Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-02-02
CUBAN DEBATE ENDED
DISCUSSION CAUSES AboTTlME
IN THE HOUSE.
Speaker Reed and Congressman Bailey
Clash on Veracity Attempt TO Sprirg
the Belligerency Resolution Defeated
-Bayonets Bring Calm in Havana.
Turmoil in the House.


All day Wednesday the question of
granting belligerent rights to the Cuban
insurgents was argued in the House, but
as on the preceding day the minority hurl-
ed itself against stone wall. On the
only vote taken Wednesday, motion de-
signed TO override the decision OF the
Speaker and direct the Committee on For
eign Affairs to report without further de-
lay the Cuban resolution passed by the
Senate at the last session-the Eepubli-
cans stood solid and voted to sastain the
chair
The galleries were banked to the doors,
and there was considerable excitement
throughout the early part of the session
when the members of the minority were
successfully pressing all sorts of amend
ments bearing on the Cuban question for
the purpose of embarrassing the major
ity. During the general debate Chairman
Hit of the Foreign Affairs Committee
made an impressive speech of less than an
hour, explaining Mt length the situation
which made action by Congress inadvisa-
bic. He asserted that the President must
assume the responsibility of any action
which might eveutuate in the war and
appealed to both sides of the chamber TO
patriotically support the executive if a
crisis shall come.
A sensational ending marked the third
and last Cay of the debate. Speaker
Reed, in unqualified words, stamped as
false an assertion made by Congressman
Bailey, the floor leader of the Democrats,
and turmoil cnsued.
Notice was given Wednesday by -uLr.
4ho
clusion of the debate Thurs6 y a nIu,.on
would be made to recommit the diplo-
matte and consular sppropriG lion bill, TIE
basis of dispute, with instructions. Thurs
day when the motion was made by Mr..
Bailey it was ruled out of order by Speak
er Reed. Mr.. Bailey thereupon startled
the House by affirming that he had a pri-
vate understanding with the Speaker by
which a vote should be taken directly on
the motion to recommit This the Speak
er emphatically denied, and these two
leaders of their respective parties in the
House, with white faces and voices shak-
en- by emotion, set their statements each
against the other, while the galleries look
ed on in breathless amazement and the
members were in an uproar. Mr.. Smith
of Michigan, who said he was present,
corroborated the Speakers side of the
case.
The result OF the Speakers position was
that an appeal was taken from his decis-
ion, and by a strict party vote the appeal
was laid on the table-16S to 114-the
Democrats and Populists, as on the two
previous day, voting against the solid
Republican strength.
The debate Thursday was not as inter
esting as on either Of the two preceding
days. The features were characteristic
speech by Champ Clark of Missouri, a
strong appeal for conservatism from Mr..
Johnson rep, Ind.), and a presentation
of the result of his observations in Cuba
during his recent trip to the island from
Mr.. King (dem., Utah.
De LONE Fears { Crisis.
Senior Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish
minister, fears the debate in the House of
Representatives may cause crisis.
Thursday he called at the State Depart
ment, and for over an hour was closeteI
with Judge Day, the assistant secretary.
He expressed extreme regret over the
speeches made by the Congressman, and
especially that of Mr.. Hit, which, he said,
might inflame the Spanish populace TO
some overt act, such as driving Minister
Woodford and the United States consuls
from Spain before such demonstrations
CO uld be checked by the Spanish Govern
ment.
Expressing extreme regret" is the dip.
lomatic mode of making protest without
bringing about an international complica-
ton. The Spanish minister was appre-
hensive particularly of the effect of Mr..
Hits speech, because of the prominent
position he occupied as chairman of the
Committee OH Foreign Affairs. He point
ed out TO Judge Day that because of the
excitement in Spain over the Cuban ques-
ton, the reports of such utterancea as
that of Mr.. Hit would have the effec, of
further stirring up the people He also
regretted extremely the unusual activity
in the navy yards. The manufa cturc Of
guns, ammunition and other utensils of
war Is being pushed along more rapidly
than for years, and Senor de LONE told
Juuge Day that his people could not re-
gard this activity otherwise than prepara-
ton for war, in anticipation of some rad
ical move on the part of this Government
He explained to Judge Day that, while he
personally knew the feeling of the admin
istration TO be friendly, the people of
his country had TO take the talk in Con-
gress and the reports of the activity at the
navy yards at their face value, and that
his information would so for nothing with
them.