The Press., 1900-10-25
Washington Letter.
washington, october, %, 1900.

washington, october, %, 1900.
The president left Washington today,
for Canton, where he will rem ain until he
casts his vote on election day. He went
away In very pleasant state Of mind.
He believes that he is going to be re-
elected, and he knows that the agreement
between Germany and England, just made
public, not to take any territory from
China themselves or to allow any other
power to do SO, and to maintain the open
door In Chinese commerce, gives the u. 8.
all that it has asked for-an equal chance
with all other nations to maintain and in
crease It's trade with China. That agree
ment Is the most important event, regard
ed from the standpoint of American inter-
ests, that has occurred, In connection with
the Chinese mix-up. It insures our get
ting peacably what many think we would
have been justified In going to war to get,
had it become necessary. Germany and
England being our leading rivals for
Chinese trade, were hardly actuated by
desire to help US. 1t is more likely that
they wish to make sure that Russia should
give up Manchuria, the big Chinese pro-
vince which it Is already practically In
POSSESSION of. That Is their lookout, not
ours. This country has no interests in
China other than of being allowed to trade
with the Chinese, and that this agreement
assures to us.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. who has been spend
ing several days in Washington, doesn't
go so far as to predict failure for the Gu
ban constitutional convention that will
meet November 5, but he makes 1t quite
evident that he doesn't believe the con-
vention will provide constitution that
will be accepted by congress. Gen. Lee
made a statement concerning the present
epidemic of yellow fever In Havana, the
worst since American occupation, that Is
calculated to arouse interest and discus
sion In the medical and scientific world
that the best physicians in Havana had
about been convinced that sanitary pre-
cautions were not bar to yellow fever.
One of the Americans who accompanied
the Boer ENJOYS to Washington-St. John
Gaffney, of New York, is again at the
national capital. He expresses the opin-
ion that England will never be able to
hold the territory it has taken from the
Beers, even If the European powers raise
no objection to the annexation Of the
South African republics, and he would
not be surprised to see several Of them OBJ
ject. He says the Beers and Afrikand-
ers will bide their time and will start a
new revolution the moment England gets
involved in war with any of the great
powers.
The career of W. s. Wright, who was
citizen OF Logansport, Ind, just before
the opening of the war with Spain, and
who is now in Washington, as the per-
sonal and business representative of Pres.
Jimenez of the republic of San Domingo,
Is romantic enough for the theme of a
novel. He became lieutenant In the
signal service and served In Cuba on Gen.
Fitz Lees staff, and later as newspaper
correspondent. He got acquainted with
Jimenez, who was living In Havana at the
time, having been banished from San
Domingo by Heureaux, the then presi-
dent of the black republic, and the result
of that acquaintance was that he accom-
panied Jimenez upon a revolutionary ex-
pedition which resulted in making jim
| NE.
called the "prime minister" of Jimenez,
but he says he holds no official position.
He admits, however, that he is closely
associated with Jimenez and that he ie
now In the U. s. as his personal repre-
sentative, for the purpose of making ar.
rangements for the development of the
rich resources of the republic by Ameri.
can capitalists. Mr.. Wright says that
although local estimates are much larger
he doesn't think the population of San
Domingo exceeds 100000, four -fifths Of
whom ale black. Mr.. Wright doesn't
say much about his own financial for.
tune, but the style In which he now lives
makes it evident that his resources are
much greater than those of a lieutenant
in the signal service.
Gov. Sayers of Texas, who made many
friends during his long service in con
gress, has been in Washington severa
days. He said of his visit: ~ am here
In the interest of the state of Texas, which
has not been reimbursed by the nationa
government for expenses incurred In sup
plying its quota of volunteer troops dur
ing the Spanish-American war. came
to arrange for the payment of that money
in accordance with the provisions of ar
act passed by congress July 8, 1898, pro
viding reimbursement to the various state
governments for the expenses incurred
In mobilization of volunteers before they
were mustered into service. At my con
ferences with treasury officials, they indi
cate every desire to facilitate the pay
ment." #".l O..
| The statistician of the department o
agriculture estimates that the farmers o
Texas lost fully $5,OOO,00O, exclusive o
damages to machinery and buildings, by
the Galveston storm, $3, 40O, 900 Of which
was represented by cotton destroyed
$5O0,O00 by corn, $219,OO0 by rice, ant
$49O, 900 by live stock.
/ ~. t
IT HAPPENED IN A DRUG STORE. -"One