Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-18
his words had produced their natural
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. ID. c.. December IL.

and yield TO force as suggested in their
address it is probable that Minister
Bowen will attempt to secure for him
some form of arbitration. In such an
event an arbiter would have to be agreed
upon and although The Hague tribunal
is still in existence the creditors would
probably insist under the plea Of greater
haste, on the selection of some individ-
nal King Oscar of Sweden is con-
sidered here the most likely person for
this work. Minister Bowen is open to
the charge that as an American he would
undoubtedly be unacceptable save In the
capacity of agent for Venezuela, a posi-
ton he now fills through the forwarding
of the arbitration proposal of Castro.
OF the remaining powers not interested
Russia is TOO closely tied to France by
bond transactions and Astrio- Hungary
is suspected of prejudice for Germany.
The State Department. cards the claims
of the various countries iegimate in char
acter but extortionate in amount. In this
respect they resemble cases for personal
damages brought in this country against
wealthy corporations. A new compli-
cation in the situation, provided Castro
does not yield, will be the declaration Of
war blockade. No objection will be
made by this country to exclusion OF
American ships, provided that all others
are excluded, but it is thought here that
France will most decidedly protest. An
other disheartening development is the
report that General Matos is preparing
to start another revolution against
Castro. This is one of the many reasons
why the administration is so earnestly
urging arbitration.
Venezuelan matters were discussed by
the House committee on foreign affairs
this morning, aud the resolution intro
duced yesterday by Representative Nc
Call (rer. Mass. was ordered fayorably
reported to the House. 1t directs the
Secretary of State T. inform the House
touching an understanding or agreement
between the government Of Great Britain
and Germany and the diplomatic officers
of the United States, as to the nature,
purpose of the joint demonstration OF
those governments against Venezuela,
and particularly with reference 10 the
occupation of the territory of Venezuela.
A resolution of similar effect but of more
complex phraseology, introduced by Mr..
De Armopd (dem. Mo- was ordered
tabled. Representative Shafroth (dem.
Colc.) appeared before the committee to
urge action on his resolution authoriz-
ing the President to propose to Great
Britain and Germany to submit their
claims to arbitration, and to guarantee
the payment of the awards that may be
made. The committee took no action on
the Shafroth resolution, postponing fur
Their consideration until after the holt
days.
Secretary Moody today cabled Admiral
Dewey at San Juan as follows: "Carry
out your proposed holiday itinerary.
Merry Christmas. The strongest con-
.ingent of the fleet, four battleships and
the gunboat Scorpion, will rendezvous
at Trinidad, within one days sail of
La Guayra, Venezuela. Practically all
of the fleet will be within two days sail of
the Venezuelan coast.
The appointment of r. l.. Poag as
postmaster at Wytheville has been def
nitely decided upon by the President at
the instance of Col. Semp, Congressman
elect from the Ninth Virginia District
The late Gen. Walkers daughter, Mrs.
]. r. Jordon, is the present postmaster,
and her friends made strong fight for
her, but she had to go at Col. Slemp's
demand. 1t is said here that the Presi-
dent told Col. Slemp yesterday evening
that he would look to him to manage the
Virginia patronage. Whether or not
this means the turning down of the "or-
ganization" in Virginia remains to be
seen.
The contested election case of j.
Selden Cowden against Carter Glass from
the Sixth Virginia District, was before
the elections committee today and was
postponed till after the holidays. The
contest is such fimsy one that no at
tention is being paid to it, Cowden
does not even live in the Sixth district
and has been a candidate for almost
every Office for the past several years.
At noon today, at her home in this
city, Miss Louise Vaughan Parker,
daughter of Mr.. Myron NJ. Parker, was
married to Edward Spencer Blackburn,
member of Congress from North Carolina.
Speaker Henderson, Mr.. Cannon and
other representatives members Of the
House were present, as well as several
members of the Cabinet.
The timely arrival of few carloads of
coal yesterday prevented the shutting
down of the street car and electric light
power plants.
The prospects are that l.. B. Hanna,
nephew of the Ohio Senator, will be
elected Senator from Dakota.
Among the Senators who paid tribute
to the memory of the late Gen. Sewall,
of New Jersey, in the Senate yesterday,
was Senator Daniel, of Virginia, whose
remarks we're chaste and beautiful.
In the House yesterday Mr.. Rixey
presented a petition of the heirs of John
I. Armstrong, deceased, of Alexandria,
for reference of war claims to the Court
of Claims.
The East Room is being put in readi-
ness for the first State dinner of the sea-
son to be given by President and Mrs.
Roosevelt tonight.
Favorable report on the bill to create a
general staff in the army was authorized
by the House committee on military
affairs today. The bill was amended in
several important particulars, especially
so far as relates to the abolition of the
inspection department as recommended
by the Secretary of War.