The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-11
BOUND FOR MANILA
SENATOR BACON LEAVES ON THE
McCLELLAND.
MAY BE AWAY TILL DECEMBER.
TO POST HIMSELF ON EASTERN
QUESTIONS.

Himself with the Conditions Pre-
vailing In Those Countries--As a
Member of the Foreign Relations
Committee He Feels That He
should lie Informed of These
Things.
New York, July 10.-At the head of a
| party of senators and representatives in
Congress who sailed from New York to-
| day for the Philippine Islands, was SEN
ator Bacon of Georgia The party left
the government pier in Brooklyn this
morning on the United States transport
| McCleland. which has recently been
| placed upon service between New York
and Manila. Among those who went were
Senator Bacon, Representative Dear
mond of Missouri, Mercer of Nebraska,
Gaines of Tennessee. Weeks of Michigan.
Joy of Missouri.
There were also going out upon the Nc
Clefand, Inspector General Breckenridge,
Col II. X. Bailey. and number OF other
officers of the army; a detachment of the
Twenty-sixth Infantry, which has been
recruited at Fort Mcpherson; and several
ladies. the wives of army officers now
stationed in the Philippines.
The party seems to be congenlaI one
and everybody aboard was looking for
ward to a pleasant trip. The route is by
the Mediterranean and the Suez canal.
Senator Bacon's object.
Senator Bacon is making the trip for
the dual purpose OF informing himself
upon the conditions in the Philippine ISL
ands and of making as thorough a study
| as he can of conditions in the different
countries OF the far East. 1t is not
pleasure jaunt with him. though he nat
| urally expects 20 enjoy his experiences in
| the lands he will visit. After spending
| several weeks in the Philippines, he ex-
4 poets to go into China. Korea and Japan,
visiting incidentally different colonies OF
| European nations which are accessible
| from the main line of his travel.
In making this trip into the far East,
Senator Bacon feels that he is placing
himself in the way of securing knowledge
which will be of value to him In fulfilling
his duties as Senator. The problem of the.
| government Of the Philippines is sure to
cut prominent part in the future legis-
| lation Of Congress for a good many years
| to come. Senator Bacon believes that 1t
| will be of value to him in every way to
secure everything in the way of informa-
tion which can be had by personal visit
to the islands.
AS a member of the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations, Senator Bacon nat
urally has to deal with ell the questions
growing out of the relations of this gov
ernment with other nations, and 1t Is
evident that these will in the future
have to do, to a very great extent, with
China and Japan. and the other coun-
tries of the Far East. 1t Is for the pur-
pose of famillarizing himself with the
people of these countries aud with the
conditions prevailing in them, that SEN
ator Bacon is taking advantage of the
long vacation to make the trip out there.
IL he were bent upon pleasure alone. he
could probably get more of II in trip
to Europe, always sure to be full of In
terest; but he Is going to the Philippines
and China and Japan not solely on pleas
ure.
To Study Eastern Question.
In speaking about his trip. Senator
Bacon said: while, OF course, l expect
pleasure and entertainment in a visit to
the Orient, this anticipation is not the
main inducement to the journey. l be-
lieve from what l can learn from per-
sonal observation and investigation will
be of great value to me hereafter In my
official work The Philippines constitute
a difficult and costly problem. What
is best to be done and how 1t
best may be done are questions which
will tax to the utmost the best states
manship of the country. Personal knowl-
edge OF conditions viii. / am sure, as
sist greatly those who are charged with
the duty of framing this legislation.
Then as a member of the Senate For-
eign Relations Committee, am anxious
40 inform myself. through personal OBJ
servation. of conditions in China and Ja-
pan. In the former country especially.
there are questions OF a most important
character with which this county will
have to deal. through Congress. 1t seems
40 me a matter OF the utmost Importance
that a senator having to deal with treat
les should have the best personal knowl-
edge attainable through personal invests
cation. This is especially true of a MEN,
Der OF the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations. Another inducement. and a
strong one for my trip into China, 10
found in the opportunity which II VIII
give me to make a study OF the trade
relations between China and this coun-
try, with especial reference to the mar
ket for our cotton products. There are
millions OF people there. and 1t is a great
question as to what is the best way to
expand our trade with them. / believe,
of course, that much more can be ac-
complished through peaceful means than
by any show of force. but. OF course, I
can better determine these questions for
myself after a personal investigation"
VIII Be Back In December.
Senator Bacon expects TO return in time
TO resume his duties at Washington I'm
December. The visit OF this party is IN
no sense Junket for each member pays
for such extra expense as is incurred by
his presence. The transport is carrying
out cargo of Quartermaster' stores as
has been stated above. a number OF ofII-
GERS and soldiers. The congestion at San
Francisco has been so great that tho
officers GO the War Department found Il
pecsssa-~ TO place number of transports
IN commission from New York They
figure. too. that II IL fully as cheap. II not
In the end cheaper 70 send quariermaster's
stores out this way. the charges OF the
Sucz canal being more than Offset by the
cost OF carrying these stores across the
continent for shipment from San Fran
cisco. The quartermnster's department
inds that Il Is better to purchase largely
from New York.
Dr. HiiI Approves the step.
State department officials at Washing
ton have avlure1 much lnfaranf a. aan.-