The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-09
REED WOULD ANNEX
If the House Is Called Upon to
Act.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.-The pro-
posed annexation of Hawaii consti-
tutes the principal topic of conVer-
sation in all gatherings Of states
men. 1t will soon be officially project
ed upon the arena of the United States
senate. Speaker Reed will heartily CO.
operate with the friends of annexation,
if action by the house of representa-
tives should become necessary.
A prominent member of the senate
committee on fOrign relations, who de-
clines to permit the use of his name,
this evening said to your correspondent:
you have been here long enough to
know that senators are practically pro-
hibited from talking about the affairs
OF their committees, especially on
topics which will receive consideration
in executive session. But, l can give
you some facts which you can use in
your own way with discretion, and
without making use of my name.
1.-The opponents of annexation will do
a lot Of talking. The people will be-
come restive and tired. Public senti-
ment will compel the senate to reach a
vote on the subject. The friends of
They will leave time-killing talk to the
opponents of the project. vote
should be taken before the Christmas
holidays; but it may not be taken until
some time in January.
$50 far as L have been able to ascer-
tain, two-thirds Of the senators are not
in favor of annexation. You know it
requires a tWo-thirds vote to ratify
treaty of that character Thirty sena-
tCrial votes in the negative, would be
sufficient to reject the treaty of annex
alton. 1 believe that there are at least
thirty senators who viii vote in the
negative. We who favor annexation
realize the sincerity and patriotism of
those who oppose the treaty. But
when the treaty is rejected, as I now
believe that it will be, the subject will
still be open; and 1 am confident that
annexation is simply a question Of a
little time"
But, if the senate rejects the treaty,
what. can be done?"
"a great many things can be done.
In the first place. bill providing
for annexation of Hawaii can be pass
ed by both houses of congress, by a
majority. There is no doubt that
clear majority of both houses will ia
vor annexation. OF course, such
bill might be long delayed in the SEN
ate, by the speeches of the opponents
Of annexation. Every body realizes
that. But, sooner or later, a vote will
be had, and the annexation bill can
be passed.
But suppose you cannot pass such
a bill?"
Then something else would happen.
You will remember that there was a
disturbance in Hawaii three pears ago,
and the flag of this country was run
up at Honolulu, and temporary pro-
tectorate was established. for the ben
eft of citizens of the United States,
residing in that country. The same
thing might happen again"
Please explain your meaning"
well, the president of the United
States earnestly desires the annexa-
tion Of Hawaii. The president of Ha-
wall earnestly desires to have this
country annexed to the United States.
In the event of failure by treaty or
by legislation, to accomplish that OBJ
ject, it would be very easy to have
disturbances on the islands, which
would result in an appeal by the pres
ident of Hawaii, to the commander of
one Of our naval vessels, to run up
the flag again, for the purpose of pro-
tecting the interests of our citizens
there. If the flag ever goes up again
on Hawaiian soil, public sentiment
will compel action; and the flag would
never be hauled down. Hawaii would
thus come under the protectorate of
this country. Our people would never
allow the islands to go under the pro-
tectorate of any other country. You
see there are many ways Of accom-
plishing things in the world of diplo-
macy. The friends of annexation may
be wrong, but they are in the major
tty, and will accomplish their object.
one way or another
Smith d E'rv