Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-05-08
TREATY DEFEATED.
The Senate Refuses to Ratify tho
Arbitration Treaty.
A SPIRITED SPEECH BY Mr.. MILLS.
Tho Vote Was - yeas to 30 Nays, Being
Four Affirmative Votes Less Than
Majority Of Two-rhirds Rc-
quired by the Rules.

quired by the Rules.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The senate yes
terday by the vote of 43 to 20 refused
to ratify the general arbitration treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain negotiated by Secretary Olney
and Sir Julian Paunccfote. The rules
of the senate require majority Of
two-thirds for the ratification OF
treaties. Hence four more affirmative
votes would have been required to Sc
cure favorable result. The vote was
preceded by short, spirited debate,
introduced by Senator Mills, Of Texas,
who made strong appeal to the senate
against ratifying the agreement He
asserted that as amended the docu.
mcnt was most Objectionable, not TO
say contradictory, in terms. He
pointed out especially the provisions
for the settlement Of controversies In
regard to territorial claims, and as
serted that whereas the amendment
adopted by the senate to the first article
Of the treaty declared against their in
clusion, the sixth and eighth articles
made provision for them. lie held that
as long as those articles remained I'M
changed England justly could claim
that questions of territorial rights
were still included within the scope Of
the treaty. Under such circumstances,
he asked, what was to prevent En-.
gland from purchasing the island OF
Cuba or any other American territory,
and in case of objection on the part OF
the United States insisting upon the
reference Of the dispute to arbitration.
lie spoke of the conduct Of England In
connection with the Greco-Turkish
war and implored the senate to pro-
tect the United States against the pro-
posed alliance. The speech made a
visible impression and the opinion was
general that the treaty should be
amended so rs to remedy the incon.
sistency explained. Senator Tillman
asked that time be given for such
amendment. Owing, however, to the
fact that the senate was under agree.
ment to vote mt four o'clock there
could be no postponement except by
unanimous consent.
Senator Carter who, from the first,
has been one of the most active and
effective opponents of the treaty, in
terposcd objection. He said he would
put no obstacle in the way Of the post
ponement Of the vote until another
day. He made very pungent speech
in opposition to the treaty. He said
there could be no doubt Of the par
TALLY of the government of the United
States toward the settlement of dis
putcs by arbitration, and that for this
reason there never would be any diff
Guilty in securing an agreement for ar
bitration of any specific dispute with
any nation, but 1t was not necessary
for our people to tie themselves in an
agreement of uncertain scope and pur-
port, especially with country which
had shown itself so completely out Of
sympathy with the feelings Of the peO-
pie of the United States in the position
had taken in European affairs.
Mr. Carter advised the senate to let
well enough alone.
Senator Hoar replied briefly, going
over the general agreement in favor OF
the treaty, and contcnding especially
that the objection OF inconsistency in
regard to territorial claims was not
well founded.
The remainder of the debate was OF
n running character. Senator White
and Pettigrcw INTERCEPTED questions
tending TO show continued opposition.
Senator White remarked that the doc
umcnt was full of illogical PROPOSE
lions, and said, Furthermore, that its
syntax would have to be improved be-
fore 1t would be thoroughly acceptable.
1t was evident before the ballot was
that the motion to ratify
would be beaten. The absence Of some
senator's impaired who were considered
to arbitration was accepted
rs an unfavorable indication. The CO.
vert opposition to ratification was
made very manifest after the vote was
Some senators who were
among the yeas spoke quite
openly of Objectionable features, con-
tossing that they had cast their votes
in the affirmative in Difference to public
opinion.
Senator Davis, chairman Of the COM
nittee on foreign relations, declined
10 express an opinion for publication,
but talked freely with his friends. To
hem he attributed the defeat TO the
feeling Of dissatisfaction at England's
course in the struggle of the Greeks to
iberate the island OF Crete from Otto
nan dominion, and the Armenian
and with the evident" de- ,
,ign of Great Britain upon the Trans
Ynal. At the conclusion Of the pro-
seedlings, all of which were in cxecu-
i've session, the senate refused to
authorize the publication Of the de-
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