Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-11-27
FROM WASHINGTON.

Correspondence OF the AieAahufia ""Ne''N-'
Washington, d. c., November ~
The traditions of Thanksgiving day at
the White House are being followed out
by the President, his family and guests.
All official cares have been laid aside
except those pertaining to the culinary
department. The White House chef
is busy preparing 80 pound turkey for
the thanksgiving dinner. The turkey
is the gift of Horace Vose, OF Westerly,
R. l., the man who yearly furnishes the
presidential thanksgiving bird. Dinner
will be served ut O'Clock. With the
President and his family will dine all
his kindred who are now in the city and
Baron and Baroness Speck Won Stern
burg, Mr.. and Mrs. Strachey, Mrs.
La Fargo and Miss Helen Roosevelt, who
are house guests of the President.
Secretary Root is the only member OF
the Presidents official family who
will share the White House dinner.
Following the dinndr an informal re.
ception will be held for a few invited
guests. All the members of the Cabinet,
excepting Secretary Root, will enjoy
their thanksgiving dinners at thell
| homes.
AS a result of the Cabinet discussion Oh
Tuesday of the deadlock in the Panama
Canal treaty negotiations, Secretary Hay
has instructed United States Minister
Hart, at Bogota, to inform the Colon
bian government of the situation and tt
inquire if it is the wish of Colombia tc
terminate the negotiations. This steT
has been taken because Senior Concha
stated to the department that he hac
plenary power in the matter. AS he
now refuses to make any concessions o.
the question Of giving to the United
States control of the strip of land through
which the canal must pass, and that is 9
point on which the Spooner act is in
sistent, treating must cease between the
two countries unless Colombia takes the
negotiations out of the hands OF hel
agent. A hope that she would do this
inspired the instructions to Minister Hart.
The dismissal of William II. Theobald,
special agent of the Treasury Depart
ment, yesterday, is taken here as an IN
dication of the administration disap-
prevail of the methods pursued at the
New York Custom House in general.
The special agent just dismissed has
been charged with playing the part OF
spy, going abroad frequently, associatine
with Americans, and watching Their
purchases On their return, if they fail tC
declare their new jewels, he would order
their arrest and search and seize the
jewels.
Richard S. Townsend is lying at the
point of death as result of injuries sus-
tanned by reason of his recent fall from
his horse. He has been in a precarlous
condition for the past tweDty-four hours.
While the government is seriously concern
ed over the precarious condition Of the Pana-
ma Canal negotiations, il has not by any
means given up hope that a satisfactory agree
ment, which will make the construction OF
the canal possible, will be reached with
| Colombia.
A number of Alexandrians are here today
TO see the football game between the Carlise
Indians and the Georgetown University teams:
The races at Benning were largely attended
today, as is always the case on Thanksgiving
Day when the stores and departments close
and the clerks have holiday. BY far the most
attractive card offered to Washington public
this season is that Of today. Seven races, in
Guiding two full-course steeplechases and the
famous Washington Cup are on the card.
Congress is expected TO establish the gold
standard in the Philippines by authorizing
the coinage of peso the size Of Mexican
dollar, and worth nifty cents.
Retail liquor dealers downtown have pu
themselves on record as opposed to giving any
presents TO customers on Christmas.