Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Mr.. Olmsted Talks About His Reso-
luton.
A VISITOR FROM SOUTH AFRICA
He Believes in Final Triumph Of
Boer Cause.
A V cry Blu SY D A Y

Representative Olmsted Of Pennsylvania.
whose resolution regarding restricted suf-
frage created lively times in the House, was
caller at the White House today. Speak
ing Of his resolution he said: II have" no
feeling against the south. My wife Is a
virginian of the virginians. but I do not
believe that some states should have such
enormous advantages over other states.
Some people think that this matter con-
templates an investigation of southern cleo
lions. This idea Is entirely incorrect. The
resolution merely inquiries in what states
there is deprivation of suffrage. 1t doesn't
involve elections at ALL merely constitu-
tional features, and while few states were
mentioned in the preamble, the fact Is that
it was directed at all the states where
suffrage is restricted. 1t applies to all
alike.
Il have given the matter serious thought
and considered it best to try to get Con-
gress to act, that states intending to follow
examples set them may know where they
stand. The matter as it is now, is quite
complicated. and 1 do not know whether
the committee can gather sufficient data
on which action may be had at this session
of Congress"
An Afrikander visitor.
Gen. Samuel Pearson, head commissary
general of the South African republic until
he was forced to flee 20 avoid capture, paid
his respects to the President today, his
visit being entirely unofficial. He IS here
with j. kriege, who was commander Of
field police. Both arrived in New York on
Sunday. They are exceedingly hopeful of
final success for their troops in Cape Col
ony. Gen Pearson is a native Afrikander.
speaks English perfectly, and before the
war was a successful business man. To
representative of The Star he said:
a N
Africa is grave, because it is fight be-
tween our 5000 and the British, who are
ten times as numerous. But IL is not neceS-
sarily final far as we are concerned.
Our mobility is so great that we can shift
from point to point with the greatest celer-
ity, and the number of the enemy's column
Immediately opposed is matter of small
concern. Ten thousand men cannot be
moved rapidly three thousand, and
the larger the enemy's column the easier
for us to make reprisals and captures.
THE movement into Cape Colony is of
very serious import. Kitcheners position
a present is difficult one. Our troops are
below him on his only lines of communica-
ton, and he is liable to see trouble. hope
it is effort to clear the invaders out. and
that it will be successful SO that we can go
at work and re-establish our republic-for
the two will probably join, perhaps with
Steyn as president.
IF the advance of our forces under
various commanders is effective, it should
add 10000 good men to our armies. The
British army in South Africa is just about
as numerous as the entire population of our
countries-men, women and children.
LAS to the report that commission from
the Beers is in conference with Kitchener
and his people as to making peace, there is
only this to say: These men have been In
the hands of the British for year or two
and are in no sense representatives of the
Beers. Their conference can nave no I'M
portant result.
"Napoleons rule that the besiegers must
be more numerous than the besieged has
been reversed during our war. The British
had some 1900 troops in Ladysmith and
5000 Beers besleged them for four months.
In Mafeking LOGO British soldiers We're be-
sieged by about 800 of our men. AT Kim
berley about 33, 900 We're besieged by our
force between 1900 and 5000"
He Had a Busy Day.
President Mckinley had a busy day. re-
ceiving a number Of callers. Senators
Spooner and Aldrich, republican leaders in
the Senate We're in conference with MIN
some time on legislative matters. So was
Senator Fairbanks. A number of Ken
lucky republicans, including Representa-
tives Boreing, Pugh and Berry, Mr.. Yerkes,
commissioner of internal revenue, and
Leslie Coombs. republican state chairman.
waited on the President to talk with him
about the vacant collectorship of internal
revenue. Mr. Yerkes and his friends have
withdrawn opposition to Judge James Den
ton, and il is understood that the latterS
nomination will go in without delay.
The Presidents other visitors Included
Senators Scott, Bard, kean, Lindsey, Car
fiery and Beveridge, Representatives Steele
and Jones, Gen. Bragg of Wisconsin and
Col. L. S. Brown, general agent Of the
Southern railway. Gen. Bragg, although
democrat, supported the President in 1876
and 1900. 1t was he who said in a speech
that Mr.. Cleveland was loved for the
enemies he had made.