The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1898-03-25
ALL WAR TALK.
WASHINGTON, March %, {

IL any Ouc ucSlTeS 10 near war
talk" he should be in Washington just
now. have heard nothing else since
arriving here toiay. The newspapers
are issuing ''extras" on every little
piece of information received and the
papers sell like hot cakes. The gen.
eral impression is that war will be de-
clarei but just when, no one knows.
There is not likely to be much fric-
ton in Congress over the disposition
of the Maine report when it comes to
congress. There is considered to be
no room for controversy over the mat
ter. The suggestion that the minori-
ty are going to resist the report being
referred to the foreign STAIRS commit
tee is pronounced little short of alb
surd. The rule requiring reference to
committee is imperative. The most
Insignificant thing has to go through
the formality of re ference to commit
tee, and there is apparently no dispo-
sition to treat SO important ques-
ton as this with less regard for the
forms of procedure than is shown in
dealing with minor matters. The sug-
gestion that as result of the confer
ence between the President and Spea-
ker Read yesterday the House was to
be held in check by the reference of
the report is based upon a. false as
sum ption.
The sentiment of the House is very
pronounced. Without reference to
party or politics the desire is for action
as speedily as the circumstances of the
case admit of. 1t is naturally expec-
ted, therefore, that the committee will
very SION after the message has been
referred report back whatever action
is deemed desirable. The House may
or may not follow the committee.
With the question once up the House
may run away with it and take radi-
cal action, if the Committee should not
report proposition that is satisfacto-
ry. This is mere speculation, hOwev-
err, since the Congress does not know
what the report of the board of in
quiry will disclose nor what the Presi-
d mt will recommend. The committee
will probably follow the President in
whatever he recommends. Decisive
action ly the President is expected,
and if this expectation is not disap.
pointed there will be 10 friction over
the question in Congress. There is a
st decided opposition in both houses
of Congress to anything like temporiz.
ing, and to any suggestion of arbitra-
ton or a proposition which involves
the continuance of Spanish domino.
ton over any part of the Island OF
Cuba. The universal demand in Con-
gress is for the relief of Cuba from the
Spanish yoke and reparation mot in
demnity) for the dest uction of the
Maine. If the course of the President
departs widely from this policy no one
doubts that there will be a distur
bance in Congress, but it is not apt tc
be resolved into a party contention.
In such an improbable contingency il
is thought that the friction would be
between the President and practically
the solid body of Congress. The sen
timent is so strong that there seem.
no possibility that Congress will bt
c mt mt with a mild policy. There is ;
fixed purpose on the part of the lead
ers and the active men in all parties
to hold themselves in restraint unit
the report o. tie Maine board ha.
been made and then to give reason
able time for action. Beyond thi.
point there is no assurance that any
sort of restraint will be possible.
The feeling that war is imminent is
more general in Congress today than i
has been before. From several con
sentative sources has come the asser
ton that the situation has assumed ;
graver aspect than at any time before
and that war seems inevitable. 1hs
report comes from an administration
, source that the President is about t.
J send to Congress a special messag'
which will cause a sensation, elearin.
away all doubt that now surrounds tn
J situation. This is represented as no
being the message transmitting the re
port of the Maine court of inquiry, blu
: one in advance of that, dealing will
the general Cuban question. OF cours
a report of this sort cannot be verifie'
but must be judged by its source.
In this case the source is good an
, has heretofore been reliable. TIL
) President sent for Senators Alliso
> and German today. This is the frs
time he has called a democrat int
conference. Men who have been COL
; suited or conferred with by the Pres
Z dent are close-mouthed after talk wit
: him, but there is no concealing ths
!. they are graver after the talk. Speai
. er Reed has determinedly refused 7
give information concerning his tai
with the President. but men whoh av
9 seen the Speaker are satisfied by n
q manner that he is not pleased wit
the situation and feels that a serior
responsibility is being assumed o
some body for very critical situation
II is said that he is evidently dissati
IS fed, but will not explain why. 1t
J. known only that he has never been
4 favor of war.
Members of the Kentucky deleg
y ton are slow to talk on the subjee
y but it is easy to see that deepd own
" their hearts they want fight, and
~ believe they will so vote if Congress
nores the President and takes actie