Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-31
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Secretary Morton to Retire
July L.
RECENT NAVAL FIGHT
IN REGARD TO IT
DISCUSSED WITH PRESIDENT.
No Peace Conference-Texas Bank
Cashier neutrality-suspicious.
to Oyster Bay Home.


nounced that he win retire from the cab
met July l. spent some time with the Pres
ident today. His plans for retirement his
future occupation and many other things
were touched upon. but the main object
was TO talk over the recent fight between
the japanese and Russian fleets Outside
of the human and official interest naturally
felt In the fight from political standpoint
Is the deep professional interest What is
surprising the naval world and will con-
tnue to do so for some time TO come is
how the japanese could have inflicted sucn
terrible losses upon the Russians without
losing anything more than three torpedo
beats. several hundred men and sustaining
slight injuries to a few ships.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Morton
both recognize that il is a question OF the
greatest Importance for the United STAGES
to learn the exact facts as to the immense
discrepancy IN the losses, and Secretary
Morton proposes to set on foot an inves;i-
CATION to secure the facts. 1t will never
do for this government to go on with rs
naval plans and architecture without being
IN full possession of every scrap of infor-
nation that can be had as to why the Jap
arese so far outranked the Russians.
Questions to Be Answered
was 1t superior craftsmanship and pro-
ficiency in handling guns that did the work?
Was 1t swarm of torpedo boats? Was 1T
submarine mines or boats? What were the
facts? To these questions are added others
OF whether the japanese will reveal the
facts themselves whether they will let
the world continue its guessing match The
japanese policy of secrecy has been SO pro-
nounced as to attract attention, and the
sailors and soldiers of that country are not
telling anything TO their means or meth
obs OF warfare They are willing that the
remainder of the world shall get mysterious
ideas as to the real facts, believing that the
impression will be excellent in its future
effect. But the other parts of the world,
especially the United States has no thought
of going on In a blind way without know.
ing all that is new to know and keeping
up with the procession
The President and his Secretary of the
Navy are not attempting to guess at what
happened and how 1t happened. All they
Know is that powerful navy was wiped
OF the seas without putting up a fight that
could be counted, and that it is of vital
interest to this country to ascertain some
of the truth. 1t is believed that Russians
who were captured and who escaped will
enlghten the world.
Ex-senator Chandler. who was Secretary
of the Navy a number of years ago and
was at the White House today, believes
that the Russians loss is accounted for
almost solely through the high efficiency Of
the japanese gunnery. Their ships. know
ing how far behind the Russians were IN
that respect. unhesitatingly went in closer
than they would have done had the Rus
slams been good marksmen. In addition to
that the japanese let loose swarm Of
torpedo boats. which overwhelmed the big
Russian fighting vessels. The torpedo
boats took all kinds of chances in going In
and their bravery was rewarded. The little
vessels were not kept back and were sent
right in to the big Russians.
japanese Naval Attache Calls.
Commander Isam Takeshita. naval at
tache of the Japanese legation here, called
on the President this morning. He said he
had called to pay his respects, but it was
understood that he presented the President
with kilograms saying that the total loss
of the Japanese navy was three torpedo
boats and about 200 men. Mr.. Takeshita
laughed when it was suggested that his
visit might have been one to confer as to
peace.
No Peace Conferences.
There were no peace conferences. The
President had no visitors who have the
authority to touch upon peace proposals,
and there is no thought that he would
consider proposing peace except upon the
understanding that his action would not
be objectiona BILE to either Japan or Russia.
Attorney General Moody and Commits
sioner Garfield of the bureau of corpora
tions were in conference with the President
for some time, evidently on matter con-
nected with some OF the Investigations
that are being made by the bureau in
which legal action must be taken.
Bank Cashier Pardoned.
President Roosevelt has pardoned S. J.
Spots a former bank cashier of Petty,
Tex, who is serving a five-year sentence
at Fort Leavenworth for embezzling money
from the First National Bank of Petty.
SPOTS pleaded guilty to the Indictment
charging him with embeZZlement March II.
1903 and was sentenced to five years. AL
though he had embezZled money. he sold
everything he had and made the losses
good. the bank and depositors in no way
suffering from his offense. President Roose-
welt had SPOTS application for pardon be-
fore him a year ago for consideration, but
he did not consider the time appropriate
for the release of the convict then. and
marked it Denied at this time" Since
then facts have been presented that in
duced the President to again take up the
case with the result that he ordered the
release of the applicant.
Presidents Oyster Bay Home.
The President will leave Washington in
three weeks for his Oyster Bay home for
the summer Mrs. Roosevelt and the chill
dren will leave before that time. The fam
fly will remain until some time in Septem-
Der. An addition to the Roosevelt home at
Oyster Bay is being built, and will be
ready when the family gets there. 1t Is of
brick and tile. The Presidents library will
be located in the new addition. Other i'm
provements are being made on the place.
including pumping engine for the family
water supply. 1t is to take the place of the
old windmill The children viii be glad to
get to Oyster Bay. They live outdoors
there In the summer. and are delighted
with the companionship of their father In
many OF their outings.
Representative Southland of Ohio present.
ed some friends to the President.
Ohio Collector Appointed.
Tho President has appointed David Moore
of Athens, Ohio, as collector of Internal
revenue of the Chillicothe district In Ohio
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
the late John c. Entrekin. Mr.. Moore Is
a state senator from Athens county and
a man of prominence. He had the in
dorsements of Senator Foraker and Repre-
sentative Grosvenor.
Major John NJ. Carson has formally
accepted the position of chief of the bu-
reau of manufactures of the Department
of Commerce and Labor. and his COM
mission will be issued this afternoon or
tomorrow, and he will enter upon his
duties tomorrow
The Presidents Return
h.