Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-06-24
TO ANNEX HAWAII.
TIE Treaty Signed and Presented
to the Senate
with q Message from the Prealdent-It May
or May Not Receive Immediate Atten-
tioE-But Its Final Ratification La Al
most Assured-Japan Protests

WASHINGTON, June 16.-In the great
diplomatic room of the state depart
ment, where four years and four months
ago. in the closing hours of the Harri-
son administration, the first Hawaiian
annexation treaty was signed, only to
be withdrawn from the senate and
thrown into pigeon-hole, the repre-
sentatives of the governments of the
United States and Hawaii gathered
this morning and signed a treaty,
by the terms of which, if
ratified, the little island republic
will become part of the territory of the
United States. OF the persons who
stood in the room three were present
when the original treaty was signed,
namely: Special Commissioner Lorrin
A. Thurston and Assistant Secretaries
Adee and Cridler. The frst-named
perhaps took a more sincere personal
pleasure in the ceremony than any of
the others, because of the Stirring
events of the last four years III which
he was so directly concerned.
VERY UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE.
1t is very unusual thing for treaty
of such Importance to be signed early
in the morning, but in this case it was
desired that the convention be made
ready early in order that it might be
submitted to the senate on the
day of its signature. The docu-
ment itself had been prepared
carefully over night; in fact, it
was practically completed at the close
of official hours yesterday, but it was
necessary to make close comparison,
and the president wished another OPP
portunity to go over the document,
probably with view to drawing up
message with which it will be accom-
panied to the senate. Therefore, be-
fore nine o'clock the persons concerned
in the preparation of the treaty were
at the state department
SIGNATURES TO THE TREATY.
For the United States there were
Secretary Sherman, Assistant Secre-
taries Day, Adee and Cridler, Private
Secretary Babcock and Assistant Pri-
vate Secretary Gaytree. On the
Hawaiian side were Minister Hatch.
Lorrin A. Thurston and w. A. Kinney,
all for this particular occasion ac-
credited as special commissioners duly
empowered to negotiate treaty of an
nexation. After the formal greetings,
the credentials of the plenipotentiaries
were scanned and recorded. Secretary
Sherman also represented the United
States in the signature of the conven-
ton. and it was part of the ceremony
to record his authorization by the pres
fdent Just as much as it was the
credentials of the Hawaiians
from President Dole. Then came
the reading and comparison of the
treaty. OF this there were two drafts,
one to be held by each, later on to be
exchanged in the usual form. Alto
getber it was 20 minutes after nine
o'clock when all was ready for the sig
natures. The Hawaiian representa-
tives had brought with them a gold
pen in a plain holder, and at their re-
quest this was used for all of the sigma
lures
SIGNED AND SEALED.
Secretary Sherman signed first the
copy intended to be held here, while
Minister Hatch signed first the Ha-
waiian copy of the treaty, his fellow
commissioners coming next in order,
Mr.. Thurston first, followed by
Mr.. Kinney. The treaties were
sealed by Assistant Secretary
Cridler with private seal
carried on his watch chain, the copies
were handed to their respective custo-
dams, and the treaty was made as far
IS the executive branch of the govern
ment could effect it. There was a gem
-eral exchange of congratulations be-
tween the parties to the ceremony, and
after photograph had been taken of
the commissioners the ceremony was
ended.