The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-19
AT The CAPITAL.
Nicaraguan Canal Report Has
Been Issued.
Senator Harris Thinks Pros
poets For Canal Are Bright.
MORE ABOUT COBURN.
Washington Still TalkingAbout
Him For Cabinet Place.
Gossip of Interest From Center
of Government.
MORE ABOUT COBURN.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 19.-The Mica
ragua canal report, compiled by Sena-
tor w. A Harris of Kansas and Sena-
tor Morgan of Alabama, has just been
issued. 1t is voluminous document i'll
two volumes Senator Harris has al
ways been hopeful of the establishment
of the canal, but he believes that the
outlook is brighter at the coming ses-
sion of congress than. ever before. Re
garding the suggestion that new
route has been discovered across the
isthmus. Senator Harris said: ''Ten
governments have spent two hundred
years trying to discover routes, and
have been able to fix upon only two
the Panama and Nicaragua Therefore
it is highly possible that no new route
has been discovered
The Hawley committee, which has
been investigating the charges pre-
ferred by Erasmus l.. Hawkes., of Kan
sas, against Col. H. o. S. Heistand of
the army in connection with a project
to form company to manufacture
hemp in the Philippines, adjourned to
November IS. Upon reconvening the
committee, which consists of Senators
Hawley, Harris, Cockrell and Proctor
will hear the testimony of Louis 3.
Blackwell, one of the alleged promoters
OF the hemp project, and Major d. b.
Harrison, who were unable to attend
heretofore. The hearing so far has been
notable for the wide range the various
witnesses, and particularly Mr.. Hawkes.
have been permitted to take and the
fiat contradictions which several wit
nesses have made to each others state
mentS. An interesting rumor is preva-
lent to the effect that Mr.. Hawkes. had
intinnated to several persons his deter
minat1on to bring suit against Colonel
Heistand, General Corbin, Dudley &
Kitchener. Mr.. Meiklejohn and Secre
tary Root for alleged defamation of
character regardless of what the COM
mittee might report.
| 1t may be interesting to the people Of
Kansas to know that President Roose-
welt may seriously consider the ap-
| pOintment of a Kansas man to his new
| cabinet during the coming year or two.
| The Kansas politicians here in Wash
| ington are building step by step in an
| adroit manner the candidacy of F. d.
| Coburn for the agricultural portfolio.
| They expect to have the concerted as
sistance of Kansas and many western
| states when the time comes to make
| the pull. Since Kansas has never been
| represented in any presidential cabinet,
| and that the state is now considered a
| Republican stronghold and is one of
| Roosevelt's strongest supporters, it is
| believed that the president will at least
| give the matter his most serious con-
| sideration. There will be no particular
| action taken in the matter until the
| opening of congress, when all the mem
| bers of the Kansas congressional dele
| cation can be consulted.
| Senator w. A. Harris intends leaving
! the first of next week for Kansas,
where he will remain on business for
| about two or three weeks. He will re-
| turn to the national capital in time
| to attend the Hawkes-H eistand hemp
| case investigation, which has been ad-
| journed until the early part of No
vember.
Senator ]. R. Burton is expected to
| arrive in Washington by the LIST of No
| vember, when he will take up the mat
| ter of some federal appointments and
| prepare his affairs for the coming ses-
| sion of congress
| Gen. Chaffee cabled the war depart
ment the other day, reporting the acct
| dental death of Lieut. James G. Will
| liams by falling from a train near Tar
| lac P. l. The young officer was a son
| of former Adiutant General Williams,
U. S. A. He was born in Kansas. No
vember 20, 1875; wassa private and cor
| poral company H, and sergeant N ajor
| in Thirty-fourth infantry, and second
| lieutenant, Philippine cavalry. He serv-
ed in the Philippine islands as an en-
| listed man in the Thirty-fourth infan-
try, u. S. volunteers, from September,
| 1899, to September, 1900; was second
| lieutenant Twelfth infantry, September
! 1, 1900; joined the Twelfth infantry, and
served with it in the Philippines from