Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-22
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Secretary Moody Talks With
the President.
RECENT WESTERN TOUR
THINKS THE REPUBLICANS WILL
HOLD THEIR OWN.
May Make Some Gains-Representa-
tive Gillett on the Conditions
in Massachusetts,.

Secretary Moody spent some time with
the President today talking of his tour of
the northwest, from which he has lust re-
turned. Mr.. Moody,s observations of politi-
cal conditions in the northwest formed the
nucleus of the talk.
"There is no substantial change in politi-
cal conditions in the section of the country
1 have visited" said Mr.. Moody The pre-
Vailing predominance of the republican
party in this section will continue Here
and there may be conditions that bring
about a change IN sentiment, but whatever
losses we sustain will be more than offset
by gains. In fact, I confidently expect a
net gain in our representation in Congress
in the states have visited. The people are
satisfied with conditions and do not de-
sire change. They are satisfied with the
republican administration, and especially
with its head. 1t would be difficult to de-
scribe the popularity of the President in
the west and northwest
Attorney General Knox and Secretary
Hay were among the other visitors to see
the President. Mr. Knox is working hard
to complete his report on the title of the
Panama Canal Company.
Appointments Held Until December.
GERS have agreed to make as Few appoint.
ments as possible until the session of Con-
gress, when a great batch Of nominations
will be sent in. This is because of the cost
and annoyance to appointees Of giving two
bonds, one following an appointment and
the other following the nomination To
avoid the double-bond business officeholders
are being allowed to hold on under old
commissions without being reapuointed
wi
PRESIDENT preferrinS not to put appoin. ees
to the trouble of making bond now and
or going through the same thing in less
than two months.
Republican Chances in Massachusetts,.
Representative Gillett of Massachusetts,
presented a matter from hiss state to the
President. OF political cosaditions In Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Gillett said. s.The republi-
cans will carry all of their regular districts
In Massachusetts, and hope to make one
gain. We did hope for a gain of two mon
lnasmuch as In one of the democratic dis
tricts there were three candidates for Con-
sress One of these has withdrawn and
that probably gives the democrats the dis
tract There Is another district safely DEM
ocratc. The one we hope to capture is the
worcester district, now represented by Mr.
Thayer. The district was formerly repre-
sented by Representative Walker ExMayor
Dodge OF Worcester is the republican can
oioa.e ana there are strong hopes Of his
election"
Baron w. A. F. Gevers, the Netherlands
minister, called on the President this morn
Ing to pay his respects. Baron Gevers has
returned to his duties here from a three
months leave of absence.
The Presidents New Offices.
The President and Secretary Cortelyou
haveNnot reached an agreement as to when
the new executive office building will be
occupied. They have examined the prog
ress OF the work. and find that the building
can be used at once. Secretary Cortelyou,
however, is opposed to occupying the build
ing any earlier than Is absolutely neces-
sary. He is afraid that the dampness that
pertains to all new buildings might affect
the President and his office force. II he
had mis- way Mr.. Cortelyou would not allow
tne nullolng to be used for thirty days. It
VIII nave to be occupied much sooner than
that, though, by reason of the fact that
MRS. Roosevelt must get her domestic af
fa1rs in shape to open q house. The only
one available to her is that on jackson
place now occupied by the President and
his office force. Mrs. Roosevelt will come
PACK from Oyster Bay soon, and the house
VIII pe turned over to her.
Secretary Cortelyou laughs at a story
that the big glass windows of the Presi-
dent s room in the new Office building will
permit pc everything that is Cone by him to
ne witnessed by people passing. ''Vene-
tan blinds are to be placed inside the win
dows" said Mr. Cortelyou,s land that will
make the room as private as the President
may desire These blinds will be in place
In few days"
Going to Philadelphia.
President Roosevelt has arranged to at
tend the banquet of the Union League Club
in Philadelphia on Founders day, Novem-
Der % The details of the trip are to be
made, but several cabinet officers will prob
he i,Hyf
tation to attend was extended by Mr.. Dar-
lington, president Of the Union League
Club.
Fighting Naval Strength in Europe.
According to CommanderEWilliam Henry
Beehler Of the United States navy, the
United States naval attache to the United
States embassies at; BERLIN, Rome and
Vienna, Germany Is three times stronger
than this country ASA naval power. Com
mander Beehler is. just back from Europe
and called on the 1E1esiaent today to tell
compared to European countries in fighting
ships Commander Beechier told the Presi-
dent that the last statement Of the naval
sfEength Str Of this country SHOWED total Of
OF these were tugs and old sailing vessels.
and many of the others are too insignif-
cant to be counted as war vessels We
really have only Ill fighting vessels in the
navy, and number Of these are small
gunboats Leaving these cut We have less
than 100 fighting vessels, whicEis only one
third the strength Of GeEmany, In Europe
these small vessels OF All kfHds are not
counted in their estimates They do not
count anything except fe1fectave fighting
vessels
Commander Beehler had with him, and
showed the President, German paper that
estimates the naval strength of leading
countries In 1905 as follows: Great Britain,
l,3s3; France. SCI; United States. 435: Rus
sia, 403; Germany, 342: Italy, 2O7; JAPAN
The number of vessels credited to Ger
many, continued Commander Beehler
are genuine fighting ships, not tugboats
gunDoats and vessels not available for real
war on the water. What we need and
ought to have Is. more fighting vessels.
The President listened with interest to
what Commander Beehler said.
Illegally Using Government Property.
Colonel John s. Mosby. who, AS special
representative Of The Interior Department,
has spent year and half in the west in
Vestisating the occupation of government
lands by the cattle kings, saw the Presi-
dent today and talked with him. The cattle
kings are using millions OF acres OF govern