Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-24
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Gen. Gr0Sven0r One of the
Chief Callers.
STICKS TO HIS FIGURES
Says Democrats Will Not Get Over
166 Electoral Votes.
H0BS0N ON NAVAL INCREASE
Confident That Congress Will Vote
Four Battleships-Armeni
Ask for Protection.

Ask for Protection.
Gen. Charles II. Grosyenor. former rep
resentative from the Athens. Ohio. dis
triet. sticks to his figures that Bryan or
any man the democrats nominate will not
get beyond 1866 electoral votes. and that
Taft or any man the republicans nomi-
nate will poll the remainder. Gen eros.
venor called on the President today and
afterward entertained newspaper men
with some fancy fencing of questions
whether he Is TO run as an independent
candidate for Congress against Repre-
sentative Douglas. who defeated him two
years ago, and retired him from public
life. Gen. Grosvenor would not answer
point blank any categorical question
The report frequently comes from Athens
that Gen. Grosvenor Is unable TO defeat
Mr.. Douglas for the nomination. and
that his personal friends are to put him
forward as an independent candidate
sure Of the solid backing of the demo-
Gratis
Gen. GrosvenOr was asked IL he would
not categorically answer some questions
relating to the reports but he kept away
from any answer that would furnish an
idea of his political plans.
AS to the Presidential election he said
that shortly after he gave out figures AT
the White House several months ago that
Bryan would be nominated and would
not get a single electoral vote outside of
the south he met the Nebraska statesman
at the Capitol.
We'll. l see you have already disposed
of me- remarked the Nebraskau.
'Oh. we'll. l might well do il now As
to wait later. 1t will be all the same"
Gen Grosvenor replied.
"Of course everybody understands that
you are disinterested.'' came back Mr..
Bryan. and the two men parted.
Predicts Four Battleships.
Sanguine Mr.. Hobson OF Alabama con-
tnues to tell the President and White
House newspaper men that Congress will
finally authorize four battleships instead
of two. as reported by the naval affairs
committee, and he makes the prediction
| now with greater emphasis than he did
some weeks ago.
I'VE will get four battleships, no mat
ter what others say is the way he put
it. When he was asked what he thought
| the ships should be named, if four are put
through, said: II think one of them
should be named after Utah. for I think
after Florida is honored the list Of states
will have been exhausted. We might
then go into history for our names.
either the names of naval heroes or his
toric ships. / think one of our ships
should be named after the Constitution.
That name should be preserved in our
navy"
Senator Flint talked some with the
President this morning about the antici
pations Of the Pacific coast over the oom-
ing of the battleship fleet TO San Fran
cisco and he declared that he will vote
for four hattleships if the question comes
f1trap l,y hDfA~ he g.,
a greater navy and 1 think that we
should provide at least four big fighting
vessels before adjournment"
Senator Borah of Idaho, heavily loaded
down with two or three big document.
bearing upon the Brownsville affair, talked
with the President, He said he was CIV
ing some thought to the subject Yes"
he said. with A laugh. there are only
80 negro votes in my State and I shall
be able to vote on questions affecting the
Brownsville matter as l deem proper"
Senator Owen, of Oklahoma, went TO
the White House for a talk with the
President about the proposition to re-
move the restrictions from the Indians OF
his state. but found the cabinet I'M session
and said he would call when the Presi-
dent had more time.
Armenians Want Protection.
Naturalized Armenian citizens Of the
United States have appealed to the Presi-
eminent. They assert that as conditions
are at present they cannot return to their
native country without running the risk
Of arrest and Imprisonment by the Turks,
who take great delight in putting them
through all sorts of tortures. The matter
was brought to the attention of the Presi-
dent and State Department by Arpaxat
Simmonian of Fresno. Cal, who called
with Representative Needham of that
state. Mr.. Simonian said his father was
killed by Turkish soldiers in 1898. The
President. according to the Armenian. said
he sympathized with the Armenians I'm
their demands. and said that the Secre-
tary of State would be asked TO see what
can be done i'm the way of treaty on the
subject with Turkey.
Mr.. Meyer for Increase.
At the cabinet meeting today Postmss-
ter General Meyer talked with the Pres
letter carriers and post Office clerks raised.
The House has passed resolution pro
viding that about 1900 letter carriers
now receiving 81. 100 a year shall get 81 900
and when the Senate has hearings the
Postmaster General hopes to lay before
the proper committee the Justice and wis
dom of accepting the House resolution
Mr.. Meyer will also ask the Senate conf
mittee to raise the salaries of post Office
clerks of the first and second class who
are getting 81 100 to 81 300 together with
a suitable raise for men in n supervisory
position in these offices. There are about
900 clerks and several hundred men hold
ing supervisory positions.
Slightly Hurt.