Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-09-22
PEACE commissioners.
American Representatives to the
Paris Conference Fully Inform
ed as to Their Duties.
REFUSED TO TALK FOR PUBLICATION.
ThS Commissioners Dined at the white
House with q Distinguished Company
WIN Not BE Idle While En- Route
Senator Frye On Retention of the Phil
fppIne Islands.

ippIns Islands.
Washington, Sept. 16.-The cabinet
met in special session at 3 o'clock yes
Lerday afternoon and adjourned at
All of the members were present ex-
=cept Secretary A.ger, who is not in the
city. All united ir. the statement made
after the meeting that they had
agreed to say nothing more of the re-
suit of TIE deIiberation than that the
peace commissioners had been fully
instr ucted. OF the nature of these in
sBtructions they conveyed not word.
The Commissioners Fully Instructed.
1t was said that the commissioners
were "fuily instructed" and upon seek
ing a further expL tnation of this phrase
it appears that the cabinet had pa
tiently gone over in the discussion
with the commissioners every subject
that in their opinion could be brought
into the proceedings before the joint
commission. On each of these the
American commissioners were made
acquainted with the views and wishes
of the ADMINISTRATION.
A Certain Amount of Flexibility.
IL is not to be understood from this
that the commissioners go under iron
clad Interchangeable instructions at all
points for there is a certain amount
of fiexibility in the instructions also.
As one of the cabinet members put 1t
the president might as well have reduc-
ed his wishes to paper in the form OF
=sn ultimatum and have sent that to
Paris by messengers. The peace COM
zylissioners are in 40 sense mere mouth
pieces, but having chosen, with the
greatest care and consideration. five
men in whom he puts the most i'm
plicit confidence, the president feels
that they are to be trusted with the
Interests of the United States.
Not Free Rein.
1t is not expected they will have
free rein in the larger questions OF
policy, but, with ample opportunities
for consultations by cable and other
wise. there is no reason why the COM
1nissioners should not be able to carry
out the desires of the administration,
and at the same time have the oportu-
nity to somewhat shape those desires
by conveying information they may
ACQUIRE For instance, it is expected
that at Paris the commissioners will
meet Gen. Merritt, fresh from Manila,
and, in addition, they will there have
the benefit of special report from
Admiral Dewey. These will be of the
greatest value, for the commissioners
are not acquainted with the Philippine
question in detail, and even the infor-
nation that is to be acquired from the
Spanish peace commissioners is not to
be despised when it takes such an Off
~cial form that it can be relied upon as
to accuracy.
Arrangements for Departure Completed.
All the arrangements have been
completed for the departure of the
commission and it's staff. Most of the
party will leave Washington at four
O'Clock this afternoon for New York,
but circumstances may detain some OF
the commissioners until the night
train.
The Campania sails at p. m. Satur.
day, and explicit instructions have
been given all of the members of the
party as to being on board at that
time. Special baggage tags have been
printed for the belongings of the
members, and small paper paster,
showing red and blue bars crossed on
O white background, gives handy way
of making a 'red, white and blue"
Identification of the personal luggage
of the party.
Preparing for Work EN- Route.
A number of stout cedar chests
have been made TO carry the books,
pamphlets, typewriter papers, ETC.,
forming part of the American case,
The chests are like shallow steamer
trunk, 50 that they may be showed un.
der the berths and thus be available
on the passage ever instead of going
with the baggage in the hold of the
steamer, This will permit considera-
BILE work on the trip and it is expected
that the commissioners will hold meet
ings on sh1pboard They will go direct
from Liverpool to London and there
stop for a days rest, then proceeding
20 Paris by way OF Dover and Calais.