The National tribune., 1907-01-17

their hospitality, and their
were to offer nothing in
toxicating to men. particularly young
men. The Secretaries of War and the
Navy had. of course, provided cham.
payne and punch and even the straight
red liquor, but all the men who partook
of those refreshments were compelled
to ask for them. Hard drinks" were
not offered. Cool lemonade. with de-
licious fruit, and creamy chocolate. hot |
and cold, and tea and coffee had the |
most enchanting maidens to dispense
them. while somber-looking negro ser
vitors attended to the strong drinks. |
Now, that was a shrewd arrangement,
for what military man would be so un-
gallant as to want wine from a lackey,
when lovely damsel would give him
lemonade?
Because of the anti-Japanese feeling
in San Francisco, the Government at
Tokyo has determined not TO permit
its squadron of training ships to visit
the Pacific Coast, as had been planned
a few months ago.
The Government at Tokyo consulted
at length with the State Department.
about the matter. particularly thru
Luke f. Wright, the American Embas-
sador in Tokyo.
The State Department could not ex-
press much of an opinion. 1t was i'm
possible for the Department to say to
Japan that the Japanese sailors would
be unsafe in San Francisco, but never
theless the officials felt that way. Sol
Japan was not told outright that her
ships had better not come. but the lack
of enthusiasm on the part Of this Gov
ernment over the plan, and irs own in
formation as to the anti-Japanese feel
ing in California, led Japan to abandon
the plan.
Lieut.-Gen. C. A. Kondratovitch.
Chief of the Ninth East Siberian Rifle
Division, First Siberian Army Corps.
and said to be the youngest officer of
that rank in the Russian army, was q
visitor at the War Department last
week. He renewed his acquaintance
with Brig.-Gen. Barry. who was one of
the United States military observers
accompanying Gen. Kuropatlkin during
the RuSso-Japanese war.
Gen. Kondratovitch Is on his way to
st. Petersburg for the far East. During
the war with Japan his corps was con-
stantly in battle. As an illustration Of
the fury Of its engagements, Gen. Barry
said 1t lost over 300 officers and IL, 900
men. Gen. Kondratovitch was serious
ly wounded in the right breast. In
Japan, where he stopt en- route to the
dial reception.
The roof of the west wing of the
White House, which was formerly a
conservatory and which connects the
Mansion proper with the Executive
offices, has been the scene on after
moons recently of exciting games of
hockey. The players are the Roosevelt
boys. Quentin and Archibald. both of
whom are experts on roller skates, and
boy companions of their own age in
vited in to enjoy the sport.
The shouts of the youngsters as they
glide over the smooth surface of the
roof, now and then falling over each
other and mixing in merry heaps, can
be plainly heard in the private Office
Of the President, few feet away, and
the game is in full view of hundreds
of officials and clerks in the State, War
and Navy Building, across the street.
It has been only within the past few
weeks that the Presidents sons have
had hockey field of their own. In
Executive avenue, where heretofore
they and their friends have played the
game, there was no privacy, and 1t was
not unusual for SO or more boys to
gather there in the afternoons, making
the game of chasing the small elusive
puck difficult to manage.
If bill that was introduced by Rep
resentative C. B. Randell, of Texas. in
the House last week should become a
law, it would work such a change in
the politics of the Republic as no single
piece of legislation ever effected. Many
will think 1t very drastic and even
radical proposition. and. on the other
hand, many will give it their unquali-
fed approval.
The bill will specifically prohibit Sen
ators and Members from serving, as
officers, agents or attorneys, any trust
or public-service corporation, under
penalty of fine, Imprisonment and for
feiture of office.
It's author, who is a successful law
yer, says he has given this measure
years of study, and that It's adoption
is calculated to rid the country of many
of the evils that affiict the body polite.
Were it to be enacted many Senators
and Representatives would either havo
to get out of Congress or quit the ser
vice of trusts and corporations.
Mr.. Randell Is of the opinion that
no man can serve two masters and that
National lawmaker should choose
constituents is incompatible with the
other sort of employment.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
entertained the Diplomatic Corps at
dinner last Thursday evening, accord
ing to the annual custom Of the Chief
Executive. This, like the diplomatic
reception, Is the most brilliant dinner
of the series. The table. which was
horseshoe shape, was decorated with
seven plateaus Of purple orchids and
maiden-hair fern. and small vases OF
| lilies-of-the-valley. Eight silver can
delabra with white shades shed a soft
glow over the table. The mantel and
deep window recesses were banked
with ferns and purple orchids. The
welt were marked by tall throne-like
black oak chairs, upholstered in green
| leather, Mrs. Roosevelt occupying the
| seat on the inside of the bend of the
table The other places had the ia
miliar gold chairs, with yellow ribbon
bows tied at the back. The golden
| champagne cup given to the President
| by the city of San Francisco was at the
Presidents plate. The Marine Band
played in the corridors during the
evening. and the white marble Golfers
were banked with ferns and pink and
white aZaleas. Palms and crotons
| were also arranged in the corridor.
The decorations of the Red Room We're
of American Beauty roses: the Blue
Room was exquisite with Golden Gate
roses, ferns, and palms; the Green
| Room had red carnations. and the
East Room had palms, ferns. and Gold
en- Gate roses.