The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-05-22
To Be Obtained By Joint
Resolution,
AS Only a Majority Vote Is Need
ed, and the Hawaiian Govern
ment Is Not Able to Maintain
Government Much
Longer.

The Washington Times is respon-
sible fer the following article in
regard to the plan to be adopted to
procure anexation:
The question Of annexing the Ha-
waiian Islands to the United States,
the negotiations Of which, as stated
in the Morning Times, have already
begun, will be brought formally to
the attention of Congress and the
country within the coming, month
upon the plan that has the indorse-
ment OF Secretary Sherman and the
President.
1t is understood that Senators
Thurston and Chandler, whose adj
vocacy Of the project OF annexation
has been most pronounced, have be-
come the vouchers for the proposed
methods, the details OF which have
been laid before the President and
the Secretary of State. 1t is to be
presented through the committee on
Foreign Relations in the form of a
joint resolution, similar to that I'M
der which Texas was acquired in
1916. 1t will embody the main pro-
visions of the treaty that was formu-
lated under the Harrison Admins
tration. When the matter was first
suggested to Mr.. Mckinley, he pro-
tested against a re-introduction OF
the treaty. He is alleged to have
said with some emphasis that he
could not consent to such a move in
the face of the fact that a two
thirds majority could not be obtain
ed for the measure in the Senate.
/ Senators Thurston and Chandler
thereupon brought forward the
other phase OF the question. 1t was
shown that majority OF two-thirds
is not necessary for carrying through
a joint resolution. A majority vote
will accomplish it, and this the
champions of the measure profess to
be able to guarantee. Mr.. Chand-
Ter is alleged to have said to the
President that he had polled the
Senate, and that there is a clear
majority in favor OF annexation.
Upon having these facts laid before
him, it is alleged, President McKin-
ley consented to have it attempted,
but only upon the positive assur-
ance that there is no doubt Of the
joint resolution receiving the requi-
site majority.
1t is understood that Messrs.
Chandler and Thurston have very
carefully gone over the ground.
They are sure Of the temper OF
the Senate as we'll as OF the
House, and are said to know exactly
how many votes they will have to
support them.
The entire matter had to be gone
over with Secretary Sherman. He
demurred to any agitation on the
subject, for pretty much the same
reasons as those advanced by the
President, but he also finally yield
ed, and gave his Endorsement to the
proposition. AS stated, the matter
will be laid before the Committee
on Foreign Relations at an early
day, and the understanding is the
joint resolution will be put upon
it's passage almost Immediately
thereafter, unless there should be
some unforeseen hitch in the pre-
liminaries.
1t is a part of the current story
that Mr.. Hatch, the representative
OF the Hawaiian Government here
is cognizant OF all that is being done
toward annexation, and gives the
Senators his cordial cooperation
He is deeply interested in the mat
ter, not only personally, but in be-
half OF his home government. 1t il
believed by Mr.. Hatch, and has beer
represented to Mr. Mckinley, that