The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-11-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

NOV. 4tu, lSO,1.
The campaign is ended and everyone is
awaiting with interest the result of the
voting. The apathy which characterized
the early days ofthe campaign has given
place to greater interest as the day of cleo
ton has arrived, and there is prospect of
heavy vote. The managers of both
Congressional committees claim victory,
although they are wide apart on their
figures.
*x*
There was wild scramble among the
newspaper correspondents few days ago
for information in regard to the attitude
of the United States of Columbia towards
the construction of the Panama canal and
as result some very sensational stories
were sent out of Washington. Subse-
quent events have shown that many of
these were unwarranted. The State De-
partment Is now assured that Minister
Concha has erred in Judgment of the po-
sition of his government, and on the rep
reservations of U. S. Mininter Hart, at
Bogota, it is not improbable that this
government will complete the purchase
of the Panama Canal Co.'S property with
out waiting for the formal ratification Of
the treaty in process of negotiation. AL
vices from authoritative sources in Bogota
are now reaching the department, which
warrant the statement that complete con-
cord will not be difficult of attainment.
The surrender of Gen. Uribe-Uri and
his return TO Bogota, it is predicted, will
soon be followed by that of General
Herrera, commanding the insurgent
forces on the isthmus, and that will bring
that with the restoration of peace the
claims of the United States will be
promptly taken up and favorably acted
upon and that actual operations on
the construction of the canal can be CON-
menced in the very near future.
~
Considerable prominence has been
given in the newspapers of the country to
the alleged discovery by Lieutenant Geo.
7. Emmops, retired, of the Navy, of GER
tain boundary marks on the disputed line
between Alaska and the British possess
sioHs. That Lieutenant Emmons may
have discovered such monuments, build
ings, etc., is not improbable, as it is
known that at one time the Russian mis-.
sionaries penetrated at least 100 miles in
land and established missions, many Of
them in stone buildings These land
marks have, however, no bearing on the
argument between the United States and
Great Britain. It is matter of record
that after prolonged negotiations Russia
and Great Britain signed. in 1925, treaty
esta fishing the boundary along that sec
ton Of Alaska which is now under dis
pute, at three leagues from the coast, this
entirely irrespective of any previous ar
raugement or settlement. The United
States interprets that agreement to mean
80 miles from tidewater. The rights of
that treaty were purchased by the United
States for 81 1000, ooo, in 1867, and all evil
dence calculated to establish other boun-
diaries has no bearing on the case but is
merely encouraged by the Canadian offic-
ials with the hope of beciouding the real
issue. Secretary Hay perfectly under
stands the situation, which is as clear as
could be in any legal case, aud he will
not only pay no attention to such evil
dence as Lieutenant Emmons is now pre-.
pairing to submit to the Navy Department,
but he will never submit the matter to
arbitration, which usually results in the
arbitrators concluding TO split the diff
ference" between the claimants. In this
case the United States would have every
thing to lose and nothing to gain by arbi-
tration and Mr.. Hay will not take any
chances.