Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-01-24
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence.)

War Against Friars-The church
trouble In the Philippines continues
to give the president and officers OF
the war department much concern.
! The situation with respect to the friars
remains unchanged. notwithstanding
the presence in Manila OF Mgr. Guidl,
| the apostolic delegate sent to the Phil.
| ippines to negotiate with Gov. Taft
for the sale OF church property and
the adjustment Of land titles. The fall.
ure of the Vatican to withdraw the
friars, as promised when Gov Taft was
in Rome, is looked upon by the OH.
cials here rs the cause OF the present
| religious disturbances in the islands.
and one authority on Philippines af-
| fairs declared ut the war department
that conditions will reach Il critical
stage unless the friars are withdrawn,
Gen. Wood for PhiIlppines-Gen.
Leonard Wood has applied for service
in the Philippines and 1t Is expected
that as soon as he completes his Gu.
ban reports and accounts, upon which
he is now working, his application will
| be granted He will probably leave
Washington some time in March to
be assigned to the command Of one Of
the military departments in the Phil
| ippincs. Gen. George w. Davis will
be retired for age late next summer.
and ii is not unlikely that Gen. Wood
| will become his successor as com
handing general Of the division OF the
Philippines.
Poiceman's Bad Break-Mrs. Roose-
welt had to stop and tell who she was
before she was allowed to enter the
| White House grounds the other day.
| She had heen out walking, and re-
turned by way OF the entrance at the
executive offices. She was in a hurry
and trippcd up the steps with the agil-
| ity of n schoolgirl. AS she started up
the steps Policeman Will Wheeler
walked toward her to head her OF.
Wheclcr is an old policeman. but has
been on the White House detail only
a few days That's all right; that's
the missus,' whispered one Of the old
guards who was standing near. but
Wheeler didn't hear him. you can't
70 through here, madam. The grounds
are closed to the public" he said. Il
knew. but live here" replied the
presidents wife. This IS my home
Then Wheeler realized who she was,
and with an expression "O," backed
away. The president was returning
from walk later, when Policeman
| Wheeler stopped him at the gate. The
| president had his soft black hat
pulled, down over his eyes, and the
watchful officer did not recognize him.
Hold on there. sir!" he commanded.
as the president reached the top step
and started for the White House. "You
can't go through here. The grounds
are closed" II am the president" said
| Mr.. Roosevelt as he raised his hat
to prove the assertion. The officer
sslutCd and fell back. The president
thought the occurrence a good joke
and told several of his friends about
it.
Was First Argonaut-Capt, Francis
Marion Schell, scout, plainsman and In
innate friend of Buffalo BILL" is
dead He took the first wagon train
to California in the gold excitement
in lS49. Capt. Schell had many es-
capes from Indians, and practically
every trip he made his wagon train
was attacked by hostiles. He was a
man of great strength. 1t was his
woman so miles on his back to
place of safety. Alone ne was making
scout, and incidentally prospecting
for gold, when he found woman ly-
ing on the trial. He prospected with
only Indifferent success, and then es-
taDlished hotel, which he ran for
20 years. He took conspicuous part
in affairs in California until he left.
He was at one time assistant door
Ekeeper Of the house Of representatives.
and later served as lieutenant Of the
capitol police. At the time OF his
death he was a watchman in the war
department.
Philippines Trade Booning-A
statement compiled by the bureau Of
insular affairs of the war department
from official returns shows that dur
ing the month OF September, 1902, the
imports of merchandise into the Phil
ippinc islands amounted to $2,7S5 ,O09,
an increase of more than half-mil-
lion dollars over the corresponding
month of 1901, and considerably above
the average monthly value for nine
months of the current year. The ex-
port trade of $3,389,535 Is the largest
Of any single month since American
occupation. the expectation Of hemp
alone amounting to over $2,500,OOO.
practically three-fourths of which was
sent to the United States, sugar and
tobacco shipments to all countries
during the month aggregating $573,-
679.
Liked by Filipinos-Gov. Taft Of the
Philippine islands, yielding to the de-
sire of the inhabitants to remain as
their executive for some time longer.
has declined to accept the appoint
ment on the bench of the supreme
court which the president has offered
him. Judge Taft will get the next va.
cancy. In all probability Justice Har
Ian will be the first to retire after
Shiras. Chief Justice Fuller will be
eligible for retirement this month
but, as he is still young and strong
mentally and physically, 1t is thought
that he may remain in active service
for several years. Former Secretary
of State William r. Day Of Canton
Ohio, at present Judge OF the Sixth
United States judicial circuit, will be
appointed associate justice Of the
United States supreme court to sue
ceed Justice Shiras.
The Superior Woman.