The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-25

Views of congressman After Confer
ring with Mckinley.

/ WASHINGTON, March :4.--Some of the
senators and members of the House who
have visited the President to-day and yes
terday have gathered the impression from
his carefully guarded talks with them that
the President will not Immediately make
any important recommends ton to Congress,
but that he wants time to conduct negotia-
tions with Spain with the hope lof securing
peace by diplomatic means. Some of them
have reached the conclusion that he is
nopeful of securing Spain's assent to the
independence of the island, or at least of
a condition approaching independence, by
other means. He suggested to them that
the recognition of neither belligerency nor
independence would be sufficient to bring
relief to the starving Cubans, and that
either act would fail at least in its imme-
date effect. He also suggested that there
are some difficulties in the way of sending
supplies to the island, of the principal
of which is the fact that such course
is a practical assistance to Spain to sus-
tain herself in the conflict. He urged on
them the especial Importance of doing all
they could to suppress excitement and pre-
vent action by Congress in connection with
the receipt of the report of the Maine dis
aster.
The visitors think that the President S
especial desire at this time is to eliminate
the Maine incident entirely from the dis
cussion of the situation, and some of them
consider it possible that he may send the
report to Congress without making any
recommendation of especial moment.
The President said to senator's that he
would like to see the CubanS obtain their
independence by purchase and he intlmated
that he would be even willing that they
stated
Spain, recognizing to this slight degree the
suzeranty of the mother country, but ne
said at the same time, that he recognized
the difficulties in the way of this procedure
because of the Discrimination of the Spanish
authorities to consider it. STILL the visitors
obtained the impression that he had con-
Guided, at least, to make an effort in that
direction They are of opinion that If this
negotiation should fail the President would
resort to Intervention rather than 10 a rec
ognition of either belligerent rights or the
independence of the island They do not
consider that the President would hesitate
at recognizing either belligerehcy or mae
nendence except for the reason that ne
believes neither would accomplish the re-
suit Of relieving the suffering, when is the
first end he has in view.
The Democratic senators talked frankly
with the President in regard TO the pontl-
cal aspect of the situation. They told MIN
of the report current about Congress TO the
effect that the Cuban situation was being
manipulated with the view of improving the
fortunes of the Republican party. saying 70
was provoked for this reason the reaction
would be against the party To TINS IN. tne
President replied that he fully realized tiils
fact and that he did not intend to be
swerved one hairs breadth in his purpose
bv political considerations. The conserVa-
tive senators say that the PRESIDENT Is "
be given an opportunity 10 carry out MS
plans and that it is now certain a., th f1 no
hasty action without the wish Oh the rLesl-
dsnt will be taken by the Senate. There
has been work s dome dm eans
go. Iaade the conservatives to believe that
the ne sentiment in favor of moving with care
and refraning from forcing the PRESIDENT
to act i'm advance of his own Judgment Is
erowing. Any attempt to bring about con-
sressona action contrary to the wisn f5o Of
oI,ohlx, debated There will be no hasty
action said one Of the e9nserw ys b Sc sem
sAtD+ed when he makes a request attempts
To- 10 force anything through the Senate viii
he resisted The Senate viii not pc swept
Off its feet, but Is redoS !" az IA ""F
er1ergPncV.