Evening star., 1898-01-12
The President Interested in the An
nexation Treaty.
TRYING TO GET THURSTOES SUPPORT
Minister Conger May Go to China
Instead Of Bryan.
NOMINATIONS SENT IN TODAY

The President today sent the following
nominations to the Senate:
State-Mark s. Brewer Of Michigan, to be
civil service commissioner; Edwin H.
Conger of Iowa, to be envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary of the United
States to China. Charles Page Bryan of
Illinois, to be envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United
States to Brazil; Henry w. Furniss of
Indiana, to be consul at Bahia, Brazil.
An arrangement was perfected by which
Charles Page Bryan of Illinois, nominated
to be minister to China. and Mr.. Conger of
Iowa. minister to Brazil, exchange posts.
There was considerable objection to Mr..
Bryan's confirmation OIL the ground that
he had Nd diplomatic experience and was
not equipped for so important a post as
that of minister to China is likely to be
during the present administra ton, in view
OF the European scramble for position in
China. Mr.. Conger was minister to Brazil
curing tFe Harrison administration and
was regarded one of the strongest and
best OF our foreign representatives. 1t is
believed there will be no opposition to con-
firmation of either gentleman.
President Mckinley is warming uD to the
situation in the Senate regarding the an
nexation treaty. He never tries to use
what is known as Influence in working
on congressman, but has the honest habit
of talking straight and arguing with
man as a man, the person presenting the
most satisfactory reasons to be the winner.
The statement that Senators Thurston
and Gear have broken away from the list
of republicans supporting the treaty was of
interest to the President and when these
two senators called at the White House
today to talk patronage, the President
found opportunity to talk over the Hawa-
iian situation with them. Probably little
Senator Gear bpc1uSp q
accompanied by Gen. Henderson, whose ILL.,
ness has prevented his calling at the White
House for months. The President and
Senator ThurSton, however, had a long
chat on the subject. 1t can be stated with
positiveness that Senator Thurston is unde-
cided what he will do. The President
thinks a great deal Of Senator Thurston.
and would be pleased to see the Nebraskan
added to the list of republicans supporting
annexation.
What has brought Senators Gear and
Thurston to the point of opposing anneXa-
tion is that the sugar beet industry of the
islands is Gripping. or threatens to cripple,
the same industry in Nebraska and Iowa.
This industry has become a lusty one in
Nebraska, and the concern of Senator
ThurSton is local.
1t is understood that Senator Elkins,
hearty supporter of annexation, was with
the President when Senator Thurston
walked in. The West Virginia senator has
been working hard with his Nebraska
friend to bring about a change in his
views, and when they met in the presence
of the President today the arguments Were
renewed. The President took part with
the energy known to him when he is deep
ly interested in a subject, and he and Sem
ator ThuIston discussed the subject some
time after Senator Elkins left.
The administration is beginning to view
the growing power of japan with keen
interest. and the President thinks that the
acquisition of Hawaii ought not to be de-
layed. He is confident that with the is
lands becoming part of this country
cable to Hawaii and one to Japan would
be one of the certain results. This cable
line would give this country instant COM
munication with it's fleet in Asatic wa
teIs, and would put the United States on
stronger basis than it now enjoys. 1t
%Cuid also, he thinks. do wonders in in
Creasing the trade of the United States
With the eact.
The President must have had some
stronS argument up his sleeve when he
encountered the Nebraska senator because
II left the senator in an undecided frame
OF mind, when shortly before he was
against annexation. The President is fa-
mlilar enough with the subject to argue
Iuehtiy with anybody, and he knows that
Senator Thurston is one of the men who
must be convinced by argument before
changing his position. For that reason he
bIcught out his best points on the senator
Interstate Commerce Commission.
1t is said today regarding an Illinois
man, that the President has sounded
W. ]. Calhoun to see If he will accent
the position of interstate commerce com-
missioner to succeed Judge Morrison. IF
TINS Is correct II Is thought that the Presi-
cent has given up the idea of nominal atinp
Judge Paxson of Pennsylvania Some of
MI Calhoun's friends do rot believe that
ne would accept the position He has a
lucrative law practice in Illinois, one paw
ing two or three times what Re wound re-.
,-r1JS cir NJ
calhoun went to Cuba early this summer
as the special commissioner of the presi
usht ana returned with a report of his
observations. It is certain that If he want
ed the place he could have it, The uom;
nation of Mr.. Calhoun would be 4 pcrsonal
one purely, as Senators Mason and Thurs
ton have submitted the nan,a. nf othnr
friends
Senator Mason was at the White House
TO-DAY, but did not talk on this subject with
the President. Right now The senator is
T!ins 10 iand New Mexico judgeship for
Judge Clinton +. Irwin of illinois, The
senator presented the President this morn
ing with large number OF Endorsements
or Judge Irwin, and strongly urged the
quallncatlonS OF his constituent.
Places in the South
The President has large number of
southern positions to dispose of Georyia
Florida, Mississippi Kentucky and nearly
all of The southern states are sending poll
tlc1ans here to present cases.
Ihree coilectorships in Georgia and the
augusta post office are all open for settle
inent, the result being that a number of
leaders from that state are here At the
head OF the number is w. H. Johnson, who
succeeded Col. Buck as patronage dis
penser. Mr.. johnson will take up the COL
iectcrship cases with Secretary Gage before
seeing the President again
The recommendation of Senator Deboe
that Z. M. Barnett be appointed surveyor
of the port at Louisville has not gone
through at the White House. and the result
is that Adjutant General Collier is here to
try for the position. He was at the White
House today with Representative Dawson
Both of these men are said to represent the
Bradley faction of the Kentucky republican
party, and they are claiming that they
ought to have something. The surveyor
ship is one of the places they think they
ought to get Senator Deboe does not pay
much attention to the Bradley faction,
which has so far gotten nothing from the
Executive Mansion.
After Arizona Offices
Ex-Representative Murphy is here re-
garding Arizona Offices and saw the Presi-
dent today. Mr.. Murphy was the power
which landed Gov. McCord in the guberna-
torial chair. United States attorney is
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