Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-06
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
The President and the Vene-
zuelan Question.
NO OFFICIAL REQUEST
BELIEVED HE WILL NOT BE
DRAWN INTO THE DISPUTE.
Prospects Of Alaskan Treaty Better
"Bill" Sewall and His Party Hav-
ing Good Time.
NO OFFICIAL REQUEST


tention Of the allies to request the President
| to undertake settlement of the question OF
preferential treatment in the payment Of
claims against Venezuela caused many re-
ports that the request had been submitted
| to the chief executive. At the caolnet
meeting today it was announced, and the
| Information was confirmed later, that the
President has not yet been asked to settle
| this question of preferential treatment and
| that when he is asked he will reach de-
| cision He has been given to understand
| that the purpose of the allies is to place
| this question before him for conclusion,
and 1t is expected that he will promptly act
when officially he has right to do so.
The general opinion voiced today was that
the President would refuse to be drawn INTO
| the Venezuelan dispute at this or any other
stage unless the interests and policies OF
the United States should become more Vi
tally involved than now. BY keeping his
hands out Of the muddle until the proper
time arrives for interference, IT 1t ever does
the President, 1t was argued, Wouio not pe
embarrassed and would be In position 70
act in a manner wholly for the good of this
country The President however, has gwen
no one to understand that he Will refuse
such a request, if made, and tue chances
are that he is waiting to ascertain eAactly
what is expected Of him. Should he COM
nit himself in advance he might make
grave mistake, and he prefers to know
fully what Is wanted Of him before he gives
an intimation Of his purposes.
Prospects Of the Alaskan Treaty.
Some of the officials Of the administration
have been considerably agitated for several
days over the prospects that the Alaskan
boundary treaty, now pending In the Sen
ate would be defeated when presented for
confirmation. This view was taken by
number of officials, owing to strong oppo-
sition from a few senators, but there Is
said to have been a change in the outlook,
and the President has received assurances
today from influential senators that the
treaty will be pressed and will be ratified.
careful survey of the Senate assures this
outcome, it Is declared on competent au-
thority, while just a few days ago there
was talk that the ratification Of the treaty
was hopeless. This talk, however, was
based, 1t is said, on a superficial survey of
the senatorial field. An advocate of the
adoption of the treaty said today that it's
provisions had been misunderstood for some
time. and ne did not believe the Senate
would take the responsibility of either de-
feating or falling to act upon the treaty.
Should 1t do so the modus viyendi agreed
upon some time ago will continue in force.
There was some criticism of the admins
tration for agreeing to the modus vivendi.
The treaty before the Senate provides for
the appointment of a commission that will
attempt to settle the boundary question,
yivendi. This being SO, criticism of the con-
tinuation of the existing agreement will fall
upon the Senate if 1t fails to adopt the
treaty.
"The fact that the treaty commits this
country to nothing and is merely an at
tempt to reach understanding about
the boundary, through a commission, ought
not to cause any opposition in the Senate"
said an official today. "The treaty was
thoroughly considered n the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations and was unani-
mously reported by that committee every
democrat and every republican voting for
| IT. Ihls gives a pretty good idea of the
sentiment of the Senate. ! think that the
| opposition will yield in this matter and
not permit the Senate to be charged with
complicating this Alaskan dispute any
lures that were dangerous to the interests
of this country 1t might be different but it
does not.''
Senator Hanna and Mr. Herrick.
Senator Hanna and Myron T. Herrick of
Cleveland, who Is a guest Of the senator
for several days, called on the President
this morning and had brief conference
with him. Mr.. Herrck is the leading
candidate for the republican gubernatorial
nomination in Ohio and there Is thought
to be little question of his selection. He
was an intimate personal friend Of Presi-
dent Mckinley and his relations to Sena-
tween two men.
Senator Foraker was likewise at the
" hite House during the morning. The
selection of a successor to Judge Day ON
the circuit bench is under consideration
by the President, but he has reached no
decision. The fact that there are two
candidates from Ohio makes the Pres-
dent inclined to go to Kentucky for a
judge c. c. Mangel and Oscar Finley Of
Louisville saw the President today to
urge that he nominate A E. Wilson of
Louisville as judge of the sixth circuit.
The President is said to feel kindly to
District Judge Cochran of Kentucky, and
he may yet be appointed to the circuit
bench.
Senator-elect Long of Kansas presented
M. A. Loke of Topeka to the President
"Bill'' Sewall Guest Of the President.
"W. w. Sewall Maine" in cramped but
fairly legible script has been upon the reg
lister of the Oxford Hotel since Wednesday.
Had it been known that that signature was
written by one of President Roosevelt's
closest friends. and that the owner was in
Washington as the personal guest of the
chief executive, 1t Is probable that the
famous old trapper and guide would have
before now been the subject Of many news
paper interviews and poses. "Bill' Sewall
is not alone. He has six relatives and
friends with him. and the whole party took
lunch at the White House yesterday and
evening. The names on the Oxford register
comprising the Sewall party are: Fleet
wood Pride, Mrs. Fleetwood Pride, Wilmot
E. Dove, Mrs. Mary A. Sewall, the old
trapper's helpmeet. and Miss L. D. Sewall
and Mr.. F. S. Sewall his daughter and son.
At the reception Mr.. Sewall was garbed in a
frock coat and harly knew what to do with
himself. His son wore a business suit, as
did also Mr.. DOVE. The ladies Of the party
were becomingly attired in high-necked
dresses Of tasteful design. When the Sewall
party passed down the line the President
invited them to step behind the ropes, as
mark of special favor.
"I was mighty glad to take In that re-
ception last night" said "BilI' Sewall this
morning. TT was my first, and 1 guess
it'll be my last. Can't say that I'd like to
go very often. I'd rather go fishing or
hunting But it gives you mighty fine
chance to see the people-especially the wo-
men. We going to stay in Washington
till Sunday morning. and will try to see as
much as We can during that time The