The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-17

views on Cuban belligerency and inde-
pendence by a great deluge Of petitions
and memorials. Morgan read from
many petitions showing the wide pub
lie feeling in behalf of Cuba These
came from city councils, G. A. r. posts.
A. p. A. bodies. ministerial unions.
normal schools, boards of trade, citi-
zens' meetings. labor and trade assem-
blies, typographical unions, fedora
tions of labor. etc. The individual
petitions were also very numerous.
Sherman rose to state he was author
ICED to say that the house Of represent
atives had received a large number of
Cuban petitions.
Hale precipitated a controversy by
saying that senators were familiar
with the methods employed In getting
up petitions. He did not know wheth
er ii was the case in this matter, but
he presumed they were all on printed
heads, sent out from one source. Those
represented no spontaneous public SEN
timent from the country at large, but
were emanations of agencies at New
York and Washington. 1t was doubt
less part of deliberate plan to influ-
ence sentiment.
Morgan passed the petitions to Hale
and asked the latter to examine them
and see IL any fraud had been commit
ted. Does my colleague (Hale) know
of a remonstrance against Cuba?"
asked Frye. Yes" said Hale. II have
hundreds OF letters from leading busi-
ness men,"
'T am not talking about letters" said
Frye.
II regard letters as much more i'm
portant," declared Hale. "and they give
the views of conservative business
men,"
Morgan referred contemptuously to
these business men" who were in the
habit of trying to defeat legislation by
private letters to senators. The sena-
tor next referred to Minister Dupuy de
Lome's statement received from Sec
retary Olney by the committee. This
was the signal for further sharp ques-
tions from Hale. He said this state
ment needed explanation even at this
late day and referred to the conflict
between Lodge and Sherman as to the
minister's statement. Morgan went on
to say that the Spanish minister's
statement was drawn out by a Span
ish desire to delay action in congress.
Spain feared the United States would
get in a tantrum. The Spanish minis
ter therefore sent a memorandum to
Secretary Olney and the latter sent IL
to the senate committee. He (Mor-
gam had sent to the secretary request
ing authority to make public the min
ister's statement. Olney answered that
he had conferred with the Spanish min
lister and the latter had no objection to
it's use.
Morgan proceeded to read from the
Spanish minister's statement and COM
mented on IL as he went along. The
statement said the insurgents had no
fixed place of organization. being
driven from place to place. The sem
ator asked what permanent place our
continental congress held during the
revolution. 1t was driven about and
when the British burned Washington,
In 1914, the members of our congress
were refugees in Virginia and yet this
Spanish minister raised the point that
struggling people must have a perman-
ent capitol. AS matter of fact the
senator insisted the insurgents had a
capitol, as was shown by representa-
tive newspaper correspondents.
Hale interrupted to ask II Morgan
really credited the peregrinations of
the correspondent who claimed to have
located this nebulous insurgent capt.
toll.
II supposed" responded Morgan
warmly. that I was to address the
senate, but find 1 am here as a sort
of child in a kindergarten to submit
70 hn Of hn
Maine.
1T is not my fault" proceeded Hale,
that the senator is put in the posi-
tion of a school child in a kindergar-
tern.
Morgan went on to read from the
Spanish minister's statement detailing
the Cuban methods of fighting, their
failure to come out for an open fight
and the theatrical effect OF their move
ments Morgan referred to the grim
tragedy beneath the theatrical effect" 4"
mentioned by the minister. When the
senator read the minister's criticism
of the insurgent methods of burning
cane fields he added IL was a recognized
right of war to destroy and burn prop
erty in order 10 cripple the enemy.
1T was done on both sides during
our civil war" said Sherman.
After completing the Spanish minis
ter's statement, which was largely
comment and argument on past devel-
opments. Morgan pointed out that
Hale's recent speech in defense Of
Spain was based on a statement of
Premier Castillo of Spain. whose state
ment Morgan alleged now had been re-
pudiated by the Spanish premier. The
senator added that IL was clear Hale
had no sympathy for these Cuban ne
groes and doubtless he would not care
to see the negroes of the United States
free IL they did not vote the republican
ticket. At this point Morgan yielded.
not having completed his remarks. and
at 4:30 o'clock the senate adjourned
Suspension DaT in the House.
Washington. March 1s.-This was