Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-12
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Occupy the Attention Of Both
Houses Of Congress.
SOMETHING wE1eHTY AS TO CUBA

Pre- Sod the Senate in the Way Of Fscts-
Morrill, Attacks tho Olney-Senate idea Of
the Monroe Doctrine-House Warned
Against the Warlike John Bull by Hit,
but Declines 10 Vote Money for Pearl
Harbor in the Hawaiian Islanda.
Washington, May 1.-THE Cuban
question occupied the entire attention Of
the senate yesterday, the debate taking
a wide range and at times becoming
spirited when comparisons were made
between the attitude Of the former ad-
ministration and the present one on the
subject Of Cuba. Morrill, and Caffery
spoke IN opposition to the resolution.
Lodge and Foraker advocated defsrring
the question until further information
could be secured from the state depart
ment and Mills and Allen urged the i'm
mediate passage Of the resolution. The
debate went over until today. Morrilrs
speech on Cuba was the feature Of the
oratory. he taking the stand that the
senate was interfering in executive bus
iness when it took up questions Of rec
ognition Of belligerency. His character
lzation OF the Olney-senate doctrine was
vigorous. He called it the new botched
version Of the Monroe doctrine with all
Its apocryphal additions by our intrepid
jingoists. who sought to make the Unit
ed States the "unmasked guardian and
the fighting champion of all the Ameri-
can republics. big and little"
Foraker Says Facts Are in Question.
While the interventionists were urging
adoption CT the resolution Foraker en-
tered and spoke briefly on the desirabili-
ty Of careful Inquiry by the foreign re-
istions committee. There was no pur-
pose, he said, to triae with the resolu-
ton. and he urged Morgan to allow it to
be referred. Allen asked what more could
be learned.
Foraker responded that a question
existed as to the facts. The subject d.
vided itself under the heads: First,
what are the facts; second, what is the
law applicable to the facts: third what
Is the policy which we are to assume I'M
der this condition of law ard facts For
aker said he had read scrre of the evil
dence in the possession Of TIE state de-
partment, and he felt that it should be
examined carefully before action was
taken.
Allen Attacks TIE State department.
This led Allen to a warm criticism CT
the ''premeditated purpose of the state
department to keep the senate in ignor-
ance." Fortunately, however, the world
knew the facts as to Spanish cruelties.
II delay was to be the policy of the ad-
ministration, said he, then it was a cow
erdly policy for any administration to
sdopt.
Foraker disclaimed that he said any
thing to warrant a statement that the
executive or the state department with
held information from the senate or de-
sired delay. The administrs ton and tie
department were pursuing inquiries witt,
view to acting understandingly on this
subject.
Allen asked If Foraker dismissed tho
inquiry Of the former administration az
incompetent. The Ohio senator an
swered that the information now avail
able at the state department dealt with
the present status of affairs, and there
was every purpose. he believed, TO place
this at the disposition of the senate.
Sherman Has Important Information.
Lodge. member of the committee on
foreign relations. stated that there was
late information in the possession of the
state department which was most impor-
tant and should be given to congress
and the country before the passage OF
these resolutions. Stewart argued that
1t would be as wise to collect evidence
that the sun shines as to seek further to
show that war was going on in Cuba.
The matter then went over.