The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1901-10-17
Washington Letter.
Washington, october IA, 1901.

Washington, october IA, 1901.
1t Is common talk In Washington
that President Roosevelt Is growing very
weary Of the constant demands for patron
age which now take up so much of his
time that he finds it almost impossible to
reserve to himself the time necessary for
the preparation of his forthcoming mes
sage. Already he has given notice that
he will see no one after l p. M, and 1t Is
considered most probable that he will
soon be obliged to exclude himself from
the public entirely for at least short
period. This course has been found
necessary by several of his predecessors.
He has further let 1t be known that he fs
opposed to any wholesale change of office
holders, and that he will not consider the
appointment of incompetent or unprin-
on the party.
In regard to the isthmian treaty, the
president has expressed the wish that the
particulars be absolutely withheld from
the public until all the details have been
completed and he has submitted the treaty
to the senate. A cabinet minister, who
will not permit his name 10 be used, tells
me that the salient points of the treaty
have been agreed upon, and that he be-
lieves they will meet with the cordial ap-
proval of the senate and of the people, re-
gardless of party, but that the details are
carefully withheld by the presidents ex-
press wish.
Those who are in position to know,
say that portion of his message which
treats of our relations with Cuba Is CIV
ing him the most trouble, that while he
desires both the prosperity and the good
will of Cuba and realizes that the surest
means of securing both would be by the
admission, free of duty, of Cuban sugar,
on the other hand he Is most unwilling to
recommend course which would prove
Injurious to the Louisiana planters and
mean absolute destruction to the best
sugar industry. 1t Is serious problem,
and one that will tax every resource OF
the president and his party in congress.
1t is regarded here as a somewhat re-
markable coincidence that, although there
are now In progress eight democratic
campaigns, in as many different states,
Mr.. Bryan has never been invited to
speak In any one of them, and In the case
of the state of Ohio his offer to stump the
state seems to be treated as an embarrase-
ment rather than as a subject of gratitude.
Does 1t mean that the democratic party
In these states has turned down the free
silver policy? is the question asked on
all sides.
Ambassador Choate Is en- route to WASH
ington, and humor has it that, owing to
the wide diversity of methods and views
of himself and the president, 1t will be. in.
timated to him that his resignation will
not prove unacceptable. 1t Is further
rumored that Ex-senator Wolcott, of
Colorado, will be offered the mission.
There seems to be little foundation for
the rumor beyond the fact that Mr.. Choate
is not the type of man that Mr.. Roosevelt
would have been likely to choose to. rep
resent his administration at any important
court.
Secretary Hay has fastened to assure
the press that there Is no truth whatever
In the statement given out by Secretary
Gage that he (Hay) contemplates re-
signing, and says that he Is sure that the
secretary of the treasury must have been
misquoted.
The Schley court of inquiry Is still In
progress, and promises to remain so un-
til the middle or last of November. 1t Is
a rather remarkable state of affairs that
If the navy department, through Judge
Advocate Lemley, prove their case against
Schley they will at the same time prove
the bureau of navigation guilty of the
grossest neglect Of its duty In not having
long before court-martialed Admiral
Schley on the charges of insubordination
and cowardice. II Schley were all that
Lemley has undertaken to prove he would
be disgrace to the service. A notable
feature of the proceedings during the last
week has been the absolute unanimity of
the testimony offered by the very young
officers who have been summoned before
the court, all of 1t derogatory to Admiral
Schley.