Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-12
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
Senator sherman Uneasy About IT.
MIR. T'urpfe for IL.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., February H.
Senator Sherman who is in charge OF
the general treaty of arbitration with
Great Britain. now under secret discus
sion in the Senate, is beginning TO show
some uneasiness. Just before the ad-
journment this afternoon he notified the
Senate that 1t was time an agreement
was reached. when the final vote should
be taken. Mr.. Sherman asked II unani-
nous consent could not be had for some
day next week. Mr.. Morgan, the most
persistent opponent of the treaty, de-
INJURED A colloquy followed between
these two senator's. with others occa-
sionally putting in a word, in which it
was apparent that Mr.. Sherman would
be unable TO secure any kind Of agree
ment, and he. therefore, gave up the
effort Beginning with next week, Mr..
Sherman will repeat his request from day
TO day, and insist that action shall be
taken before that week is over.
But two speeches were made on the
treaty to-day. Mr.. Turpie. Of Indiana,
whose position has hitherto not been
known by his associates came out
tiatedS and took the ground that the
wholly unnecessary. and tended but to
confuse the public and cucumber the in
strument itself. In the outset, Mr.
Turpie produced recent statement I'm a
New York newspaper by ex-senator Ed
munds. The presentation Of the case by
Judge Edmunds was so. concise so con-
vincing, and so unanswerable. that Mr.
Turpie said he could DO no better than
adopt it as his own. No language that
he might use could present the case. from
his point Of view, before the Senate la
a stronger light.
Mr.. Turpie read this article. paragraph
by paragraph. ana spent possibly half
an hour commenting upon it. lie euogized
Judge Edmunds as one of the most brill
liant men In the United States whose
opinions were entitled to great weight,
and whose reputation as lawyer, versed
in International questions. was second to
none Judge Edmunds had pointed out
the strong point in the treaty. and 1t
only remained for him. Mr.. Turpie said,
to add thereto a little Of his own per-
sOnal opinion.
RESPECTS TO MORGAN.
The Indiana Senator then proceeded
to pay his respects to Senator Morgan,
and reply TO the speech that Senator
made on Tuesday, when he advocated
the abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty. He pooh-poohed the idea that
Great Britain had set a trap for the
United States, as Mr.. Morgan had con-
tended, and denied that we were about
TO enter into that trap. lie had no fear
of any secret pitfalls In this treaty. but
asserted that it was a plain, straight
forward effort on the part OF the two
great nations speaking the same tongue
to enter into an agreement to settle
their disputes without recourse TO war
The Nicaraguan canal would not come
within this treaty; and would. there
fore, cause no friction. Even If 1t did,
Mr.. Turpie contended, when that ques-
ton arose, the Senate could deal with
it as an independent proposition. II
would not do for the United States
Senate TO amend the life out Of this
treaty, nor could the United States re-
fuse now to become a party to a gene
raj arbitration scheme. The treaty be-
fore the Senate was the result OF an
invitation made by this government 10
various other Powers to enter into such
an agreement. and England alone had
accepted that invitation. The United
States could not afford to be charged
with Inconsistency, much less more Sc
rious charges that might be made were
we now to repudiate the doctrine OF
arbitration. Arbitration, said Mr.. Tur-
pie, was simply means for the peace
full settlement of international disputes.
1t did not prevent war, but tended
largely to decrease the chances of war.
EULoGY OF oI.NEY.
In the course OF his speech, Mr.. Tur-
pie referred to the whole treaty as an
admirable production, and euloglzed Sec
retary Oney for the skill he had dis
played as one OF the constructors of
the instrument. The criticism that had |
been aimed at Article of the treaty,
and the following articles based there |
on. was. Mr.. THrpie said, unsound. That |
article was perfect, and Mr.. Turple pro-
ceeded TO show that I'm no way could |
It be construed that questions affect
ing the national policy OF either of the |
contracting parties were TO be submitted |
to arbitration under this general treaty.
The committee had added nothing to the |
convention by its amendments. and Mr..
Turpie urged the Senate to repudiate /
them, and accept the treaty as original /
ly framed.
Mr. Morgan replied to Mr.. TurpIe. but
when the Senate adjourned he had not /
concluded. lie went over much OF the
ground that he had previously covered, 1
and again emphasized the necessity for
a declaration in this treaty OF the abro-
cation or the ClaytOn-BulWer convention.
Mr.. Turpie's position on the treaty under
discussion appeared to show him TO be a
man of peace. but the recent attitude OF
the Indiana Senator on the Cuban ques-
tion did not. Mr. Morgan said, bear out
this conclusion.
Before he concluded for the day, Mr..
Morgan gave notice OF an amendment
which he would offer, to the effect that
all matters intended TO be submitted for
arbitration under this treaty shall be
submitted after the manner now required
by the Constitution for the ratification
Of new treaties. This means that every
question shall be submitted by the Presl-
dent TO the Senate for its approval be-
fore its submission to the tribunal OF
arbitration.
Mr.. Teller asked that all the cores
pondence bearing upon this treaty be
made public. but no action was taken,
and the matter will probably be disposed
II AT the next session. There Is nothing
new in this correspondence, az 1t has
been heretofore published in these dis
patches
ILLINOIS sTEEL-wORKs RESUME.