The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-11
MYSTERIOUS
ASSEMBLACE.
President Issues a Sudden Call
to the Cabinet
To Meet Him in Conference at
the White House.
SECRECY MAINTAINED
None VIII Tell What Was Sub
ject of Discussion.
Believed That 1t Had to Do
With Cuban Affairs.

washington, June lin response to
messages from the president, sent late
last evening, after an hours talk with
the secretary of state, all the members
of the cabinet now in the city assem-
bled at the White House at O'Clock
There We're five of them present They
came in evening dress. Secretary Long
was accompanied by his little boy. The
object of the gathering was not known
to the members of the cabinet as the
invitations asked them to call at 8
o'clock. Several of the members said
the call was simply to pay their re-
spects.
The meeting was called suddenly by
messages sent the various members of
the cabinet. The president and Secre-
tary Long had been out driving, the
secretary being especially sent for by
the president to Join him in the drive.
When the president returned he found
Secretary Hay awaiting him and the
two spent a half hour together, the sec
rotary leaving later on night train for
Buffalo.
It was Immediately after this call
that the cabinet were asked to assem-
BILE and they arrived within few min
utes of one another, none of them be-
ing advised in advance of the object
Secretaries Long, Gage, Hitchcock and
Wilson, Attorney General Knox and
Postmaster General Smith were among
those present. Secretary Root is III
Buffalo. and Secretary Hay had left
for the same place.
The cabinet Immediately repaired to
the cabinet room, where they remained
less than an hour. They took occasion
to express their qualification at the
continued improvement in Mrs. McKin-
Iey's condition and also considered an
other subject which none of them would
disclose. each member saying that it
was a personal matter and some OF
them giving out the negative 1nforma-
ton that the meeting had no relation
to Cuba, China, the Fi1ipinos, the Porto
Ricans, the supreme court decisions, the
Boer war or any important public ques-
ton. The personal injunction on each
member to say nothing about the mat
ter prevented any further information
on the subject being had. Several cab
met officers said that the calls had to
do with Mrs. McKinley's continued i'm
provement.
In spite of statements of cabinet Off
GERS to the contrary, it is strongly be-
neved that their call on the president
last night was not strictly social Vague
hints are given out that matters of pub
PEELED the president to summon his ad-
viserS around him and naturally it is
generally surmised that something has
occurred in Cuba which the president
of the cabinet, so that they may have
the subject well digested before being
called to account on it.
At its meeting today the cabinet will
receive rather encouraging reports from
Cuba. Late advices from Governor
General Wood indicate that two or three
ton who at first were most active and
outspoken in their hostility to the Platt
law are now about to align themselves
with the supporters of that law and it is
strongly intimated as probable that if
a final vote is reached in the convention
this week the Platt law, without mOdifi-
cation or qualification, will be incor-
pOrated into the constitution of Cuba.
The sharp note, the second on the sub
ject, sent by Secretary Root to the con-
vention through General Wood, is be-
heved to have had the desired influence
at Havana. In this note the secretary
of war set forth plainly and unequivo-
cally the attitude of this government as
firm and unyielding.
This note apparently has made it plain
to the leaders Of the Radical party that
in the end they would suffer in power
and prestige by being exposed as the
real and only obStructiOnists of Cuban
independence 1t is said that General
Sanguily, whose incendiary message to
his constituents on the occasion OF the
ADOPTION by the convention OF the 9lalC
law in modified form. is generally re-
garded on the island as a joke, is about
the only radical who is still holding out
uncompromisingly against acceptance.
1t is not expected that at its meeting
the cabinet viii make any further an
nouncement in respect to Cuba, nor IS
it likely that any news Will be given out
concerning its deliberations on that sub
jeet.
It is more than likely that in view of
the changing mood among the conStltu-
ion 1trnrC q law "a OF
discuss the form and date of promulga-
ton of the electoral law for the first gem
eral election and the organization and
known that both Secretary Root and At
torney General Knox have been giving
tentiOn in detail in the last few days and
before the secretary of war left WASH
ington for the Buffalo exposition ne anc
the attorney general conferred on this
matter at the request of the president.
Before the convention at Havana mani
tested disposition to tri6e with the Platt
law it had been hoped in Washington Of
fetal circles that the Cubans would be
ready to hold their first general election
by the last of October or the first of No
vember next If the convention conforms
to the Platt law within the next two or
three weeks it is considered probable that
the tentative plan can be carried out by
the original date. If this should be done.
it is believed that the president, in com
pliance with the Platt Ia ", would be able
to withdraw all American troops from the
island soon after the beginning of the
new year, and that by next spring the
hands of the Cubans- In the meantime a
joint commission representing the two
scheme of reciprocity. on which congress
could act. and thus Cuban serious eco
toward solution about the time the island
attained independence and sovereignty
Topeka hide Market.