The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1898-04-02
Cant A 8 Parker. II. s. N. started

Can't. A. S. Barker, U. s. N, started
for Washington on the Z o'clock train.
He bears the court of inquiry finding
in the Maine disaster, and travels as
plain Mr. Barker. While on the OH
vette coming over he deposited cipher
documents in the safe. Mr.. Palmer, a
volunteer officer in the navy, also goes
to Washington. with important docu-
ments. These were also deposited In
the safe of the Olivette on the way
over.
Washington, March %. - President
Mckinley did not attend church yes
terday morning as Is his custom, but
instead spent two hours and more IN
conference with several members OF
the cabinet. Assistant Secretary Day
called abo.t 1u:20 O'Clock and re-
manned Until ne:.Tly 1. Secretary Long
and Secretary Bliss were the other
members present. They remained less
than an hour. Commander Clever. IN
company with Mr.. Flint, who has been
acting for the government in the nego-
tiations for the purchase of ships, also
called and were shown into the presi-
dents private office. The members OF
the cabinet on leaving the White
House said that there was no special
significance in the meeting. The re-
port of the Maine court of inquiry had
not been received, nor was it definitely
known when it would reach here. 1t
was expected, however, early in the
present week, and as soon as received
it would be handed at nee to the presi-
dent, and when it had been read and
considered by the president it would be
made public. Secretary L-I.ng, in speak
ing of the report, said tcat while fully
realizing it's Importance. the country,
in his opinion, would willingly accord
to the president a day or two if neees-
sary for it's consideration. The indica-
lions seem to he that the report
Will sc Made Public
by the micdle IF the present week.
The presence of Charles X. Flint at the
conference naturally gives inference
that the president and his advisers
were discussing the question of ac-
quiring additional ships. Mr.. Flint,
whose commercial interests are largely
with South American countries, is be-
lieved. in a measure, at least, to rep
resent Chile and Argentine Republic
in any negotiations which are under
a for the disposition of their war
vessels. A reporter asked MI. Flint II
he could say whether or not the Unit
ed States had secured possession OF the
Chilean ship O'Higgins and the Argen-
tina ship San MARITIME, but he declined
to make any statement as to that par
ticular feature of the subject. When
pressed for some information in re-
gard to the matter he replied: Both
Chile and the Argentine Republic have
the warmest friendship and admiration
for the pniteu States and her institu-
lions. Neither country is anxious to
sell their ships to this government,
basing this indisposition on the belief
that we have an excellent navy or
our own. They want these vessels
themselves. If the time should come,
however. when it was apparent that
the United States needed these vessels
they would
Gladly Part With Them
to u.s." The attention of Mr.. Flint was
called to the published report that the
United States would purchase the Bra
lillian torpedo gunboat Tuby, but this,
he said. would not be done SO far as he
was aware as there We're no %negotia-
lions under way to that effect.
Aside from the meeting of several
members of the cabinet at the White
house there were no incidents of I'M
portance during the day. Judge Day,
Assistant Secretary Adee, Chief Clerk
/ Michael and other officials were ut the
department, but this has been quite
common during the month. Also at
the war and navy departments a mum
Der of the chiefs of bureaus We're at
their desks for several hours. mainly
for the purpose of %disposing of the
business which recently has accumu-
! lated so rapidly. The most interesting
topic of the day was based on the dis
patches from Havana indicating a
prospective conference between Gen.
Pando and Generals Garcia, Gomez
and others of the insuss..nt army for
the purpose of submitting to the latter
a formal offer Of autonomy. The basis
of autonomy outlined in the dis
patches apparently found no credence
with the /, Hicials of the Spanish lega-
ton. They stated their disbelief that
a conference on the proposed lines was
probable, and added that they had no
information on the subject. Minister
Bernabe expressed the opinion that the
report from Havana was unfounded,
as he said the basis upon which 1t
was proposed to grant autonomy was
absurd.