly as
| possible, it is understood that the Havana
&C mmission will meet before the other. 1t
will probably meet within fifteen days and
go to work at once. This commission will
consist largely of military and naval men.
Each country will be given equal represen-
tation. Blanco will, in all probability, head
the commissioners the part of Spain.
Gen. Corbin, or some other major general,
will head the commission on the part of
| this country. The President will quickly
| make up the two commissions when the
| pl otocol is signed.
Regarding the peace commission, 1t is said
that Judge Day will resign his position as
| Secretary of State Immediately upon his
! appointment the head of the peace COM
| mission. He will not attempt to hold both
places. Whitelaw Reid will not succeed
Secretary Day, as the President does not
desire to oppose Senator Platt.
| The President was so confident that only
a few hours would elapse before the sign
ing of the protocol that practically every
| step was taken on the assumption that
the war is over. Nevertheless this step
has not gone SO far as to issue orders to
General Miles or Merritt to CEASE opera
tions.
Administration officials refused to dis
cuss even a remote possibility that Spain
will not sign the agreement. The Presi-
| cent would take energetic steps at once
If he was not certain that the protocol
would quickly be signed.
A time limit of twenty-four hours for the
signing of the docl ment would have been
fix ed today at the close of the cabinet meet
ing had not the press dispatches from Mad
rid positively stated that the Spanish min
istry had fully sgreed to the terms of the
protocol.
No News From the Philippines.
The cabinet had no news from the Phil
| ippnes. Members would not be surprised
| at the arrival of news at any minute from
there saying that Manila had been cap
tured. This belief is not based on the fact
| that orders were issued to Gen. Merritt 10
| go ahead. but the outlook that things
were getting to head at last reports.
Gen. Merritt Is said to be without orders.
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