The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-04

important neighbor in calling The legis-
lative branch of this government to-
gether to ratify the action Of the Gu
pan congress. If this action had been
taken on Cuban's responsibility and
fhltlative the situation would be diff
1erent, but it was practically demand
ed by the United States and Cuba
merely complied with those demands.
The midsummer proposition to call the
extra session together i'm October was
due to the apparent demand for finan-
cial legislation. but when the president
was shown that this demand was not
SO urgent and that fl would i'm all prob
ability result in no agreement. the idea
was abandoned.
Second Fiddle.
The statement that Senator Fair
banks would accept the second place on
the Republican national ticket caused
quite ripple of interest, but it is
known that there was nothing in it,
The administration is taking no hand
IN selecting running mate with the
head Of the ticket next year. Governor
Durbin oE Indiana is an avOwed candi-
date for the vice presidential nominal
ton. and the Fairbanks announcement
was a play in Indiana state politics Of
largely local interest Chester A. Long
Of Kansas is Wen in the running as a
possible nominee. 1t is known that
President Roosevelt would like to have
had Governor Taft with him. but he is
equally well pleased to have the gov
ernor in the cabinet, and while the time
is far distant for speculation the Re
publican leaders are not averse to
grooming the new secretary Of war for
the presidential nomination in 1905
Canal Scandal
The hOpefulness of the advocates Of
the Nicara qua canal route does not
seem to be justified from an inside view
OF the situation. The administration is
inclined to believe that matters viii so
swing around that an agreement will
be made with Panama. The agree
ment made by the Panama people is
that owing 10 the difference in time
necessary in the construction of the
two canals the United States could still
wait year or so for an agreement with
Panama and yet have a canal com
pleted before the Nicaragua ditch could
be open to traffic Considerable impa-
thence is expressed, however, at the de-
lay. The American people have been
fairly well educated TO a belief that
the Nicaragua route is an American
enterprise and they are lOathe TO enter
into a scheme which has in the past
been identified with gigantic frauds and
dire misfOrtunes. The matter of the
canal viii undoubtedly be well thresheJ
over this winter in congressional de-
bate and the administration will come
in for severe criticism. The president
is firmly convinced that the distin-
guished commission which has reported
unanimously in favor of Panama, eX-
pressed its best judgment in the selec-
ton of the route. and its decision should
be abided by. However, the Nicaragua
people are maintaining a dignifed atti-
tude of waiting and are still hopeful
that good win yet come to them out OF
the difficulties with Colombia
Possible Candidate.
General John c. Black. as a possible
Democratic candidate for the presiden-
Cy, is an idea which has come TO Wash
ingtOn out of the west The movement
in his favor apparently originated in
I California cOincident with his election
as commander of the G. A. r. General
Black is a strong man and very popular
i'm Illinois. his native state. He has
held the office Of United States district
attorney, has been a member OF con-
greSs. he was commissioner OF pen
sions and has otherwise been identified
with public life for many years. The
idea Of his nomination comes as rather
a surprise to the eastern people. and
public opinion has not crystallized in
regard to him as a possibility.