The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-22
WARM AND EXCITING
WEATHER AND WAR NEWS THE
TOPICS IN WASHINGTON.
SEC'Y HAY MUCH SOUGHT.
DAILY SCENES IN OFFICE OF STATE
DEPARTMENT..

influence Exercised by the Presi-
dent - White House Became the
Source of Information When He
Was in ngtOn-Extra Ses-
sion of Congress Would Not he
Justified at Observation-Disclosures
ton VIII Proceed Carefully.
Washington, July 21.-With the Their
mometer flirting with the one hundred
mark and the exciting war news from
China, Washington has probably been the
hottest and the most excited city on this
continent during the past week.
The first report of the battle of Tien
Tsin in which the American forces lost
heavily for the time being. seemed to
turn the heads of some of the unusually
Unconditional members of the administra-
zion. Even the optimistic Secretary of
the Navy wavered for a moment in his
belief that Minister Conger and the Amer
leans in Pekin are safe. Secretary Hay, gen
orally cautious, discreet and always d.
plomat displayed considerable irritation
and breathed a spirit of resentment III
discussing unofficially the distressing sit
uation in China.
The department Of state has been the
storm center of all the seekers for in
formation since the complications in
China became so acute. During the past
lew days every foreign representative
now in Washington has made daily visits
20 The department in search of informa-
non from China. The whole army of
Washington cOrrasnouHants saAp1 hava
peen centered for the time being in the
corridors outside the office of Secretary
nay. II would be a physical impossible
Iy TOT MIN to grant an individual inter
We" to each of the hundred or more
newspaper men. With his usual friend
mess to the members of the craft, he has
auop'ed a system of receiving the news
puPer fraternity in bunch two or
WIee times daily or whenever a dis
patch is received or a conference held
whlch require such explanations as he
.a' consistently give. He has a perfect
Understanding with the regular CORE
siohoents that he is not to be quoted I'M
uel any circumstances and therefore he
'a4Ks with the greatest freedom to them
ana permits himself to be cross-examined
win equal freedom
ere 1t not for the gravity of the sub
!ect under discussion these daily scenes
Seoiy may = OIIlCe
wouid be amusing. The Secretary sits al
%n enormous desk at which Seward, Fish,
nlalhe and Olney sat while conducting
"1F relations with foreign Powers, almost
occurred from view by a human circle of
Jews gatherers. With commendable pa
ueuce ne turns in his revolving chair first
70 inc right then to the left to reply to
'.He more or less inqusitive seeker for
..I vrmat on. Some of the correspondents
s"3" better knowledge of the subject
uHuer discussion than others and the
Gu.suons asked by the former always re-
i've serious consideration by Secretary
10y fnppant or insinuating inquiries are
.e.ly' but effectively parted by the Sec
AIRY, so that the interview invariably
inmates with the Secretary furn shing
s1CN Information as he believes to be
'upaiihle with the public interests and
Slne same time supplies a text for an in
"4-ent story.
Influence of Mckinley.
=, ne magnetic influence which President
M-NIhloy exercises over official Washing
-, was never more strongly emphasized
Ian on the occasion Of his home coming
,9S' tuesday. Monday the excitement in
,-''isI Diplomatic and local circles was
- intense that all other sub
~ save the Chinese question
"rIe ignored Omcials in the departments
'neir desks and clustered around the
'"''h boards. Commercial men neglected
business TO discuss the probability
an extra session OF Congress to be fol-
Gu with declaration of war against
sIla' On the street cars and on the
walks, men and women without re-