Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-18
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Senator Harris Pressed for
Canal Commission.
NEW MEXICO'S CASE
DELEGATE RoDEY's IMPRESSION
AS TO PRESIDENTS POSITION.
Delegation Of Cattlemen Protest
Against Col. Mosby's Action
Others of Today's Callers.

mlan canal cOmnlSSlOnerSn1pS. he prop
ably has before him already the names of
thirty or forty men of prominence through
out the country. and the list continues to
grow. 1t will grow right along until the
commissioners are named, which will not
be until the route for the canal has been
selected. The Kansas delegation in Con-
gress, headed by Senator Burton, called on
the President today and requested that he
place Senator Harris Of that state on the
commission. Senator Harris is a democrat,
but his term will expire March next and
he will be succeeded by republican. The
principal candidates to succeed him are
Representatives Long and Curtis. Senator
Harris has been for a number of years one
of the active members of the Senate COM
mittee on interoceanic canals, and the Kan
sas delegation told the President there was
no better posted man on the subject of
canals than Senator Harris. In addition to
the knowledge acquired in the Senate
while serving on this committee, Senator
harris Is an engineer of ability. He was
for many years an engineer connected with
the Union Pacific railroad The fact that
Senator Harris is a democrat has not de-
TERED his republican colleagues from ask
ing his selection on thias commission 1t Is
stated that the people of the state ire
spectiVe of party, feel the same way An
unusually strong presentation Of the case
OF Senator Harris was made by the delega-
ton. ~
Governor Sayers Of Texas, whose term as
governor of that state win expire in a
short time. is another strong man who has
been presented for a membership on the
commission. The Illinois delegation has
put forward a strong Candidate in Isham
Randolph, the chief engineer of the chi--
cago drainage canal.
Representative Livingstone of Georgia
presented the name Of a Georgia man this
morning. Tennessee has two candidates
ana all the states pflftinpr rd
dates.
The Supply of Coal.
Representative Connell Of Pennsylvania,
one of the largest coal operators In that
state paid his respects to the President this
morning. When-asked about the apparent
shortage Of coal in almost every direction
Mr.. Connell said: II think the people are
frightened much more than necessary as to
the supply of coal l believe that all the
reasonable demands of winter will be met
and that there will be no actual suffering
from lack of coal L suppose the trouble
about Washington and the south Is that the
east and west are paying better prices to
get coal and 1t is going to them"
Not Unfriendly to Statehood.
Delegate Rodey of New Mexico had a.
long conference with the President today
on the subject of statehood for the terri
tories, and especially for New Mexico. Mr..
Rodey did not feel called upon to discuss
the details of his talk with the President,
but said: Il think mistaken impression as
TO the Presidents attitude to the omnibus
territory bill has gone out as result of
conference ne had With some callers from
New Mexico few days ago. There is no
DOUBT that great pressure has been brought
On the President against the bill, and that
ne is giving the whole matter most serious
consideration, but do not believe he would
veto bill should one pass Congress admit
ting Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. /
am not authorized toisay this, and am sim
ply expressing my belief. | know that the
President has most kindly feeling for New
Mexico. He raised four troops of his Rough
Rider regiment in the territory, and knows
as well as anybody the character of the
citizenship there l have not by any means
given up hope that the omnibus bill will
pass the Senate and that the President will
sign ii.
Called With Cattlemen.
Senator'S Dietrich and Millard of Ne
oraska called upon the President today,
accompanied by a delegation of prominent
cattle raisers of their state, to discuss with
him the alleged encroachment upon gov
ernment lands by the big cattle interests,
not only of Nebraska, but of other western
states They entered a vigorous protest
against the actions and words of Col. John
S. Mosby, who has been investigating the
matter as an agent of the Interior Depart
ment.
Many of the western cattlemen are in
washington now to appear before the In
terror Department and their members of
Congress, with view of protecting their
interests. The subject Is being considered
carefully by both the President and the
off1cials of the Interior Department. The
President has let it be known that he will
permit no improper or Illegal encroachment
upon government lands, and the Interior
Departments acting along that line.
TIxya 10 o.,
Ex-senator Marion Butter of North Caro-
lima visited the PRESIDENT today and talked
with him to some extent about political
conditions in NorthA Carolina Two strong
white parties ought to exist In the south
and would do npSiEg ood.D said Mr. Butler.
Senator 'Pritchastds right In desiring the
establishment OF a whiteS republican party
in North Carolina IL it Is not hampered
the party will win in the course of few
years, and l say 50 with a full knowledge
OF the general disbelief In the probability
of the growth OF white mans party in
the SOUTH"
Senator Butler was one Of the first men
to support a rural free delivery appropria-
ton for experimental purposes, and when
he was at the Post Office department to-
day he learned with pleasure of the great
growth of this branch of the Post Office
Department.
Among the visftnrs.
Representative Wright of Pennsylvania
presented $50 teachers from Montrose. Sus-
quehanna county Later in the day the
President received the students of the State
Normal School of Pennsylvania located at
Bloomsbury
Representative Lessler of New York pre-
sented r. w. Nelson, chairman of the re-
publican county comthittee of Richmond
county, N. Y
Representative n. cajSmith Of Michigan
presented w. s. Westaranan Of Adrian, the
recent prohibition candidate for governor
of Michigan, and w. d. Fitzpatrick of
Owosso.
Among the other callers who saw the
President during the day were Senator Bev-
eridge Indiana: Representative Littlefield
of Maine and friends Senator Burnham and
friends, Secretary Moody and friends, Gen.
B. +. Tracey of New York. who lunched
with the President this afternoon; Senators
Clapp, Elkins. Clark of Montana and Fos-
ter of Washington Senator Cuiberson and
Representative LanhaIi Of Texas; Repre-