The San Francisco call., 1898-04-01
Report of the Republican Committe e'S Visit to
 Mckinley.
Convinced by the Executive That He Is Making a
 Firm Stand.
His Request for Delay Until Next Week Acceded To by the
 Conference.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

w aShlEStOn, MarCn oI- The committee of Republicans ap- pointed at last nights conference to call upon the President reached the White House shortly before o'clock and was closeted with MT. Mckinley. The committee comprised Representa- tives Hopkins, Mercer, Paris, Cooper, Sulloway, Knox, Joy, Hager, Lorimer, Pearson, Hepburn, and Smith of Mich igan.
 Representative Joy of Missouri. sec retary of the Republican conference said that canvass of the Republicans of the House showed that 179 of them would insist upon the immediate and absolute independence of Cuba
 The conference broke up at ten min utes to o'clock, and it was announced by some of the members that upon the representations made by the President they would advise the conference called for 5:3O this afternoon at the Capitol to adjourn until Monday The President gave them to understand that, in all probability, he would have some com munication to make to them by that time and the reasons he advanced were satisfactory to them.
 Representative Hopkins of Illinois chairman, on his return to the House said that after they had spent an hour with the President LAT. Mckinley con- Vinced every member of the committee that he was doing everything that a patriotic American could do to bring about just settlement of the Cuban question and that the committee would so report to the conference which sent it.
 The committee which waited on the President reported to the conference al a meeting, held after the adjournment It stated that the President made d frank declaration as to what was talk ing place between the two Govern mentS, and concluded with these words Il pray God that we may be able to keep peace"
 The impression left with the delega- tion, however. was that he did not ex- pect peaceable adjustment In strict est confidence Mir. Mckinley outlined the course of communications between Washington and Madrid. He stated that all now depended upon dispatches to be communicated and received, prob ably within forty-eicht hours
 The response of Spain to a message cabled it by this Government was ex- pected hourly. and surely would be re- ceived within tventy-four hours. After 1t arrived it would be necessary fol
 
 as reply to Madrid. All this might be accomplished in less than forty eight hours. He therefore, intimatec that it would be gratifying if Congress deferred taking action until next week.
 MT. Hopkins of Illinois, who made the report of the committee, said he felt if would be best to abide by the Presi- dents wishes. Others who spoke at the meeting, including MT. Lorimer and MT Joy, advised postponement. The Pres. 1dent, they stated, suggested that what was related to them regarding the dip. lomatlc relations should not be repeat. ed until those negotiations were closed that 1T these secret and significant mes sages were revealed at this time anC should become public property and bt cabied back to Madrid the publicity might defeat the ends sought.
 Representative Hicks of Pennsyl. vania thought that in view of the Du. puy de Lome letter no further parle1 should be allowed and that Premier Sa. gasta was acting in accord with the policy that the letter had revealed Others followed in the same line. bu- 1t was finally concluded to defer actior until after the adjournment of the House on Monday