Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-25
DAVIS IN CONFERENCE
Senator Sees the President and
Talks Over Conditions of
Peace With Spain.
ALSO HAS A TALK WITH DAY.

Settlement of the Philippines Question the
Subject of the Discussion - American
Terms To BE Formulated at Other Con-
ferences of the Three Gentlemen -
Scheme That Is Alleged to Have the In
side Track with the PresideEt-Davis
Declines to Talk for Publication.
Washington, Aug Ex-senator Davis,
chairman of the senate committee on
foreign relations, and selected as
member of the commission TO nego-
tiate terms of peace with Spain. ar
rived in Washington yesterday. lie
went to the White House very soon
after his arrival. and remained with
the president for an hour. The con-
ference was ola preliminary character.
and was devoted largely to the great
question which the administration will
have to settle IF control of the Philip
pines. Afterwards Davis went to the
state department and saw Secretary
Day, who is also to be. a member of
the peace commission. Davis will re-
main in Washington two or three days,
and the terms of peace for the Ameri-
can side viii be formulated as far as
possible in the conferences which will
occur between the president. the secre-
tary Of state and the chairman of the
Alleged Idea of the President.
These preliminarieS will be of great
Importance, as all the diplomatic ques-
tions, the examination Of old trea ties
the many poirts to be involved in the
new treaty, of necessity will have to be
thoroughly considered by the commits
sioners. There was a good deal of talk
yesterday about an alleged presidential
plan for the solution of the Philippine
lr-fll1 lam rrsl,i ,iTh
tentiOn by the United States of the
Island of Luzon. on which the city of
Manila is situated equal trade facili-
ties with Spain in the remainder of the
Philippine group; none OF the islands to
be disposed of to any foreign nation;
the severance of all existing relations
between church and state in the entire
Philippine group. The presidents de-
sire for the separation of church and
state.in the Philippines is understood to
be based especially Upon the remark
able situation in the islands. The friars
and priests are maintained in authority
by 0e Spanish government. paid out of
the revenues of the government. and
are intrusted with the task. of preserv-
ing Spanish rp1e in the islands.
Don'spec1ined to Talk.
This may be Correct or it may be pure
speculation. Davis refused absolutely
to discuss with newspaper men any of
the question growing out of the war, or
the subjects which might likely come
before the commission. He would
neither express his own views nor dis
cass the sentiment of the people OF his
own state or other sections respecting
the Philippines. the government of
Porto Rico or the management of af-
fairs in Cuba. Davis briefly referred
to the success of the war and the
achievements of the American soldiers
and sailors in the different battles
which occurred. He was especially
gratified at the gallant conduct of the
Thirteenth Minnesota in the battle of
Manila, and while here made arrange
ments with the war department for
bringing home the remains Of Captain
BJornstad. of that regiment. who died
OF wounds since the battle was fought
Many members of the regiment are per-
sonal friends of the senator.