The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-11
X'I1NLEY MAY VISIT CUBA.
~uE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS CAUSED
HUGH SPECULATION.
Aanng other Things = Qaestion II
uaased That Until Annexation In
Aeeompltshed There In Danger

NEW YORK, Dec. l0--A special TO the
nrr4bure from Washington says.
A report that the president INTENDS 10 VISIT
ruoa ard Porto Rico at the first favoraoie
oooorturi,y has become known IN the state.
war and navy departments. and was quick
II made the subject Of serious speculation
among various officials on account OF the
exceedingly interesting questions II raised.
among other things there was spontane-
ess revival OF the fiction that the chief sx-
ecu.iye could not pass the boundaries OF the
United States without forfeitsng his office.
Ii Is peculiar how persistent is the notion
even among higher officials that some con-
e.jiusionai or statutory restriction confines
the executive 10 American soil, when, as a
matter OF fact, although none OF President
McKinIey's predecessors have ever left the
country during their terms OF office. their
actions were alone affected by conssdera-
tons Of propriety or precedent. which no
one colzd hold to apply In the present In
stance II was generally recognized that
the president might naturally wish to make
. pergonal tour of Inspection IN those ISL
ands as soon az he could spare the time
from pressing public business in Washing
ton, and that no valid objection could stand
against such q tour as ne was understood
to contemplate. II Is pointed out how
ever, that IL would be practically ;mpossi-
be for him TO spare the time requisite for
such an extended voyage as that to Porto
Rico before congress adjourns on March l.
which In, fortunately. about the best time
Of year to make a short stay In the tropics.
During the first six weeks OF the new year.
IN addition to the continuous executive rou-
tine business. the social obligations involved
n the programme OF public receptions and
state dinners would restrict the president
closely TO Washington. and after next
weeks Southern tour he will hardly find
Il possible TO leave the White House for
more than two days at time before the
beginning OF Lent and the middle Of Feb
ruary. For the ensuing two weeks, with the
rush OF legislation which marks the closing
days az short session OF congress there
viii be no leisure for the executive, and
therefore his pennant could hardly fly in
the harbors Of Porto Rico before the mid
die Of March.
With Havana only a single nights run
for the dispatch boat Dolphin from Tampa.
there might be chance for the president
to spend two whole days there I'm a weeks
absence from Washington and remain al
ways In close Geographic communication
with the executive departments, 30 that II
. critical emergency occurred he could be
In railway train speeding toward the cap
inl within twelve hours. No thought is
entertained, however, OF presidential trip
to Havana before the Spanish dag IL hauled
down on January /.
There Is linanimity az opinion among OFF,
clas that the contemplated trip of the pres
dent 10 Havana has as fun warrant "a his
trip to Porto Rico. so long as the American
nag hies over Cuba. although a few auib-
blers may hold that Porto Rico itself ,s
not actually a part os United States terri
tory until congress has made a declaration
70 that effect, either In so manyiwnrds. or
by ratifying the peace treaty OF Faris This
6ne point is not seriously raised except 10
show that Porto Rico and Cuta must be-
considered identical. In view OF the fact
hat they are governed precisely alike, by