Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Comment on MI. Heath's
Louisville Interview.
MISTAKEN IN DATE
MR.. MCKINLEY WAS NOT IN
WASHINGTON AT TIME STATED.
Important Cabinet Meeting to Be Held
This Afternoon-Questions to
Be Considered.

given to an interview with Perry Heath a
few days ago, in which Mr.. Heath declares
that President Mckinley told him "it was
his firm conviction that he would live to
see Hanna President and that he would
receive the nomination from his party"
The interview with Mr.. Heath was printed
in the Louisville Courier-Journal. Mr..
Heath had visited Louisville during Christ
mas week. The interview attracted SO
much attention that the Courier-Journal
has come out vouching for the entire ac-
curacy of the report Of Mr.. Heath's utter
ances.
Mr. Heath is quoted az saying: IT saw
President Mckinley only a few days before
he was shot in Buffalo. He was IN the
White House in Washington. ana I had a
long talk with him pertaining to the next
presidential election. During the CONVEX
satton Mr.. Mckinley. In speaking Of the
man who would succeed him, said: I ex-
pect to see my friend and associate. Mar
Gus Hanna. the next President Of the
United States. l believe he will be nomi-
Mr.. Heath then goes on to say: Mr..
Mckinley went to Canton the folio wing
day, and the next day thereafter was shot
while at Buffalo"
Mistake as to Time.
Mr.. Heath thus locates this conversation
in the White House in Washington two
days before the shooting of President Nc
Kinley at Buffalo, inasmuchi as the Presi-
dent went to Canton the following day
and the next day thereafter was shot while
at Buffalo,
But Mr.. Heath is mistaken as to the time
when this conversation at ths White House
took place. For it is a matter of general
knowledge that President Mckinley was
In few IN IVA a
was shot, or even a few weeks before that
tragedy. He left Washington with Mrs
Mckinley for Canton July and never re-
turned to this city. He went direct to Can
ton from Washington and remained there
all summer. He was shot. in Buffalo, Sep
tember g. just two months from the day he
had gone from his Offices IN the White
House House oaaIs It Is wed wei ~ Rnamn sns White
who was then secretary to President Mckin-
ley, that Mr.. Mckinley did Mt at any time
return to Washington before the Buffaio
tragedy. All the official business OF the
government was transacted AZ Canton dur
ing the summer.
The tragedy at Buffalo was. az matter
of history. probably rendered posstbte by
the illness OF Mrs. Mckinley during the
ley left Washington on his famous visit to
the Pacific coast. The trip was scheduled
to last between six and seven weeks, and
was to have wound up at Bnffalo about the
an invitation to make speech on that
date. which was fixed as "Presidents day"
When the President had got as far as
El Paso, Tex on his journey Mrs McKfn-
ley was attacked with a serious illness.
Her trouble became more aggravated in
three or four days, and when the train
reached Del Monte, Cal, the President con-
cluded that he had better take his wife d.
rectly to San Francisco, where she could
receive proper medical attention and rest.
At the home of Henry T.. Scott, of San
Francisco Mrs. Mckinley became SO ser-
ously i'll that DR.. Rixey President Nc
Kinley and all those at her bedside thought
she was dying. She rallied, and as soon as
her condition would permit she was brought
Immediately to Washington. reaching here
May co. The abandonment by President
Mckinley Of the remainder Of his long trip
was due to Mrs. McKinleys illness. If her
health had remained normal the President
would have been IN Buffalo June 13, and
probably have escaped the bullet of an as
sassin.
Mrs Mckinley grew better after getting
to Washington, but bone felon unexpect-
edly developed on one hand and a form Of
was desperately Ill about the middle of
June, but by the 9th of July had grown
fairly strong. 1t was then that her hus-
band took her to Canton.
An Important Cabinet Meeting.
What will probably be an important meet
ing Of the cabinet will be held at o'clock
this afternoon. 1t was announced yesterday
that the President would adhere to his
policy of holding no cabinet meetings dur
ing the Christmas holidays, but this deter
mination was suddenly changed. and
meeting called for today. 1t is generally
believed that the meeting Ia for the purpose
Of considering two important things. The
first will be the answer which Secretary
Hay will send to General Reyes communi-
cation relative to Colombia. This communi-
cation Is expected TO result In the breaking
of diplomatic relations between tho United
States and Colombia, and the departure
from the United States of General Reyes
and DR.. Herran, the Colombian minister to
this country. There wiA be no haste about
dispatching the answer, but the cabinet will
consider the contents of the message before
it is delivered. Several days or even a week
may elapse before the answer is sent.
The other will be the messages the Presi-
dent and State Departmnt are receiving ap-
pealing to this government to interfere in
behalf Of the Kishinem Jews, whose lives are
threatened with massacre January Z A
telegram has reached the President from
the officials of the Harmony Club of Sc
attic, urging him to intercede IN favor of
the Ktshineff Jews. Just what disposition
the President and his advisers may be able
to make Of these petitions is not now
known.
Simon Wolf after kennxart3p1 with tba