Evening star., 1898-11-11
TO STOP VIOLENCE
If Disorder is Reuewedat Wilmington
President May Take Action,
RIGHT TO SUPPRESS INSURRECFION
The Matter Discussed by the Cab
met Today.
MONEY FOR PHILIPPINES

the cabinet today. The Wilmington mas
sacre was unanimously condemned by the
President and his advisers. and Attorney
General Griggs. who absent, viii be
asked his opinion to the situation. Cab
met officials. in their remarks, greatly de-
plored the situation, and unhesitatingiy
stated that the white people had gone too
far.
What definite action, If any. is contem-
plated was not made public. but the refer
ence of the matter to Attorney General
GTggs means that his advice will be asked
as to the desirability of the federal gov
eminent taking aeon in the matter. 1t is
probably too late now to send troops even
il the President has authority, but the At
tOrney General will look over the laws to
See if there is any way of the government
taking hand in the prosecution or in put
ting stop to occurrences of such proceed
iuES.
Governor Russell has not communicated
with the President about the situation. 1t
is said t3.s:t he may have concluded that his
own life would he in danger should he ap-
peal to President Mckinley. He may have
also concluded that in the inflamed condi-
ton of the people the interference of the
federal government might cause clash pc
tween the troops and the people and re-
suit in situation never dreamed Of
The cabinet sees, it is said, that the state
laws of North Carolina will never be able
to deal with those who have taken the
laws in their hands. They say that jus
tice should be done in some way. and if
it is in the power of the authorities here
investigation will be made
In the case of the South Carolina riots 1t
nay be found ii is said, that there may be
mere ground for legal Interference Mr..
ToIbert. collector OF customs at Charleston,
l. now il the penitentiaTy of that state for
safe keeping. His life is threatened be
cause he is charged with melting the ne
grc2s to trouble He is noC confined OH any
regular charge. but has been placed IN the
penitentiary to prevent molestation bJ a
Dch- He was badly wounded in the rioting.
Authority of the President to Act.
1t was intimated at the cabinet session
that the President has full authority to
act in a case like that at Wilmington.
using almost any means he may see fiji 10
put a stop 10 anarchy. 1t is argued that he
has unusual powers in a case of this kind.
1t is believed that if there is repetition
OF the scenes at Wilmington President Nc
Binley viii take action without waiting to
hear from Gov. Russell anybody else.
cabinet member this afternoon ronted
cut section of the Revised Statutes
which, it is claimed. confers full authority
on the President to act in case ike that
at Wilmington II is section 52a9 Of the
Revised Statutes. under the heading of
'lnsurreCtion-' 1t became a law in 1870
AMI the cabinet today could not recall that
IL mad ever been repealed. 1t relates 10
the power of the President to suppress in
surrection in violation of civil rights, and
Is as follows:
Sec. $50. Whenever irsurrectfon. aones-
tic violence, unlawful combinations or con-
spiraCies in any state Obstructs Or him
deTS the execution of the laws thereof ard
OF the United States, as to deprive any per
uon OF class Of the people of such state Of
any OF the rights, privileges or immumties
or protection Eamed in the Constitution ani
secured by the laws for the protection of
such rights. privileges or immunfties ard
the constituted authorities of such state are
unable to protect. or, from any cause. fan
In or refuse protection of the people in such
r-ehts, such fact shall be deemed a denial
by sueh state Of the equal protection Of the
laws TO Which they are entitled ur-
ser ser the CSnsiitution of the Unitel
or whenever any such insurrection. vic,
lelce, unlawful conbnatio. s. or conspira-
cles, oppose or obstruCts the laws of the
United States, or the due execution there
Of OF impedes or obstructs the due coursa
Of justice under the same. it shall be law
iul for the President. and it shall be his
uuty, 20 take such measures. by the en-
pipyment OF the militia or the land and
naval forces Of the United States. or of
either or by other means as he may deem
necessary. for the suppression of such in
suTTectIon, domestic violence, or cornbina-
tiOns-"
The Attorney General VIII Report
Attorney General Griggs will give his
section his careful study and will probably
make report to the President The Pres-
dent himself is d fine lawyer and has his
own ideas. but he prefers no doubt. that
the matter shall go through the regular
channels and receive the construction of
the Attorney General Then the President
may decide upon means that he NAV
Ctem necessary" 10 suppress domestic vio-
4etIce or cOmbiniI ;iOIis.
II can be seen at a glance n gs ro,n-a5
out by cabinet officials. that the section re-
ftETed 10 cOnferS strong powers rpon the
PRESIDENT 1t cannot be ascertaiped what
the President coutemplates if the situation
does not grow any worse in Wilmington
but the inference is strong that lie will
take action If there is any further progress
To the riorns or killing.
The Philippine Problem
The cabinet gave consideration to the DO
s!tion of this country at Paris. 1t is official
y stated that the American commissioners
have repeated their demands for the cession
OF the Philippines TO this country and at
the same time answered the arguments
submitted by the Spaniards against any
such step. This Is the situation of affairs
today Cabinet officials expect the Ameri-
can commissioning to soon join issue with
The Sp3niards and to take further steps
from their demands. 1t is expected they
VIII speedily reach a point where they will
make an absolute demand. which tn. Snan-
ITTds must either acuuiesce i'm ar y-jtbd, 40,
from the negotiations.
1t is understood that the President has re-
CeiFed some hgures from Paris as 10 the
amount Of improvements made IN the isl
whether these We're submitted by the Snan
lardS or CLEANED by the Americans on the
outside AT any rate. the legitimate i'm
provernents made By Spain Will run consid
erably above SUDlOUO. the latest figure
suggested as the one on whc. this country
Will settle The figure is many times the
amount OF I,Vy1.osD, but the exact amount
cannot be learned
buring the two or three weeks prior TO
the elfcton there We're comparatively few
men OF prominence in Washington They
were az work in their respective states
The W hlte House and other places popu-
iar with these men were almost deserted
Ihe ude has now turned, and the states
men ana politicians are beginning to come
back to the city
Among today's visitors AT the Wb,,s
House were Representatives Low and Sher-
man of New York and Grosvenor of Ohio
Mr.. Low was beaten Tuesday but Messrs
Sherman and Grosvenor were reelected
These visitors all talked politics with the