The San Francisco call., 1898-01-11
THE TREATY
 HAS STRONG
 OPPONENTS Grave Senators Re- solved to Hold Se- cret Sessions. 7 The War of Conquest to Be Carried On Behind
 Closed Doors. Short of the Votes Needed to Secure Ratification of the
 Convention. EXCUSE FOR SECRECY. Among Other Things the Asiatic Situ- atiOn and the Monroe Doctrine
 Were Lugged In.
Short of the Votes Needed tc Secure Ratification of the
 Convention.
EXCUSE FOR SECRECY
Among Other Things tn Asietic Situ- alton and the Monroe Doctrine
 Were Luqged In.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

Washington, D. C., Jan. 10.
 The debate on the Hawaiian treaty began in the Senate to-day After the transaction of morning business. Sen ator Davis of Minnesota, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. moved that the Senate go into execu- tive session. which was agreed to. The galleries were cleared and the doors locked. The treaty was not taken up Immediately, as cOnSderabl ble time was consumed in the consideration of Pres idential nominations. The nomination of ,AIr. Mckenna as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court to succeed Field vas referred to, and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Hoar Of Massac chusetts, said it had not been ' considered in the committed because some of the members wished first to dispose of those nominations to which no objection was offered He said the committee would take up the McKenna nomination and consider it tomorrow.
 The annexation treaty was then taken up. Senator Pettigrew of North Dakota, who is opposed to annexation. immediately offered a resolution pro- : Vldlng that the treaty be debated in open session. He supported his resolu- tion in speech, contending there was no need for secrecy, that the people were greatly interested in the question. and had right to know what was taking place from day to day
 Senator Davis opposed the resolution. i. saying it had been long the custom to consider treaties in executive session. ;. and there was now no reason for de- parting from this time -honored cus- :: tom.
 j: Other Senators supported the reso- : lution, declaring that the whole oues- tion had been discussed in the public press; that the people had become fla .rniliar with the terms of the treaty and there would be no new points exp1oited 'It'.was said by other Senators that there would certainly be new questions presented, and that the situation in the Chinese Empire would be discussed and that this was a matter not for open discussion since it involved ques- tions of. diplomacy of vital interest to the United States.
 The debate on the Pettigrew resolu- ,. 'tion continued for about two hours Gray of Delaware, Mason of Illinois and White of California being conspic- .uous- White made a vigorous speech . in favor of an open session. The speech of Senator Spooner of Wisconsin on- posed an open session. but at the same time, it's tenor clearly indicated that he was strongly opposed to annexa tion
 It was finally decided to consider the treaty in executive session. The ayes and noes were not called, and as no record was made of the vote, which was viva voce, it is impossible to give the standing of the Senators. The fact that the Senate decided in fa- Vor of executive sessions is not an in ulcatlon or the sentiment on the uues- ton or annexation itself The opinion IS now generally expressed among Sen dtoTS familiar with the situation. that lHe necessary two-thirds cannot be se- cured The opposition has at least B votes While there are only S5 Sena LOTS Tn all Senator White. in conver- satlon tonight expressed a positive be- lief that the treaty would be de- feated
 "ofman Of Maryland is very active m 1aVor of annexation. Morrill, of Yer mont, who is very influential is pre- Pdflhg most exhaustive speech in op- position, which he will deliver in a lew days. Hoar of Massachusetts. de- splle all reports to the contrary. will probably oppose the treaty.
 senator Morgan was the principal op- poheht or the proposition for on open uepdte' lie talked at length upon the IhpoI Iahce Of obeying the Senate rules m dlScuSSlng this question contendinp 'Hat as lhe senate was acting only in auNlsory capacity to the executive, it would De an act of bad faith for it to throw open the doors to the public.
 Most of the Senators who smoke in opposition to open sessions referred in the probability that the action of the European powers in their evident nur- n"se of partitioning the territory of