The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-03
PLANS WERE DISCUSSED
SPECIAL CABINET MEETING AT
WASHINGTON HELD OVER THE
CHINESE SITUATION
WILL NOT HAMPER CHAFFEE
Administration Has Great Confidence
In His Ability and Discretion
Hays Message to Ii Hung
Chang Commended.

| WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-President Nc
Kinley. accompanied by Secretary Cor
| telyou, reached Washington at 7;50 this
morning. They travelled In a special car
attached to the regular Pennsylvania
| train which left Canton yesterday after
noon. At all the stations through Ohio
and Pennsylvania while daylight lasted,
crowds congregated. While the presi-
dent appeared on the rear platform sew
eral times In response to the greetings
of the people, the stops were brief and
he made no attempt to speak. At Econ
| omy, Pa, Mr.. Abner Mckinley. the pres
idents brother, boarded the train and
rode with the president as far as Pitts
burg.
The president was met at the train
| by Secretary Root, Gen Corbin and Ex-
ecutiye Clerk Pruden, who accompanied
him to the White house. There is no par
ticular significance in the presidents trip
to Washington at this time. When he
| returned 20 Canton two weeks ago he
arranged to come to Washington every
| fortnight to dispose OF such official bust
ness as had accumulated in the mean
time and go personally over the Chinese
situation with his cabinet advisers. In
this way, the necessity Of sending many
| bulky papers to Canton for his examina-
ton and signature would be avoided. and
| the president would have an opportunity
periodically of consulting with the mem
bers of the cabinet 1t is officially stated
that nothing had developed in connection
with the Chinese situation which especial
| lygdemanded his presence In Washington
at the present time.
It is the presidents intention to return
| to Canton tomorrow night. Soon after
the president reached the White house
! call for a cabinet meeting was issued for
| II o'clock this morning. Aside from this
| the cabinet officers who are in the city
will hold an individual conference with
| the president. Secretary Long, who in
| tended leaving last night for bingham,
/ Mass, on his annual vacation, remained
over and called upon the president on his
way to the station this morning. While
the secretary had no new dispatches from
China he discussed the general phases
of the situation He announced that the
president was unusually well and in fine
| spirits.
SPECIAL CABINET MEETING.
The special cabinet meeting today last
| ed about Two and a half hours. There
were present besides the president, Sec
rotary Hay, Secretary Root, Secretary
| Gage and Postmaster General Smith The
discussion was confined almost exclusive
| ly to the Chinese situation. All the
details of the situation since the presi-
| dent went to Canton. two weeks ago, were
carefully gone over and a general eX-
change of views was had. The definite
| information of the safety Of the legation
ers at Pekin and the hope for their
4 final rescue were considered the best fea-
| lures Of the situation
| The administration desires an irnme-
date movement on Pekin If 1t can be in
augurated without too much danger, and
while no news has come from Gen. Chaf-
| fee that the forward march has begun
such news is hourly expected.
cHAFFEE HAS FREE HAND.
The failure of the allies thus far to
agree upon the commander is disappoint-
| ing, but no new instructions have been
! or will be sent to Gen. Chaffee. He is
/ on the ground and the administration has
1 the greatest confidence in his ability and
/ discretion, and there Is no purpose here
/ to handicap him with instructions.
| No change in the present policy of the
| government resulted from the meeting to-
| day. The action Of Secretary Hay in no
/ tifying the powers that the United States
| government had informed Ia Hung Chang
| that we insisted on being placed in COM
| municaton with our ministers was unant-
mously Endorsed and commended as a
| step which must impress upon Ii and the
| Chinese government the fact that this
/ country Is not to be trifed with. The
| covert threats thrown out by Ii and the
/ other vicereys, as to the disaster that
| might eyerta1e the legahoners IL the ad-
/ vance Of the allies was insisted on, was
characterized by one Of the members Of
| the cabinet as a bluff II harm should
befaii them after the Chinese govern
| ments announcement OF It's ability to pro-
tect them. its accountability would be
ali the greater.
AS long as the administration has no
absolute knowledge that the Chinese gov
eminent has been implicated In the at
tacks upon legations. It VIII be assumed