The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-12-22
TREATY LIKELY SAFE.
Clark Howell Believes 1t Will
Be Ratified.
BIG FIGHT COMING LATER.
After interviewing Democratic and Re-
publican Leaders He Sent That opinion
to His Paper Expects Old Political
Partis, to split Upon Philippines.

lJEw York. Dec. 29.-Clark Howell,
committee from Georgia and editor of
the Atlanta Constitution, after consult.
ing with the leaders Of both Of the
political parties at Washington, tele"
graphed in part as follows TO his paper:
With the adjournment Of congress for the
holidays the final decision on the peace treaty
Is az clear as IL will be after vote has been
taken In the senate. Two weeks ago the mat
ter was in doubt-today IL Is certain that the
treaty will be ratified as 1t will be that II has
after the vote has been taken.
He said Mr.. Bryan had advised ratifi.
cation Of the treaty. that, aside from
national obligation, it was a matter OF
party policy for the Democrats not to
obstruct ratification. There were lead
ing Democratic opponents TO ratitica-
ton who had now changed their minds.
There were both Democrats and Repub.
hcans who would vote for ratification
that were opposed to trans-oceanic ex-
pansion. They take the view that, after
Spain has been eliminated from the
problem, it will be time enough to con-
slider the policy to be pursued in dealing
with the Philippines.
Hr. Howell says that after the treaty
has been finally disposed Of resolu-
ton will be introduced making declara.
ton Of the proposed policy OF this gov.
ernment in dealing with the Philip.
pines and that this resolution will be
framed very much on the basis of the
Cuban resolution adopted co-incident
with the declaration of war, in which
it was declared that the policy OF
l, ~ NJ ha IN ertu 10
people of Cuba a free and independent
government of their own.
Mr.. Howell says in part:
1t Is the determination to prevent a resolu.
tion OF this kind as q rallying point for the
expansion and anti.expansion elements, both
Democrats and Republicans, that takes from
the consideration of the peace treaty such
doubt as might have existed a. to the outcome
and which now makes its ratification fore
gone conclusion.
The vote on this proposed resolution will not
be confined by any means to party lines and
the outcome is in doubt. A large majority of
the Democrats will vote in favor of 1t and n
large majority Of the Republicans will vote
against IL, but the size of either minority is
sufficiently involved in doubt as to render eX-
ceedingly questionable the final action that
will be taken on the resolution,
The Republicans as q body will favor the
ratification of the peace treaty and will op.
pose any further action. They will hold that
il will be time enough to cross the Philippine
bridge when they get TO 1t, and in the mean
time the islands should be held under strict
military government and that, if in God,
own time IL Is demonstrated that the Filipinos
are able 70 take care of themselves and desire
to maintain a government of their own, it
will be time enough for the United States TO
take mp the question and act accordingly.
Mr.. Howell's summary concludes as
follows:
As the result of the final encounter over the
resolution IT may be that the country viii wit.
ness the spectacle Of badly severed party lines
and that out of il may be furnished the battle.
cries around which win be formed the lines Of
the next presidential fight