Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-11-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. ]

at 1857. The run from Memphis was
made practically without incident ex-
cept the slaughter of call which IN
iudiciously ran across the track Just
ahead of the engine west of Asheyllie,
N. G. The President appeared upon
the platform of his car at several stops
ON the homeward trip and made one or
two little speeches in which he told the
townspeople that he would try to come
down again at some future date and stay
longer The President is greatly pleased
over the trip just completed despite his
i'll success in the hunting carp and the
rather chilly reception he received on the
streets of Memphis. He was able to
study the people of the South at close
range for the first time in hislife, and II
NAV be said that his ideas on some sub
iects have undergone change. de is
lust as determined, however, to hold
firm hand on the reins governing the
federal officeholders OF the South.
He admits that the negroes are not
fit to be the guiding race in the States IN
which they predominant, but at the same
time he is resolved that all hope OF Of
fee and political reward shall not be
taken from them; that there are certain
Offices that the colored man can fill, and
it is his intention to give these places to
them. The President is booked to start
for Philadelphia at $3.50 tomorrow morn
inc He will return to the capital on
the following morning after attending
the banquet of the Union League Club
Saturday evening. He will not attend
the Yale-Harvard football game at New
Haven tomorrow as he has previous en-
gagements in Philadelphia. Miss Alice
Roosevelt will go in party with Mrs.
Whitelaw Reid, of New York city.
During the coming session of Congress
Secretary Root will submit bill pro-
vidng for ar army general staff, curtail-
ing the power and duties of the COM
handing general of the army, which B
will not differ materially from his bill Of
last year so strenuously opposed and
finally killed by Lieutenant Gen.
Miles. War Department officials be-
lieve that they have sufficient friends IN
the Senate to pass the measure.
The democratic congressional commit
tee is to keep headquarters open in this
city all the year round. This decision
was reached by Chairman Griggs and
his fellow-members practically agreeing
that the idea was a good one, provided
the funds were forthcoming, and proml-
nent members of the party soon saw to
it that this detail was attended to. Inc
rooms will be in immediate charge OF
Secretary Charles A. Edwards, whose
duty it will be to supervise the distribu-
ton of literature and attend to cores
pondence with party leaders all over the
country. A radical departure from the
accepted methods of campaigning will be
the custom of sending broadcast thou
sands of copies of speeches delivered in
Congress. A few notable efforts OF this
kind may be circulated in pamphlet
form, but the aim will be to Keep the
public informed from the democratic
viewpoint on important questions as they
arise through the medium of the news
papers.
The Presidents message was the prin-
cipal topic of discussion at today's Cabi-
net session. The document which will
go to Congress week from next Mon
day or Tuesday is now practically COM
pleted and at the meeting today the Pres
ident read portions of it to his advisors.
The matter of tariff revision, which may
prove of sufficient Importance to compel
the President to call an extra session of
Congress after the 4th of March, was
gone over thoroughly. The President,
it is understood, is not in favor of calling
an extra session, believing that even the
best informed men in the House
have much to learn on the sub
iect. He is desirious of appoint
ing tariff commission that will
collect all the information possible
bearing on the tariff for submission to
the Congress. Then be believes the
members of that body will be able to
approach and handle the matter more
intelligently. The President fears that
if an extra session is called there will be
friction if not a deadlock between the
Senate and House before the tariff ques-
ton is settled. After today's Cabinet
meeting a number of Senators called at
the White House by invitation of the
President and talked with him about
legislation now contemplated as well as
about the much vexed question of tariff
revision and Cuban reciprocity.
Among the questions particularly con-
sidered by the Cabinet this morning were
the Cuban situation, the isthmian canal
treaty and the Pacific cable proposition
1t is understood that nothing further will
be done regarding Cuba until General
Bliss shall report the result of his dip
lomatic mission in Havana. Regarding
the canal, it is the sentiment of the Cabi-
net members that if Colombia continues
the pursuit of her present dilatory
tactics she should be given to understand
that the way is open to the President
for the conduct of negotiations with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica for the
construction of the Nicaraguan Canal.
Suggestions in regard to the Pacific
cable, made by Attorney General
Knox as a result of his conference yes
terday with the officials of the cable
company, were, it is believed, approved
by the President and his advisors. Ar
rangements will speedily be concluded for
the laying of the cable.
Answers of the Lehigh Valley, the
Delaware & Hudson, the Erie, and the
New York, Susquebanna & Western
railroad companies to the complaint of
William R. Hearst, of New York, who
charges discrimination on the part OF the
coal carrying roads in favor Of the an
thracite coal operators, were received by