The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-20
AGAIN POSTPONED.
Senate Fails to Act on the Arbitra.
tion Treaty.
SENATOR DANIELS MAKES AN
EARNEST PLEA AGAINST 1T.

Is Answered by Senator Lindsay Who Re-
flutes the Legal Objections Made
| Against the Measure-Au Efforts to
| Obtain a Vote Fail.
| Washington, February l9.-Immediate-
| ly upon the closing of the doors of the
Senate the general treaty of arbitation
consideration, and MIR. Nelson of Minne-
sofa made another speech urging that
action be postponed until the Senate con-
| yened March next. He called attention
to the press Of business on the Senate
| calendar and dwelt especially upon the
need for the passage of some form Of
bankruptcy act.
Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut again an
tagonizsd postponement believing that
the best interests of the country de-
manded immediate action.
Mr.. Frye of Maine who. as stated yes
terday, was inclined to think postpone
ment the proper course, came out this
morning in short but spirited speech,
advocating action by the Senate.
Senator Stewart of Nevada strongly
urged postponement and was followed by
Senator Teller of Colorado in the same
vein.
Mr.. Teller, as a member of the COM
mittee on appropriation, told his col
league that tie Senate would have all it
could do to pass the remaining appropi-
ration bills between now and Maroh T.
The demand for an immediate vote was
made almost as soon as the doors were
closed by Senators Lodge and Frye, each
of whom spoke for five minutes. Both
men asserted that the time had come for
vote il the Senate ever intended to take
vote ON the subject. Ii action was to
be prevented the Senate and the country
should know It,
Both of these speeches were vigorous
and emphatic. and had the effect of dis
closing tho hand of the opposition. MIR.
Teller promptly retorted that no vote on
the treaty itself could be had, aud the
debate that then began indicated that it
is the intention Of the opponents to wear
out the Senate until, in sheer despeta-
tion, it is willing to vote to postpone.
Mr.. Teller favored the principle Of
arbitration, but the treaty had been
bungled and badly drawn. He believed
that there should be ample time for Its
consideration. The more the treaty was
discussed the more prominent became the
oGSa.sions made to it. The Senate, Mr..
Teller, said, ought not to be called upon
to vote upon SO important a question
in this late day of session. The State De-
parJment had been four years IN flaming
treaty which is believed to be not per
| feet, but which ma ajority OF the Senate
thought did not protect he interests OF
American people. If the State Depart
ment, with its men skilled in diplomatic
procedure, had been four years preparing
treaty why, Mr.. Teller asked. should
the administration and the ountry be SO
insistent, that the Senate should deal
finally with the subject in few weeks
Mr. Daniel addressed the Senate for
upwards of two hours and made power
full Impression. He was against the
treaty and advanced some ct the strongest
| arguments yet heard War was not bad
thing Mr.. Daniel said, when the nation
that went to war had the right on its
side and was upholding the honor and
integrity of its people. The United Stairs
was the only country that Grent Britain
feared. If she could be put under bonds
to keep the peace, Great Britain would go
ahead with the polioF of aggression and
agRrandizement and laugh at any protest
we might make or defy any position we
might assume against her oppression Of
the people of this hemisphere. The
American people were q people Of peace.
The policy of the country for hundred
| and twenty years had been one of peace.
1t had arbitrated its differences and was
pledged to that principle. When it went
into solemn compat for that purpose
with Great Britain there should be an
| 49, TTnitcd ltGtpc had
everything to lose by the treaty and
Great Britain everything to gaia. Con
gress had never declared war unless such
war was justifiable. The United States
had never acquired any territory by war
unless ae the result of war that was tor
defence, or necessary for perpetuation the
of the repu blic.
Mr.. Daniel proceeded to show that the
lesson of the revolution ought not to be
forgotten and that the United States
| should lie wary Of any overtures made 6y
her traditional enemy, Great Britain. OF
all the Powers, England. he said, was
the one tie United States should refuse
to blindly follow.
During the course OF analytical
criticism of the provisions OF the treaty,
Mr.. Daniel said meTuber OF the gu
pleme court ought not to be designated
as mem bers of the arbitration tribunal
Mr.. Hoar suggested thas the members
of the Supreme court had already been
confirmed by the Senate, and each men,
ber was well known to the Senate.
"That may be true, 1" replied Mr
Daniel. "We know the preseut members
of TINT court and we know them hll to
be honorable gentlemen, but this treaty
Is for the future We do not Know who
may be members of this tribunal IN the
future. All our presidents have, been
good men and have appointed good men,
but we do not know that all our coming
Presidents will be good men or that they
will be actuated by some motives tnat
have actuated those who have gone De-
lore.
The last set speech of tue day was
made by Senator Lindsay eof Kentucky
who argued for the ratification OF 6he
convention and action today. Lindsay
spoke almost an hour, devotlng most OF
the time to refutation of the legal mr.
guments advanced by Senator Dhnlsl
and others who have during Ghls nenate
taken the ground that the senate rs
asked to give mp it's prerogatlse Oh sleA1y
making power. At the conclusloh ol
MI. Lindsay's remarks mo'ioh 10
postpone was yOtod down. Announcer