The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-20
Nevins Story How History was Made
in Washington on Sunday
Staff Correspondent Of United Press Gives Picturesque
Narrative Of the Events Of the Day in the Capital

/, Mexico City Huerta had cast the DIE
OF his future-for war or peace VIII
America-made It an extremely grave
occasion.
1t is expected that OShaushnessy's
report on events at Mexico City can
not reach here until 8 or 10 o'clock.
state department rules require
cipher dispatches. If Huerta remain
ed silent I'D to the hr,,r OF expira-
tion-6 o'clock, Mexico me. or 1856,
wa shington time-Secretary Brya
believes O'Shaughnessy could not put
his fateful report into cipher, trans
nit 1t here and that cipher be trans
lated in less than two hours. II II Is
long dispatch, three hours Will os
required.
At the telegraph room were concen-
trated representatives OF the execu-
tive and legislative departments
Chief Clerk Davis of the state depart
ment sat anxiously by telephone
ready 70 call his chief. William Jen-
ninse BRYAN, who exhausted by day
of waiting, had gone home for b1el
period before vigil he anticipated
would last through most OF the nght-
Secretary Daniels was away for bite
to eat. High army officials were IN
the little room. waiting on the Morse
message which they personally hoped
would mean President Wilson's call
to them for active service. Arrange
ments had been made to notify Sena.
tor Shively, acting chairman OF the
foreign relation committee OF Huer-
ta's choice of war or peace. It VIII
be Shively who will set in motion the
legislative machinery for joint
war" session il Huerta has ignored
Anne lica's demands Tor apology 10
the stars and stripes.
Not since the Hateful days following
the blowing up of the Maine mas
washington SO tensely watchful as
TO-DAY and tonight. There was a
thrill Of expectancy in the air. De-
spite the fact that it was Sunday
night. the down town streets we're
full of little knots Of people, await
ing newspaper extras. The huge
state. war and navy building was
lighted almost throughout, glowing
out OF sombre night
The white house executive onlces
lust across the street were abiaze.
There the telegraph operator sat with
his hands on the key, ready to send
the flash to President Wilson at
White Sulphur Springs. w. Va, over
direct wire, the course that Huerta
had chosen.
The day had been marked for the
most part by ominous silence. Charge
O,Shaughnessy had reported lr1eny
that Huerta, still qufbbling, was de-
manding a written promise on the
part of the United States that his sa'
lutte of apology would be returned
He had apparently Withdrawn the In
! soIent demand for a simultaneous
gun for gun return.
! His latest request was as quickly
rejected. Charge OiShaughnessy waf
told to inform the dictator that the
United States would require the sa
lutte from him first and that It's
course thereafter would be dictated
by circumstances. High administra
ton officials said naturally that a sa
lutte would be returned but they dit
not relish that Huerta should dictate
the form Of acceptance Of his apology
Secretary of State Bryan main
tanned an optimistic air. SO did Sec
rotary Tumulty. They both believed
the crafty dictator would acauiesc'
and choose peace Secretary OF Nav
Daniels returned at 4:30 from Cleye
Hand. Ohio. In his absence and ate
consultation with navy chiefs, 1t wa
ldecided to order the armored cruise
birmingham and the tender Dixie
with the torpedo fiotilla of twenty-five
boats at Pensacola. to join Rear Ad
miral Badgers fleet. now steaminl
southwark to Tampico. At oclocl
the battleship Mississippi at ke.
West is ordered to proceed to Pensa
cola. there to embark five hundre
marines and take aboard all aviation
enu,pment. It was learned that tn
birmingham and the Dixie carrie
two hydroplanes, with corps OF tn
navy avfators.
wireless reports tonight to tn
navy department told that Rear At
mfral Badgers battleship feet wa
makfug even better time on It's swim
southwark than had been expected
Badger reported that he now expecte
to be in Tampico by Tuesday night,
AZ the latest, Wednesday mornin:
When he sailed from Hampton Road
| il was not believed that he coul
reach the Mexican seaport oe1or
Wednesday.