The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-09-17

ALL CABINET PRESENT.
Secretary Long Makes journey
TO Complete the Presid ent'S
Official Family

Washington, p. c. Sept. 13-Secretary
| Long reached Washington today. having
| run down from his New England summer
| home to comply with the Presidents wish
| that there should he Il full attendance al
| the cabinet meeting. 1t is the Secretary's
| expectation. unless something unforeseen
| deyclopes, to return almost Immediately to
| his family.
| The purpose of the President in calling
! for u full attendance At the cabinet meet
| ing was to submit TO the members the
| instructions which will he given to the
American peace commissioners. The time
is very limited in which to properly charge
| the commissioners, for. as the members
| viii sail from New York Saturday on the
| Campania, they must leave Washington
| Friday, 50 that only two days are avail
! able to close up their business Ill Wash
| ington.
1t Is believed that the President has
not finally and definitely concluded upon
| line OF policy respecting the Philippines
| whether they shall be retained or rein-
| GuiShcd. He was strongly disposed at
| the time of the signature of the protocol
| to acquire nothing more than coallng
! station. or PERHAPS Il naval station at
most, i'll the Philippines. From the many
inquiries he has made of public men, and
| from the notice lie has taken of the atti-
| tude assumed towards this question by
the press Of the country, il Is inferred that
| he ia still open to conviction To the
best line of policy to be pursued. and 1t
is probable that his principal purpose iIl
calling the cabinet meeting today was iu
! gather from the members their personal
opinions. which are supposed to he fresh
ly acquired from contact with the people
where they have been, as III the case OF
Secretary Long and others paying vlSIts
to their native states.
One element in the cabinet is disposed
to postpone the final decision on the fu-
ture of the Philippines, arguing that the
matter might safely be left to the diSclr-
tiOn of the peace commissioners and
pointing out that important developments
changing the whole aspect of the ques-
tion could fairly hc expected before the
joint commission had taken UP the sub
jcct for consideration.
1t is the present disposition to refrain
from publishing instructions TO the peace
commissioners, SO it is probable that only
the most general idea will be permit
ted to leak out. This course is regard
| ed as absolutely essential in order 10
prevent the Spanish commissioners from
obtaining an advantage III the ncgotla-
tiOns.
The officials at the navy and war do"
partmCnt feel more confidence than iEcy
have heretofore expressed regarding the
present situation in the Philippine Islands.
In spite of all the di>lucting reports that
have come of late from newspaper sources
indicating the existence of critically
strained rela between the insurgents
and the American forces of occupation,
it is fact that for three days past 10
word came to either state, navy or war
departments from Manila until today.
| That was message from Admiral Dew
cy asking authority from the department.
al officers to purchase some fresh beef,
which would afford him supply fer
three months. The admiral mlde no
mention of any disturbances.
After Il session lasting nearly two and
Il half hours the cabinet took Il recess
until $50 O'Clock this afternoon. The
situation at Manila was discussed at
some length, but the principal business of
tn" meeting was the discussion Of the let
ter of instructions to be given to tn" com
mission which will meet i'll Paris TO for
mulate Il treaty of peace with Spain.
The letter OF Instructions Will not be
made public but it is understood that it
is comprehensive in character and in ad-
dition to making plain the general policy
of the government ouf all important
points, it covers all the details that can
now he forcscCn and provided for.
1t is assumed. however, that many
questions are likely 10 arise during the
deliberations of the joint commission
upon which the American members will
require specific cable instructions from
the President.
Secretary Day has not yet sent his res
iGnation to the President. but no doubt
he Will do so within a day or two.