The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-19
PRESIDENT ALONE
GOES To PANAMA
Discusses Various Subjects With
Taft and Bacon
FUTURE PLANS FOR CUBA
RooseveIt's Trip to Panama VIII Prob
ably Be Made With the Brand
New Cruisers Tennessee
and Washington.


Roosevelt had a long conference today
With Secretary Taft and Assistant Sec
rotary Bacon, who made full report
of all that occurred on the island since
the United States government interviewed
to restore order In Cuba.
The condition of affairs in the island
and the views of the officials as to the
future were taken up with a view to
the thorough understanding of the situa-
ton by the President. The financial fea-
ture of the intervention also was talked
of, and the question of the appointment
of fiscal agent for the United States
in the island discussed.
1t is expected that some responsible
banking institution will be selected for
this purpose. Neither the President nor
those who conferred with him were will
ing to make more than a general state
ment regarding the conference,
Panama matters also were discussed.
1t has been decided to appoint a gov
ernor, as we'll as an American minister
for Panama, although the President has
not as yet agreed TO make public the
names of the persons selected,
When Governor Magoon was at the
isthmus, he filled both positions.
Taft VIII Stay at Home.
Secretary Taft will not accompany the
President to the isthmus The present
expectation is that the President will
be unaccompanied by any member of
his cabinet, or other high official.
When Secretary Taft resumed his du-
Nd oft Il
conference with the President, he found
a great accumulation of matters reaulr
ing his attention. The first business,
however. was to give the necessary or
ders to carry into effect the plans he
had formed relative to Cuba, which had
received the approval of the President,
Speaking generally of the results of his
mission to Cuba and the prospects for
the political future of that island, the
secretary said that success had been at
tanned in one important point at least,
namely, the fighting had been stopped,
and he did not believe that 1t would be
renewed even after the withdrawal of
the American forces
Difficult and Dangerous Situation.
It had been a difficult and dangerous
situation for time as the commission
has had to deal with an undiscipllned
force of perhaps twenty thousand men
under arms and scattered about the is
land, making it difficult to reach them
directly. 1t was the real purpose of sum
moning General Funston to Cuba to assist
In this work for which he was peculiar
ly qualified owing to his acquaintance
with many of the leading spirits of both
sides, and in which he was entirely sue
cessful. There had never been any inten-
ton of placing him in command of the en-
tire American forces and when his work
was done in connection with the cessation
of actual hostilities. he returned to the
United States according to the original
plan.
"A mark of favor in which General Fun
ston is held by the President the sec
rotary said was to be found in the fact
that this officer was to be placed in COM
mand of an entire division of the army,
although a brigadier general, which is
without precedent.
Secretary Taft said he was anxious to
have General Bell return TO Washington
as soon as possible, as he was much
needed here. But that officer had worked
so long and so well with him (Secretary
Taft in the Philippines In the solution
of precisely such problems as now con-
front US in Cuba, that the Secretary felt
that he was the best representative he
could have in Cuba at present.
Pershing Is Too Young.
The report that General Pershing would
succeed in command of the American
forces in Cuba
to Secretary Taft as the command was
too large for a junior among the brig
adler generals.
The Secretary preserved his usual atti-
tude when the question of the length of
time of American stay in Cuba was
brought up, and said it was not possible
to make any prediction. When the bad
feelings stirred up by the revolution had
subsded and there was ample assurance
that elections could be held without vio-
lence and with fair dealings on all Sides
and with a disposition to abide Loyalty
by the results of such elections on all
sides then and not before would the time
mentioned in his proclamation issued in
Havana, be at hand and the retirement
of the American forces be in order Ger
tanly they would not retire before the
elections, for 1t would be necessary to
watch those to insure that they were fair
ly conducted.
In answer to the question as to how long
it would take to install the new govern
ment after the elections, the Secretary
said he believed three or four weeks
would suffice.
Will Withdraw Forces.
Relative to the disposition of the mill.
tary and naval forces in Cuba, he said
that 1t has been decided to withdraw as
soon as possible a number of marines now
in the island. There was a force there
now of about 240O marines, and all but
about 400 or 500 were to be withdrawn,
most of them coming to the navy yards
and stations, whence they had gone. The
few retained in Cuba-now and In the
interior-would be particularly useful in
towns and ports off the railways. As the
marines were called away they would
be replaced by soldiers. and the number
of these originally fixed at 5000 men,
would probably be increased to about
1000. The secretary declined to state what
proportion of the expense of this army
would be charged against the Cuban
revenues. but said the matter would be
treated in a special order. which he
would soon issue. There was no longer
need for maintaining a naval force of any