Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-22
From Washington.
rCorrespondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. J
Woabin0ton Feb %.

Washington, req. IL.
Washington's birthday was observed
here to-day. All the departments and
Federal buildings were closed and vari-
Gus patriotic societies had their own cere-
monies. In the Senate Mr.. Hepburn,
of Idaho, read Washington's Farewell
Address. There was no display OF reg
ular troops here as all available men
had been ordered to ALEXANDRIA
where an oldfashioned celebration OF the
day was expected to be held.
The death ex-senator Hanna, chairman,
and the resignation of Perry 5. Heath,
Secretary of the national republican com
mittee. leaves that body in a state OF
Differentiation, so far as the plans for
the future are concerned. There have
been a number of suggestions looking TO
Senator Hannas successor, but nothing
definite has been agreed upon. For the
present Postmaster General Payne, the
vice chairman, will continue as acting
chairman, and Elmer Dover Of Ohio, as
sistant secretary, will remain as acting
secretary. But neither of these gentlemen
is likely to remain permanently. For
the craftsmanship President Roosevelt IS
said to favor ex- Governor Crane, OF Mass
who has the reputation of being a shrewd
political general, Senator Lodge has also
been mentioned in this connection. In
tn @ end the man chosen by the President
will be accepted by the national commit
tee which will organize few days
before the assembling of the republican
national convention at Chicago, June Il.
But for the illness and death of Sena-
tor Hanna, unusually appropriate Wash
ington services would have been held at
the Capitol today. Nearly month ago
a bronze bust of Washington, the gift OF
the people of France to those OF the
United States, was received and placed
in charge of the Capitol architect. 1t
was the intention to put the bronze in
place today, but everything was lost
sight of in the anxiety attending Senator
Hanna's last days. The gift has been
accepted by Congress and date for the
formal acceptance of the gift will be ar
ranged within a week or two. The
bronze in question is reproduction OF
the one given to the United States by
the people of France in 1928. 1t was
DESTROYED at the Capitol fire in 1851,
when its companion piece, the bust OF La
fayette, met like fate.
An armed crank attempt to get into
the White House this morning by the
north porticO entrance. He was prompt
" captured by one of the secret service
operatives and hustled to police head
quarters. He gave his name and address
as Edward Relgar, 27l South Clark street
Chicago. On being searched he was
found to have big revolver in his peck
ct. He stated that his purpose in trying
to see the President was to enlist his aid
in connection with some patents. Rel
gar was examined by the police surgeons
and then committed to st. Elizabeth's
Hospital for the Insane. Relgar had
been persuaded by the secret service
man to accompany him quietly to the
notice station under the impression that |
he was going to "the branch White
House" Besides the revolver, which |
was fully loaded, box of cartridges was
found on bis person. Relgar had written
several letters to the President, and the
detectives were on the lookout for him.
His particular mania was that all per-
sons should bear names indicative of
their occupations; that is all carpenters
should be named Carpenter, all tailors,
Taylor, etc.
Senator Foraker, discussing the Sena-
torial situation in his State, said this af-
ternoon General Dick now seems to.
have a clear field, which is entirely
agreeable to me- He has been a hard
working republican, and IS entitled to
the honor"
The President has rendered place on
the Isthmian Canal Commission to Al
fred Noble the chief engineer in charge
Of construction on the Pennsylvania
Railroad.
The latest news received at the State
Department from Santo Domingo is to
the effect that the rebels have been re-
pulsed by the government troops and the
siege of the city raised.