The Somerset reporter., 1898-04-21
ULTIMATUM ISSUED.
Spaniards' Room Better Than
Company In Cuba.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Talks About the
Cslumniators of Spain and Calls For
Union Against an odious Attempt Upon
tho Integrity of National Territory.
Washington, April 20.-Spain has been
informed that the Cuban resolution
passed by congress Is now part of the
laws of the United States With the
information was an ultimatum demand
answer within short time, probably
"a hours. Compliance Is not expected,
and forward movement on Cuba will
commence the latter part of this week,
according to the plans of the administra-
ton.
TWO cabinet meetings were held yes
terday, the first beginning at II o'clock
and lasting two hours and the second
lasting from until $3.50. At their close
announcement that executive action was
delayed until today was made. Both
sessions were devoted principally to dis
cussion of the ultimatum to Madrid. At
the morning session the president rather
favored allowing the Madrid govern
ment two or three days in which to re-
ply to our demands, but since that time
he has changed his views somewhat,
and 1t is now believed to be his purpose
to require an answer within a short time.
The reason for limiting the time to one
day or even less is said to be entirely
strategic; otherwise two or even three
days would have been allowed TIE
ultimatum recites the main features of
the resolution passed by congress, which
arrived at the white house at ID o'clock.
little over an hour having been con-
sumed in the formaities of securing the
signatures Of Speaker Reed and Vice
President Hobart in open session and
Its delivery by Representative Hager of
Iowa, chairman OF the committee on
enrolled bills, and Representative Over
street of Inuiana 1t was expected that
the resolution would be signed immedi-
ately 1t reached the president, and this
was Mr.. McKinley's inclination, but for
certain reasons 1t was deemed advisable
that the resolution and the ultimatum
to Spain should be signed simultaneous
ly, and time was needed to draft the
ultimatum in diplomatic form. The
fact that the resolution was not immedi-
reports, but it soon appeared from state
msnts Of cabinet officers that the presi-
dent had not the slightest intention of
withholding his signature, and that the
delay in attaching 1t was accounted for
solely by his desire to have full and
complete plan of operations for the gov
eminent of the executive in the i'm
mediate future before taking the final
nd ots %
resolution into statute.
AS to the course of events In the i'm
mediate future, the only prediction that
can be made is one based on presidents.
According to these, Minister Woodford
will notify the Spanish government of
the action of the United States, and
should the Spanish answer be unsatis-
factory as is expected, the next step will
be for him to ask for his passports and
leave Madrid. That would be followed
instantly by the withdrawal from Wash
ington of the Spanish minister. The
state department officials are confident
that the Spanish government will so
shape every phase of the negotiations as
to oblige us to take the initiative at
every point. After the withdrawal of
the ministers and assuming that Spain
does not back down will follow actual
war, but whether or not the overt act
Will be preceded by a formal declara-
ton of war, which would insure the i'm
mediate naturalization of the powers,
or whether the north Atlantic squadron
will make its appearance off Havana as
a beginning cannot yet be predicted.
The authoritative statement is made
that on the first call for troops only the
national guard will be given an OPP
portunity to volunteer for service in the
war. This statement Is in accordance
with those made by Secretary Alger to
the national guard men who called upon
him at the war department on Saturday.
when the modified Hull bill for the ex
pansion of the army in time of war was
under consideration. The secretary
thinks that such course Is in keeping
with sound discretion and the dictates
OF common sense, for the organized mil
itia have gone to great expense and have
devoted much time to perfecting them
selves for military duty. Any other
course, he believes, would be destructive
to the best interests OF the guard. AS
far as practicable the state organiza-
tons entering the volunteer service will
remain Intact, the governors of the va
rious states being permitted, as they
were In 1861 to designate the regimsntal
officers. which will include those OF the
grades of second lieutenants to colonies.
The president will reserve the right to
appoint the staff and field officers
The bulk OF preparations for action are
about completed and the work is now
reduced to perfecting details. The army
Is being modified, and all that remains
Is to insure the prompt supply of all
classes of equipment, and, as was stated
at the navy department today. the mar
ket has been CLEANED of available YES
sells, and 1t now comes to manning them
and perfecting the methods of communi-
cation and cooperation. The O'Higgins
was the last desirable ship of any size In
sight. and II has been authortatively
announced that all hope of getting her
has been abandoned.
Plans now being formulated in con-
gress involve the placing of about 200,-
600 soldiers at the disposal OF the gov
eminent within very short time after
the Cuban resolutions are approved by
the president This calculation is based
on the following figures: Standing
army. $1,000 by call for volunteers, Co.
900; by calling out state militia. II, 1000
or 10000; by army reorganization bill,
5000. The bill drawn up by the war de-
partment. for introduction by Chairman
Hull of the military committee, author