Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-04
Interest of Senators and Represent.
atives in the Subject.
CONFERENCE WITH ADMIRAL DEWEY
The President Talks With Him for
Over an Hour.
SOME VIEWS EXPRESSED

The greatest interest is taken among
senators and members of the House in
Washington today in the discussion of the
Philippine policy. The presence of Admiral
Dewey and the fact that he was in formal
conference with the President on the SUBJ
ject of the Philippines for an hour today
brings the matter uppermost in everybody's
mind
The talk on the Philippine question which
occurred last evening after the dinner at
the White House, 1T is said, was of the
most informal character and not prear-
ranged. The dinner itself was of the usual
formal character, nothing being said at
table on the subject of politics or state at
fairs. Afterward while few of the guests
were waiting for their carriages the Phil
ippine question came up for discussion
briefly, the President and admiral joining
in the talk.
what Senator's Say.
Neither the President Admiral
Dewey have, it is said, outlined any policy
that should be followed respects the
form of government that should finally be
established in the Philippines a perma-
nency, unless it was a their private con-
ference today. Senator Hanna who was
present at the informal talk last night,
says that the President announced his
policy at Pittsburg and has not announced
anything different. Senator Thurston, who
was a guest a the dinner, says that he
thinks there is a pretty general agreement
among republicans that every effort should
be put forth to put down the rebellion,
and that after that the character of The
permanent government should be deter
mined upon by Congress, with the approval
of the President. their action in the matter
being determined by information suftc,
to make it clear what the conditions are
that must be dealt with. He sad he had
not heard of any expression by the Presi-
dent indicating specific recommendations
to the final disposition of the govern
ment of the islands, and did not know
whether or not TO expect that recommen-
dations on this subject were to be ex-
pected in the Presidents annual message
the assembling of Congress.
Interest in Admiral Dewey's Views.
The greatest interest is taken in the
views Admiral Dewey may have to the
proper disposition of the Philippines, but
he seems to have expressed no opinion on
the subject to any one except perhaps the
President. Some of the Senators and mem
bers of the House who were near the ad-
miral on the Capitol stand yesterday OBJ
served with interest the manner in which
he received the expressions in the speeches
of Secretary Long and the President which
seemed to indicate a determined policy of
expansion, and 1t was remarked upon that
tested strong approval. Representative
Loudenslager today called special attention
to the admirars marked expression of ap
proval when the President said that there
would be no faltering in maintaining the
victory won at Manila, and said that he
thought the admirals sentiments were
very plainly disclosed by the earnestness
with which he appauded this declaration.
The opinion is very freely expressed among
friends of the administration that Dewey
will become a strong sustaining force in
upholding policy of expansion.
Representative Babcock's Opinion.
Representative Babcock of Wisconsin said
this morning that he thought the country
had pretty nearly settled down to one prop
osition as far as present policy was con-
cerned, and that thinking men wanted to
see the rebellion put down as speedily as
possible and the authority Of the United
States fully established in the Philippines,
the permanent form of government to be
determined afterward by Congress and the
President. He said that the great mass of
sober minded men he had come in contact
with did not think that the time had come
when a policy as to the exact manner of
government for the islands could be de-
clared; but approved of the policy announc-
ed of fully establishing the authority of the
United States before taking further steps.
What should be done finally would de-
pend upon the situation found to exist
plete. Congress- with the President would
have to determine this, but would have to
be in possession of better information than
now, in order to do wisely. He said that
there was very general agreement of
opinion among republicans the first
stage of the Philippine policy which has
been announced, and the further develop
ment of a policy must be considered as
question for the future. For his own part
he said, he believed that after the rebellion
was put down and the people of the Phil
ippines came to understand the character
of our government large majority of the
Filipinos would want to have the islands
kept under the nag Of the United States
Whether we would want to maintain the
flag over the islands would have to be de-
termined with all information as to the
conditions of the islands before US, but he
believed it would be found that the islands
are rich possession capable of great de-
velopment, and that the stability to be
found under the American flag was neces-
sary to a proper development of natural
advantages and a thoroughly stable and
good government.