The Press., 1900-07-19
Washington Letter.
Washington, July 16, 100

Official news from China tells of the
rapid spread of the Boxer movement and
the grave danger that there will be a
general massacre of foreigners all over
the empire, and unofficial news tells all
the horrible things imaginable, as having
been done to the foreigners in Pekin.
There is very little upon which hope can
be based that any of the latter are still
alive, although Secretary Long insists
that he believes they are. The Chinese
minister, who has all along insisted that
they would all turn up safe, now says
that we can only hope for the best, while
his manner makes it plain that he fears
the worst. Many believe that the Chinese
government Is purposely holding back the
news of what has occurred in Pekin for
fear of its effect upon the nations whose
citizens have been murdered. There is
much criticism of the slowness of Japan
and Russia In placing sufficient number
of troops In China to enable the allies to
take the aggressive against the Chinese,
and the suspicion is being aroused that
there Is lack of good faith somewhere
in the combination.
Somehow the secretary of war has been
pretty generally credited with favoring
the ultimate annexation of Cuba and with
believing it to be inevitable, although
there is no record of his having publicly
said as much. He said a day or two ago
that he did not think the question of an
nexation would be considered by the
constitutional convention soon to be held
in Cuba; that he believed the Cubans
wanted independence and not annexation
and that in any event the question of an
nexation should not be considered, much
less settled. until they had the absolute
independence which this government Is
pledged to give them, and that they
would be wise to ascertain whether their
requests would be favorably acted upon,
before they asked for annexation. Those
who ought to know most about the SUBJ
ject, express the opinion that it will re-
qure year or two of Cuban Independent
government to crystalize the annexation
sentiment on the island as well as in the
U. S., and that it will be business and
not sentiment that will force the matter
to the front. Gen. Leonard Wood, Cuba's
military governor, is coming to Washing
ton this week to consult with Secretary
Root about the rules and regulations
under which delegates to the Cuban con-
stitutional convention shall be elected.
Gov Allen of Porto Rico will visit his
family, In Massachusetts, few weeks,
before returning to Porto Rico. He re-
ports the new civil government to be NOV
ing smoothly, and the Porto Ricans to be
gradually falling into the ways of living
In keeping with the new conditions, and
thinks the island destined to become very
prosperous.
Secretary Wilson was probably the
most shocked man In Washington, when
he learned of the sudden death, from an
attack of heart disease, of Senator Gear
OF Iowa. The two men have been friends
for many years, and were out driving un-
til ten O'Clock Friday night. Saturday
morning Secretary Wilson was told that
Senator Gear was dead, and yesterday
afternoon he accompanied the remains to
Iowa. By one of those condolences, OF
which life is full, the dead body of Sem
ator Gear left Washington for Iowa on
the same train that he had made arrange.
ments to go upon alive. Senator Gear
was elected to a second term In the
senate last winter. Although he was NOT
a snowy public man, he was one of the
hard workers, and his wide experience
made him a valuable member Of the
senate, he having been mayor of the city
OF Burlington, member of the Iowa legis
lature, governor of the state, and 9
member of the house before entering the
senate.