The morning news., 1899-03-19
GATHERING IS SIGNIFICANT.
JEkYL MAY YET SEE POLITICAL
RECONCILIATION.

ThOmnsviIIe GOsSips Trying to Fig
ure Ont the Meaning of the Com
ing Meeting-Messrs. Moore and
Bliss, Who Sent the Invitations,
Are Friends to both Mckinley and
Reed-Hannn Declares Reeds visit
Cuts No Figure at All.
Thomasville, Ga. March 1S.-~Thomasvilie
for tie first time since the Presidents
visit, was rife with political gossip to-
day.
Jekyl Island, speculation ran, was TO
be the scene of an important political
gathering, where the future course of the
Republican party would be gone over and
settled far from the public and the press,
and shielded from intrusion by strict en-.
forcement of the mo trespassing' regu-
lations of the rich club which controls It's
destinies.
The sudden appearance of Speaker Reed
at Jekyl Island, the authoritative an
nouncement that President Mckinley, Vice
President Hobart and Senator Hanna
would make their trip there on Monday,
and the visit of Judge Day, formerly Sec
retary of State, to Thomasville, though
absolutely mere condolences according to
the statements of the gentlemen named
all of whom are here revived at once
recolFections of the important part in ma
tional history born of Thomasville confer
ences four years ago
The conferences now, said the gossip,
were to be transferred to Jekyl Island
the scene chosen was suggestive of the
times when Kings met on craft in mid
stream 10 settle the destines Of empires
1t is fair to say at the outset that Senator
Hanna, Vice President Hobart and Presl-
dent Mckinley himself, say positively
that there is no politics whatever In their
present visit South, and that II is UNDER
taken solely for rest and recuperation.
Reeds Presence a Surprise.
AS to Speaker Reeds presence at Jekyl,
both Senator Hanna and Vice President
Hobart said that they did not know the
speaker was there until they saw the pa
pers. The latter, before the arrival of
the papers, was so positive the speaker
was not TO be at Jekyl Island that when
newspaper man told him Mr.. Reed was
70 be there he promptly bet him a suit
of clothes that Speaker Reed was not at
Jekyl and would not be at Jekyl Island.
The news, ii was evident, was also sur
prising to others In the Presidents party,
who ordinarily would have heard of II
had there been any anticipatory comment
about the house on the subject As re-
CARDS Judge Day, he is not going to
Jekyl, and probably will be out of Thomas
vile on the way home by the time the
President returns.
May Mean Reconciliation.
There is, nevertheless, a possibility that
the Jekyl Island trip, though not so in
tended perhaps by its principals, may
have an important political bearing. 1t may
prove to be the reconciliation ground of
President Mckinley and Speaker Reed.
That their relations are strained and the
development Of party policy in legislation
hindered thereby is matter of common re-
port
John G. Moore, whose guest Speaker
Reed is. and Cornelius Bliss who asked
President Mckinley and party to visit him.
are common friends of all parties person.
ally and politically and through them har-
monious fellowship may again prevail be-
tween the two foremost Republicans
If the Jekyl Island trip has any polIti-
cal outcome it will be this. Should this
consummation come il is quite likely that
neither the speaker nor the President would
have been privy TO its inception, for knowl-
edge by them of such an Interior hope by
their hosts would have prevented its ac-
complishment This view is entirely con-
sistant with the statements of the princi-
pal persons who will be there for they
declare absolutely politics cuts no figure
in the trip, and their denials were in no
sense technical, but broad and comprehen-
slve.
No Politics in Days Trip.
Judge Day arrived in Thomasvlie at 2:4O
O'Clock this afternoon. He went at once to
the Piney Woods Hotel and he and Mrs.
Day being tired retired for an hour or so.
His cheeks were tanned and he seemed to
have gained little flesh. Late in the af-
ternoon, to an Associated Press corre-
spondent he said.
"We are working our way North from
Palm Beach and hearing ThomasvilIe was
a fine place we decided to stop here and
pay our respects to the President. / want
ed to see him and Mrs. Day wanted to see
Mrs. Mckinley.
Yes, you will be safe In saying posi-
lively that neither policies nor interna-
tional affairs are in any way connected
with our visit. We are only here to pay
our respects to the President and enjoy
ourselves"
Judge Day said that he was not going to
Jekyl Island, and would leave here for the
North the early part of next week
Senator Hanna has learned Of his ar
rival, and called as the Associated Press
correspondent was talking to Judge Day.
Reed Has Nothing TO DO with II.
The senator, when told of the reports
that fthara WAC fo no "a biy t,otitInaI 49,,