Evening journal., 1898-08-24
HOLD ALL OF LUZON.
President Said to Have Decid-
ed This Definitely.
SENATOR FRYE ON THE COMMISSION.
Only Two Members Yet to BE Chosen.
Justice White of the supreme Court
and Former Minister DENLY Like
ly to BE Appointed.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-Presidert
Mckinley expects to definitely decide
upon his policy in regard to the Philip
pines al the meeting of the cabinet on
Friday.
This matter was discussed by the
cabinet yesterday, and one of the mem
bers said that the president had practi-
cally reached a conclusion. While II
cannot yet be announced definitely
what the policy VIII be, IL can be stated
positively that the president viii in
struct the American peace commission
ers not to accept less than the island of
Luzon. They may be told to go much
further and to demand the cession Of
the entire group of islands to the Unit
ed States, though there is reason to be-
lieve the president has not yet con-
cluded it would be wise for the United
States to undertake the control of all
the islands.
1t is the expectation of the president
that he will be able to announce the
entire list Of American peace commits
sioners on Friday, after the cabinet
meeting.
Senator Fryes name, 1t is stated, has
been added to the list Of those definite
~ selected, and the commission now
consists OF Secretary OF State Day,
Senator Frye of Maine and Senator Da-
Wis of Minnesota.
Justice White of the supreme court
has been spoken of as definitely select
ed. but it is said that his selection will
depend largely on the condition of
business before the court Members of
the court prefer that the president
should not appoint,one of their number,
for it would deprive the court of his
services during the October term. I'm
less the president is satisfied the busi-
ness of the supreme court would suffer,
Justice White will probably be named.
Announcement of the arrival in San
Francisco of former Minister to China
DENLY has caused his name to be
brought forward prominently as a pos
sible member of the peace commission.
II is urged that his selection would be
fitting on account of his service of 13
years as American minister to China
and his thorough acquaintance with OIL
entail matters and especially with ev-
erything relating to the development Of
American commerce with oriental coun-
tries
Mr.. DENLY is a Democrat, and if he
should be selected would give the presi-
dent what he has been troubled to find
"a Democratic commissioner.
Senator Frye's selection as a member
of the commission is looked upon here
as an indication that the president has
determined upon retaining at least
more than a mere coaling station and
military base in the Philippines, for
there are few more earnest advocates
of territorial expansion than the Maine
senator Though he would. of course,
follow the instructions of the adminis-
tration as TO the demands to be made
upon Spain. his personal desire would
be to retain all the islands under the
American flag.
Instructions cabled to Major General
Merritt, commanding the United States
forces in the Philippines, by Adjutant
General Corbin yesterday throw a sig
nificant sidelight upon the present pur-
poses of the president. General Merritt
is instructed to provide quarters for all
his men and is told that the question of
returning any part of them to the Unit
ed States "can only be decided after
the ratification of the report of the
peace commission, which may not be for
some weeks, even months, yet"
He is further instructed to send to
San Francisco all transports not needed
loi the lullntuldte use ol HIS Noiiihidnu.
This seems to. clearly indicate that the
president has determined to held terri
tory in the Philippines which will re-
quire General Merritt's entire force Ct
$1,000 men for garrison purposes. 1t is
argued that if Mr.. Mckinley contem-
plated any policy that would admit Ct a
reduction of General Merritt's forces in
any way as a result of the peace nego-
I tiations he would not direct the return Of
/ all the transports not needed for imme-
date use to the United States.