Evening star., 1898-04-23

ton calilng Tor l21,oJo troops SfOrtly De1orc
noon today. Secretary Alger and Judge
Day were present and witnessed the sign
ing. The proclamation was promulgated
la ter at the State Department.
Secretary Alger said that the official call
for troops would rot be made upon the gov
ernors of the various states before Monday.
the President did not desire to have the
country in a state of ferment on sunday.
To make the official call today would neces-
state the ass amb.ing of troors in every
city and hamlet on Sunday. The beating of
drums and the excitement of millions OF
people would be more than the President
cared TO bring about when it could be pre-
vented until Monday without detriment to
the interests of the country.
Many Changes of Plan.
1t was almost Impossible to keep UP with
the days developments on the subject Of
the proclamation. Just after II o'clock d
nIemter of the Presidents official family
gave out the statement that the proclama-
ton would be signed, but would not be pro-
nuig Ated until Monday or officially put into
operation before that date. Tlis informa-
tion was flashed by wire to every part of
the country.
About this time Gen. Alger went to the
w III
the President The whole situatio changed
in 4 few minutes and TIE announcement
was made that tie proclamation would be
made public today. There has been good
deal of gossip to the effect that the coun-
try expected notification of the call today,
and that Gen. Alger urged that it be made
at once. 1t is barely possible that the
first Information given out was miscon-
general. 1t is known that Gen. Aiger fa-
vors action as speedily as possible, and has
urged this line from the first.
Pressure for Army Appointments.
The provision Of the volunteer army bill
providing for four major generals is giving
the President some concern. Senators and
representatives of all parties have been
busy for several days submitting the
names of friends for these positions. The
President will have a long list to pick
fron in selecting the major generals.
Plenty of pressure is being already
brought to secure the other good places
provided for in the bill. There will he an
ambitious scramble for the nine brisadier
generalshps, as we'll as for the many other
high Offices.
Nothing is given out at the White House
&c what will be done with Gen. Lee.
Everybody believes he will he male a ma jor
general, but it is not thought this has been
decided upor.
4 Declaration of War.
The question of a formal declaration of
war was under consideration during the
morning by the President, who had long
talk with Assistant Secretary Day. On
this question, on others, there has been
a change of opinion. The cabinet at it's
session yesterday agreed that formal dec
laration of war is not necessary at this
time. Attorney General Griggs then held,
and was of the same opinion today, that a
state of hostilities already exists and that
no declaration of war is necessary. He is
of the opinion, however, that formal dec
laration will soon be necessary to fix the
legal status of affairs.
Many opinions nave been given and all
these are now under consideration. If the
President contempiates a message to Con-
gress asking for j declaration some of the
members of MS cabinet are in ignorance of
his purposes. The best opinion is that no
such a message will go in before some
time next week. This is likely to change
with events as other changes have been
made.
The Presidents reasons for urging Con-
gress to declare war Immediately are first
that he may avail himself freely Of services
of retired officers; second, that Spain, by its
acts. has practically declared war, and
third. that naval officers may be entitled
uEquestionably to prize money for captures.
Feeling In Congress.
The best authorities in Congress say that
there is not yet anything IN the proposition
that the President will call upon Congress
at once to declare war. If later Congress
takes action in this dire ction it will not be
in the form OF a declaration of war. but
declaration recognizing that war already
exists. The President is proceeding on the
assumption that war was declared by Spain
and that it already exists. For him to call
on Congress for simple declaration of war
would be. 1t is claimed, to abandon this po-
sition, but declaration that war already
exists II mads at any time would not con-
fict with the position taken.
A test of whether the action of Spain In
refusing to receive a communication from
this country and IN giving Mr.. Woodford
his passports for the reasons assigned was
a declaration Of war, will be made at once
in the case of thu prize captured by the
Nashville. This case will be submitted at
once to prize court If that court decides
that the capture was legal ard recognizes
the existence of state of war, there will
he no need for Congress to act except as a
matter OF convenience 10 declare that war
does already exist If this court should de-
eide that the capture was illegal because
of the fact that a state of war did not exist
at the time OF the capture, Congress will
then be called upon to make a formal dec
laration Of war at once
1t Is not anticipated. however, that there
Is any likelihood of the prize court deny
ing that state of war does exist
Number of Volunteers,
Another change made since yesterday
was In the number of troops to be called
for 1t was agreed ut. yesterdays cabinet
to make the number 10000. Deliberations
at the White House since yesterday in
duced the President to make the call for
l2oOeO men. Many of the Presidents
friends ana advisers were in favor of max
Ing the number larger than this. 1t is
known that several of his friends urged
him to make the number 100000. It was
urged that this number of men would not
be necessary in the operations against the
Continued on Second Page.)