Evening star., 1898-02-16
THE CABINET CONFER
Members Discuss the News With
the President.
ADVlCES FREELY GIVEN TO TIE PRESS
Anxious Session of the Presidents
Advisers.
GENERAL BLANCO'S REGRET

Not until II o'clock this morning was
there anything like a ripple of excitement
around the White House. Then 1t was
more observable among a score of news
paper men who had assembled on the out
side of the room where the President was
In conference with Secretaries Gage and
Long, Postmaster General Gary and Attor-
ney General Grtggs, than among the Off
Gals. Secretary Porter arrived at IL
o'clock, having learned of the appalling
catastrophe from the morning papers. Con-
gressmen who came in and went out of the
White House tried hard to suppress that
excitement which is popularly supposed to
be foreign to the deiberative statesman
All the same, they eagerly inquired for
every particle of fresh news and could not
hide from discerning eyes that it was diff
cult to smother the same feeling which was
working within ali breasts.
Republicans of prominence evidently con-
sidered the situation grave enough to visit
the White House and consult with tho
President. Before the cabinet session fin
fshed Vice President Hobart was ushered
into the room. So was Justice McKenna
Of the Supreme Court, one of the closest
friends of the President
Giving Gut Advices Freely.
Another notable fact was the giving out
of kilograms received from Havana and
elsewhere.
Probably realizing the intense feeling on
the outside, the President and cabinet de-
termired 10 give cut all kilograms received
and al lsent. This was not hard to do, as
ali the teiesrams tended to have a quieting
effect when made public. They all sustain
ed the theory of an accident
A member of the hinet u-ho aSLal
If rews Of a contrary nature would be
given out as promptly. said he thought SO,
but that nothing of that kind had been re-
ceived.
An Anxious Session.
The cabinet session was an anxious one
at least. The members felt the deepest in
terest at the coming of the messengers
bearing cable messages. AS soon as these
messages were read inside the cabinet
room they were Immediately announced to
the newspaper men outside. or course the
speedy trans mission of these messages to
the public was considered the best thing
that could be done.
The same freedom as to news character
lied the members CT the cabinet them
selves. They freely gave opinions as to
the explosion being an accident, and dis
claimed against anything exciting being
probable
The discussion in the cabinet room was
informal The President had called the
meeting mainly as a safeguard to consider
what news was received from Havana to
compare notes and go over the situation
There was no plan of action to be talked
over.
Senior Du Bose, Spanish charge d affaires,
received a telegram of regret from the
Spanish government and it was presented
at the cabine. session.
Prior to the cabinet session Senator Bur-
rows was among the callers who talked
with the President. He said that there was
no proof that the explosion had been caused
by Spaniards, and still further nothing to
show that the Spanish government was in
any way involved. If investigation revealed
this then he had no doubt that speedy ac-
ton would follow.
No Warship to BE Sent Now.
At 1 o'clock, half an hour after he had
departed Secretary Long returned to the
White House for conference with the
President. 1t is said that after leaving the
White House naval officers besieged Sec
retary Long to send warships to Havana
The pressure was SO powerful from this di-
rection the Secretary returned to the White
House to talk over the matter
Secretary Long went to lunch with the
President and remained at the White
House greater part of the afternoon
The President decided against sending
another warship to Havana for the present