Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-23
President Confers With Pacific
Coast Representatives.
DEFENSES OF THAT SLOPE
Senator Flint Just Misses a Hit
From a Big Globe.
THREE 'POSSUMS RECEIVED
Two Were Sent by Mrs. Longstreet,
Postmistress at Gainesville, Ca,
and Third From Mississippi.

President Roosevelt is taking such
great interest in defenses on the Pacific
coast that he is having conferences with
congressman from that section as to what
Is necessary. He has talked with num-
Der of senator's and representatives. from
California, Oregon and Washington To-
day he talked on this subject with Senator
Flint of California, and Representative
Humphrey of Washington. A coincidence
of the visit of Senator Flint was that just
as he had concluded his talk with the
President about the results of possible
bombardments, and was starting out of
the executive offices, a four-pound globe
covering a bunch of electric lights on the
ceiling in the little room presided over by
Maj. Loeff1er, the Presidents doorkeeper,
fell with crash at the feet of the Cali
fornian, just missing his hat. Senator
Flint was for a few seconds in doubt
whether it was japanese bomb or the
collapse of republican presidential boom.
Judging from what has taken place, the
President is simply bestirring the Pacific
coast members to activity in getting ap-
propriations for weak points along the
slope. San Francisco is considered one
of the best defended cities of the world,
and little money will be needed there to
protect that big city. Senator Flint Is
particularly interested in San Pedro and
San Diego. The latter he says could be
made one of the great harbors of the
world by an expenditure of $15O,OOO in
dredging the mouth of the harbor. That
much Smoney would give a thirty-foot
channel at San Diego. and thereby ad-
init the largest battleships to a great har-
Dor. San Diego. according to Senator
Flint, needs coast defenses.
Representative Humphrey talked with
the President about the needs of Puget
sound and SaaffIa The forti6cafinnS
the sound he considers weak and improve
ment highly necessary. One trouble with
Seattle. he says, is that the channel is
so wide and the fogs so heavy at times
that a cruiser could slip into the sound
in heavy fog and lombard Seattle.
Much significance is attached In some
quarters to the conferences the President
is having with the Pacific coast represen-
tatives, and there will be much comment
about 1t. in all probability.
Three 'Possums Received.
Three fat possums for Christmas din
ner at the White House, together with
sundry other boxes and packages, arrived
by express this morning. They were re-
ceived by the chief clerk of the executive
offices and then turned over to the peo-
pie for whom they were intended. The
poSsums were at once placed in the hands
of Stewart Pinkney. who, being South
Carolinae colored man, understands what
to do with them. Except for the President
himself, the Roosevelts have not shown
very great fondness for 'possum meat, and
one or two other animals of that species
which were forwarded to the President
were sent to the Zoo. These may also go
there.
Two of the 'possums were shipped to the
President by Mrs. Helen D. Longstreet,
widow of Gen. Longstreet, whose home
Is at Gainesville, Ga, where she Is
postmistress. Mrs Longstreet has been
personally feeding the 'possums for a
month, largely on persimmonS.
They are as fat as pigs. On the box with
the animals was the following note from
Mrs. Longstreet:
To President Roosevelt, White House,
Washington, D. c.:
These opossums surrendered near the
'Wrens' Nest Atlanta. both contending.
smilingly, for the honor of furnishing the
Christmas dinner for the American prince
and his family. Being SO evenly matched
in size, complexion, quality, and good
looks, 1t seems an unspea kable cruelty to
both by selecting either at khe expense OF
the other, SO they both are sent on the re-
turning journey, bearing the loyalty of the
great empire state of the SOUTH closely
followed by the envious admiration of the
entire animal kingdom of Georgia.
The Third From Mississippi.
The third 'possum was from Mississippi
and was turned over to the President by
Representative Bowers Of that state. Mr..
Bowers received three of the animals
from ]. M. Phillips of Meridian, Miss.
One was for Mr.. Bowers, another for A.
E. Randle and the third for the Presi-
dent, from one of the Presidents red
neck, dyed-in-the-wool democratic ad-
mirers" Mr. Bowers. picked the best of
the three and sent it to the White House.
The Situation in Goldfeld.
Senator Nixon of Nevada discussed the
Goldfield, New, situation with the Presi-
dent this morning. The President is re-
ceiving many appeals from Nevada to
modify his order taking the troops away
December 81, but he consistently advises
all those appealing to him that he can
not see his way clear to leave the troops
there in view of the apathy of the Nevada
authorities and their failure up to this
time to first use the powers of the state
to quel the riot. So far he has not heard
that the Nevada authorities have done
anything, but Senator Nixon intimated
that something is on foot by which there
will be an attempt to take care OF the
situation in a local way. Senator Nixon s
one emphatic statement in connection
with the situation was this:
"One thing is certain. That Is, when
this thing is over the Western Fedora
ton of Miners won't be known IN Gold
field"
Guest at Luncheon.
DIR. l.. S. Rowe of the University of
Pennsylvania was guest of President
Roosevelt at luncheon today. DR.. Rowe
came to Washington to discuss South
American affairs with the President He
was a delegate to the Pan-American
peace conference, and at the conclusion
of the conference spent year and half
in touring South America.
DESTRoYERS HELD UP.