The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-13
TRUTH SEEKERS.
The Senate Committee on For
eign Relations
Now Seems Determined to
Learn the Truth
ABOUT CUBAN AFFAIRS
They Are DeIving Into the Pa
pers on File
In the Office of the Department
of State.

Washington, May 13.-The senate com
mittee ON foreign relations has not con-
cluded consideration of the Cuban Stu
alton. The subcommittee consisting
of Senators Davis, Foraker and Nor
gan, which was given access to the Gu
ban reports now held at the state de-
partment, probably will esk for further
time before submitting their ideas 10
the full committee. The sub-cOmmit-
tee was unable to go through all the re-
ports that have been received from
Consul General Lee and other consuls
in Cuba It is possible Mr.. Morgan will
consent to have the resolution now
pending go over without prejudice until
the committee can make its report.
This report will generalfZe the stu
alton without making public such mat
tiers as state department officials think
would be prejudicial to persons on the
island.
Some question has arisen as to the
effect the report of the committee or
the information at the state department
may have upon the resolution now pend
ing in the senate, members OF the com
nittee do not express an opinion on the
subject but enough is known to JuSt1-
fly the conclusion that instead of weak
ening the resolution, its friends Will
find cause for insisting that there is
stronger reason for passing it. The OBJ
ject of the foreign relations committee,
which has deprecated haSty action and
ferred to the committee is that the SEN
ate should not act on the premises I'M
til there is more information at hand.
The opponents of the resolution have
declared that the newspaper reports of
the conditions in Cuba are highly ex-
aggerated. Those who have become
acquainted with the reports in the state
department are of the opinion that the
press reports have in the main been
correct.
Some structures were passed upon
0rf o1Gf
mittee who a few days ago voted for a
resolution similar to the one now pend
ing and who now ask for time to con-
slider the matter with more elaboration.
Speaking of the criticism, Chairman
Davis of the foreign relations commit
'At the time the former resolution
was reported Gomez was at the head of
a large army in the eastern end of the
island and Maceo was at the head of
another army in the west. They could
march from one end to the other of
Cuba. Campos had been defeated in a
great battle and was shut within solid
fortifications and confined to a small
territory around Havana. Everyone
knew that state of war existed That
was a year ago. Great changes have
since taken place. Maceo is dead and
his army dispersed. Gomez is at the
head of but a small force, certainly 1t
is no such army as was reported.
1T is right and proper that the facts
that have since reached the state de-
ate and the committee so that intelIi-
gent action can be had"
Mr.. Davis says that sympathy with
the struggling Cubans is as strong as
ever.
The senate was practically without
official information for nearly a year.
1t would not be justified in acting upon
information of a year or even six
months ago.
The Republicans of the committee do
not feel justified in pushing the admin
iStratiOn until it has had time to act
It is pointed out that only two months
have elapsed since the present admins
tration came in and it has hardly had
time to get in motion. The pending res
olutiOn, unlike a joint resolution, will
require an executive either to approve
or disapprove of it. This being the
case, the Republican sena tors feel that
they should act in concert with the eX-
ecutive. It is not believed that in case
the foreign relations committee find, up
on thorough examination of the re-
ports in the state department, that the
resolution is justified that an effort will
be made to prevent its passage. Last
night the subcommittee met Secretary
Sherman at the latter's house and had
a long conference with him. The sug-
gestion is advanced that the president
will be inclined to wait for report
from Mr.. Calhoun, who arrived at Ha-
vana yesterday, before making known
definitely his views.