The herald., 1898-03-08
CALLERS at THE CAPITAL
INDICATE INTEREST IN THE
SPANISH QUESTION
Party Lines Are Forgotten in the
Emergency Which Now Confronts
the United States

WASHINGTON, March mot since
the disaster to the Maine has the Presl-
dent received so large number Of early
! callers of prominence as this morning.
! Senators Allison and Hale were among
| the first to arrive, and they were i'm
| medately shown into the Cabinet room
| They were soon Joined by Secretary
| Long and Representatives Dingley,
Grosvenor and Cannon The confer
ence lasted nearly or quite an hour and
at its conclusion all left about the same
| time.
| 1t was learned that the intimation that
| Spain was dissatisfied with General Lee
| and might ask the President to recall
| him, came to the Secretary Of State last
Saturday, through a cablegram from
Minister Woodford, and that in response
to the Presidents refusal to consider
General Lees recall, the Madrid authori-
ties signified their adolescence and this
fact was duly cabled to the Secretary of
State. 1t therefore appears that the
status is the same as before the incident.
The correspondence, as understood here,
did not show than Spain had made a
demand for General Lees recall, or that
the Madrid government had gone so far
as to request his recall. The extent
of its displeasure was expressed in an
intimation simply that his presence in
Havana as the representative of the
United States government was not
agreeable to them.
The complaint against the sending of
relief to Cuba in warships was made
J,r., ,rrl, I,,A ! L..
matter was fully explained to him, he
freely expressed his entire satisfaction
with the present arrangement and i'll
timated that he would withdraw his pro-
test.
CAPITOL SENTIMENT
WASHINGTON, March THE senti-
ment at the Capitol today and especially
on the House side, was unanimous in sup
port of the action of the President in de-
clining to recall General Lee. The i'm
mense gravity of the situation seemed
profoundly to impress the members.
Without regard to party, all united in
commanding the Presidents firm stand
and the unanimous desire expressed was
in support of any measures he may deem
necessary to maintain the American con-
tention.
Representative Livingston Of Georgia,
a minority member of the Appropriations
Committee, and Mr.. Bodine, a minority
member of the Naval Affairs Commit
tee, both declared that they would vote
for anything the President asked.
Congress ought to be solidly behind
the President now," said Mr.. Living
ston. This is no time for criticism or
pickering of any kind. In the face of an
impending foreign war, party lines should
be forgotten. We are Americans first,
partisans afterward.'
1t can be stated on the highest author
ity that the attitude of Speaker Reed
and some of the other Republican lead
ers. who have sought to keep down the
"jingo" spirit in the House, has been
misunderstood by the public. Their pur-
pose in delaying action on the bill Great
ing two additional regiments of aritl-
lery was to prevent, as far as possible,
any undue alarm. While it is not gen.
orally known, 1t is nevertheless true,
that the Republican leaders of the House
have given the administration assur-
ances that any emergency action which
may be deemed necessary to uphold the
dignity of the country will be promptly
Idlllcus hC WioiC ain VI tuc INSpuUll-
can leaders under the leadership of the
Speaker has been, and is, to avoid hasty
action or the possibility, so far as possi-
BILE. of incendiary utterances on the floor,
which might make a diplomatic settle
ment Of the controversy difficult. But
the administration understands that the
majority in the House is behind 1t and
money and men will be voted without
stint when called for.
WHY BARKER RESIGNED
NEW YORK, March THE Worlds
Havana correspondent sends word that
Walter B. Barket, Consul at Sagua la
Grande for the United States, has re-
signed. 1t is alleged in Spanish circles
that Consul Barker's resignation is on
account Of friction with Consul General
Lee over the improper distribution of
American charity, but the Worlds cor
respondent declares that Mr.. Barker is
a warm friend of General Lee. Accord
ing to the correspondent, Consul Barker
feels that the American government in
its inactivity regarding Cuban affairs
has ignored all the consular reports, and
the Consuls to all intents and purposes
are useless as channels of information.
ArrSnDr ArrArnc