Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-31
MACRUM'S SIDE.
Testifies Before Hous9 Commit.
tee on Foreign Affairs.
Request for Mediation in English.
Boer Troubles Was Addressed to
and Refused by United States
Says That Steyn Requested such
Appeal to Avert War-Secretary
Hay Gives OHicial View.


| submitted to the house foreign affairs
committee yesterday u letter giving the
| official view of the Macrum case.
Charles E. Macrum, ex-consul at Pre-
toria, was summoned to testify before
the committee.
The most important statement made
by Macrum was that request for me-
diation was addressed to and refused by
the United States. He declared that he
and Colonel Stowe. American consul
general al Cape Town, had conference
with President Steyn of the Orange Free
State at Bloemfontein on Sept. 12.
At that time war seemed certain and
President Steyn asked Colonel Stowe
TO request Of the Pre- resident of the Urited
States a settlement of the difficulty"
Colonel Stowe, Macrum says. at oEce
cabled this request to the state depart
ment and informed Macrum by letter in
October that he had received an urfav-
orable reply.
This statement created sensation in
the committee. Asked If he had Stoves
letter he replied that this letter was at
the consulate in Pretoria, but he thought
he had copy Of 1t in his papers at home.
He went over the exchange of tele-
grams with the state department rela-
tive to his leave. but as these were in
the cipher of the department, the COM
mttee did not call for them.
He stated that his reason for not maxi
ing report to the state department on
the conditions in South Africa was that
when he called on Assistant Secretary of
State Hill. he said to Mr.. Hill that he
understood that he had been relieved.
Mr.. Hill responded that this was true.
Under such circumstances, Mr.. Macrum
said, he had no report to make to the
department. He endeavored, however,
to see the secretary Of state, but was
told that Mr.. Hay was out.
After hearing Mr.. Macrum the COM
mittee vent into executive session.
Chairman Hit presented letter from
Secretary Hay giving in detail the de-
partment's view on the subject. The
committee took no action as to making
a report, and it was stated by members
that there was nothing to be done beyond
taking the testimony.
Secretary Hays letter giving the off,
cial view of the case, said in part: up
to this date, Mr.. Macrum, late consul OF
the United States at Pretoria has made
10 representations to this department.
in regard to the opening of his mail by
the British authorities.
Although, without any information
except the allegations of Mr.. Macrum. to
which reference was made in a reSolu-
tion OF the house of representatives, MAX
ing certain inquiries of this department,
mentioned the natter to the British am
tassador, who made inquiry in regard to
it of the British government, and was
informed in return that the British gov
eminent was not aware of any such in
oident having taken place, but If any
thing Of the sort had occurred. 1t was
contrary to the instructions of that gov
ernment."
II received no further information in
regard to the matter until March q,
when this government was informed by
a dispatch from MIR. Stowe, consul gen.
eral of the United States at Cape Town.
that two letters from this consulate, one
to Pretoria and one to Lourenzo Mar
quez, We're opened by the censor at Dur
Ian. Upon notice of this l called upon
tie II6u COIIiulSSlOIcT, WIlO WlTtu
ban and a very satisfactory apology was
returned
Secretary Hay says in conclusion that
the temporary consul recommended by
Macrum was fugitive from justice.
ST. Johns, March 29.-The Newfound-
land legislature met today. The Bond
Morris cabinet confronted the assembly
with speech, avowing the colony's sup
port Of Great Britain in the war in South
Africa.
Notes From the Labor Field.
Columbus, March 29-The machinists'
strike was settled last night. The cm-
2loyers agree to take back all the old
men. but they are left free to employ
non-uniOn labor on equal terms with
union labor. The machinists get
a 9-hour work day and % cents an hour,
price and a half to be paid for all over
time. The settlement IL a compromise
Chicago. March 29-The spirit of con
ciliation is beginning to be shown among
both contractors and wOrkmen, and q
new proposition for restoring peace and
settling future disputes by arbitration
is being talked over in both camps.
This plan is that the building contractors
and the Building Trades council shall
hereafter compel their members to ar
bitreyte disputes. work to continue pend
ing arbitration. the decision to be retro
active.
Chicago, March 20. - According to
President Connell of the International
Association Of Machnists it Is the in
tention Of the Machinists' union to begin
a campaign of education" on the sub
ject of labor uniOnism. For this purpose
a theatrical company has been organized |
which will present melo drama dealing
with labor problems. The profits will he !
devoted to the machinists' fight
Brave and Brainy Brother.
Waterville. Me-. March 29-Georse
York Of Unity Plantation. while crossing
the Kennebec river in company with his |
brother, slipped into a large hole and |
was carried beneath the ice. His broth |
er carefully followed the body until it |
appeared again at another hole. Jumped |
into the water and swan with it to the |
shore. Afte some hours of hard work |
York was restored to consciousness.
Richard Sands. so years old, died sud- |
denly at New York. He was known as
the champion clog dancer Of the world.
PoOlrOom Keeper Shot.
Fall River. Mass. March 29-Charles |
Z. Albin Ia held in $4,000 bail for trial
for the alleged shooting of Moses Swartz
in a pool room. Swartz has bullet in
his left thigh. Swartz. the keeper of
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