Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-06-24
From Washington

IT IUIll w 0SulhS tOh'
rcorrespondende Of the Alexandra Gazette. J
Several recent developments indicate
that the South is playing an important
part in the calculation OF the admin
stration for the capture Of the next re-
publican national convention by candi-
date who will support the Roosevelt poll
cits. Not only has the President been
saying whole lot of nice things about
the South, the home of his mother, but
he has been showing his admiration for
the men of the South in more substantial
fashion. When he found that Pearl
Wight, of New Orleans, whom he bad
selected for the position of commissioners
of internal revenue, could not take the
lob until next December, he promptly
appointed John 9. Capers, ofSouth Car
DINA. as commissioner ad interim.
This making of a temporary appoint
ment in position OF this kind,
is said to BE- absolutely unprecedented.
1t is understood that Nights reason for
not taking hold at once was the fact that
as 8 member of the firm of Woodward,
Wight and Company, he is largely inter-
ested in contracts with the government.
He. therefore, asked the President to
postpone the date of bis assumption Of a
federal Office until he should have oppor-
tunity to close out all business relations
that in any way could embsrrass him or
the administration. The President
wanted Wight and so contriyed the
scheme of temporary appointment OF
another southern man. These two ap-
pointments, it is believed, will operate
to swing South Carolina, Mississippi and
Louisiana republicans into the pro-Roose-
welt column, if they are not already there.
The Presidents address on Georgia day,
at the jamestown Exposition, was re-
ceived with such enthusiasm that the
theory has actually been advanced that
should the President himself decide to
run for a third term, he could break the
solid South in the next national election.
The story comes up from the South to-
day that the President told some of his
southern friends that such q prospect
would be the only possible thing that
could induce him to alter his determine
ton not to be q candidate. But whether he
may become candidate or not, be is de-
termined that the nomination shall not
90 to a "reactionary." Ia line with
this policy, he will put 10 soft pedal on
the Roosevelt sAouters, either North or
South, in the hope that there will be
enough delegates pledged to either
Roosevelt or some other Roosevelt can
didste, to carry the convention for the
administration.
A court-martisl will probably be or
dered for the trial of Lieut.. Col. Charles
G. Ayres on account of the interview
growing out of the expulsion OF his wife
from West Point, in which he was pur-
ported to have criticized army officers
generally, saying, among other things,
that he "would sooner be tried by lot
of crocOdiles thsn by board of fellow
officers" Ga the appearance of the in
terview in the press, the War Depart
ment called upon him for an txplsna-
ton. 1t was announced at the War
Department that Col. Ayres' reply was
to the effect that he respectfully de-
clines TO make any statement with re-
gard to the interview" Under these
circumstances, Secretary Taft has order
ed Gen. Ernest A. Darlington, chief in
spector, to make a formal inquiry into
the matter. Should this investigation
establish the fact that Col. Ayres was
quoted with substantial correctness in
the interview, he will be court-martialed.
The appeal of the Brooklyn members
of Congress that one of the big 10000
ton battleships which are about to be
contracted for by the Navy Department,
should be built at the Brooklyn navy
yard, has been rejected by Secretary OF
Navy Metcalf because of lover bids.
The local grand jury today returned
an indictment charging murder in the
fist degree against CASTOR P. Philip,
the millionaire clubman of this city and
New York, who shot and killed Frank
B. Macaboy, at the Arlington Hotel at
midnight May IS, after the two had
come in from doing the Tenderloin.
Philip had hired a cab from MacabOy,
driver, and it was supposed that an al
tercation followed when Macsboy pre-
scented his bill.
The Navy Department has been in
formed by the government Of Sweden
tina. the armored cruiser, Fylgis, will
visit this country about the middle OF
August to represent that government at
the jamestown Exposition.