The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-14

Colonel l.. A. Watres aud James H.
Torrey returned from Washington at
$40 o'clock last night, after having
visited New York city and Washing
ton, where they, together with the
other members of the committee. eX-
tended invitations to Nice-President
Roosevelt and Lieutenant General
Nelson A. Miles to attend the military
bah with which the new nrmory Of
the Thirteenth regiment is TO be
opened.
The committee is not only perfectly
@atsiiaG with the result of their audi
ences with Roosevelt and Miles. but
their trip has unfolded other possibili-
ties hitherto unthought Of the fulfill
ment of which are almost too good
to be true" The fact of the matter
IS that the presence ut the ball OF
Roosevelt and Miles is not only highly
probable. but th" chances are even
that President Mckinley. .\dmira!
Dewey and the entire party of dis
tinguished persons who are accompan-
ing the president on his trans -contin-
entail trip will grace the social affir.
1t may be appropriate to state here
that Ii Is the desire of the members OF
the invitation committee to carefully
refrain from arousing within he bosom
Of the public any false hopes of the
presenc" OF the above mentioned illus
trious persons at the ball. The COM
mittee has not received an unqualified
promise from any of the national cello
hrities and wish the local public to
take note of that fact. SO there win
be no later disappointments.
WHAT THE COLONEL SAID.
eve do not wish to build the sue
cess of this affair upon unfuliilled rep
reSentations." said Colonel WatreS last
night. but present circumstances are
so shaping themselves that 1t now looks
rs though not only Roosevelt and
Miles would be present. but the presi-
dent of III" United States and a half
score OF the most illuStrious person
ages in HE land"
\ review of the incidents of the in
Nitat.on committees trip will give Il
person as good an opportunity to APP
prcciatc the above possibilities as the
memhers of the committee themselves.
Congressman Connell. Colonel Wat
res, Major Everett Warren and James
II. Torrey esq. called upon Vice
President Roosevelt in New York city
on Saturday morning and extended
their invitation. Mr. Roosevelt hesi-
tated at first until Colonel Watres de-
scribed very forcibly what a decided
impetus his presence and sanction
would lend. to not only the Thirteenth
regiment. but the National Guard Of
Pennsylvania. This seemed new way
of looking at the matter and broke
down all hesitancy on the part of the
Ntre-president. who stated that he
would certainly come to Scranton il
some imperative engagement at pres
ent unforeseen did not proven. him.
After very pleasant chat of nearly
half an hour the committee Withdrew.
They Immediately called upon Lieu
tenant General Miles. who happened
to be in New York. and extended an
invitation To him to attend the open-
ing of the armory. General Miles re-
quested to be permitted to withhold
his answer until he had looked over
his list of future engagements He
later stated that he would attend the
opening if it were possible.
SUGGESTION FROM TEDDY.
During their interview with the vice
president. "Teddy" let fall sugses-
tion that caused the invitation COM
mittee to hasten to Washington and
begin operations to capture the presi-
dent and his party for the red letter
evening. The presidential party will
be in Buffalo on June Is. There Ad-
miral Dewey and General Miles will
join it. and on June II the entire con-
course of celebrities are scheduled to
pass through Scranton. If the date
for the opening of the armOry is fixed
for June II. can influence enough be
brought to bear To induce President
Mckinley and his party to stop over
for II few hours? Congressman Con-
nell. Colonel Watres and the rest Of
the committee think it can and they
are going to prove II, If such a thing
is possible.
At Washington. communications
We're opened with Secretary of Agri-
culture Wilson ana Postmaster Gen
eral Charles t.-lory Snith, who are
with the presidential party in the west
Messrs. Wilson and Smith have Wis
tied in this city and have many friends
here, and they will eXpend much Of
their energy during the rest of the
presidential trip, trying to induce Mr..
Mckinley to stop off at Scranton.
Influence will be brought to bear
upon the president from other direc-
tions in the meanwhile and unless un-
forseen circumstances should soon
knock the schedule of dates awry, or
curtail the "trip, the above mentioned
possibility will develop into delightful
proba bilities and from thence into cer-
tainties.
Congressman connell did not rel
with Colonel Watres and Attorney
Torrey. but viii remain in Washington
until Wednesday.
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