The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-02

Washington, April 1.-The senate
spent almost the entire day in secret
session in the discussion of the resolu-
tion reported yesterday from the sem
ate committee on foreign relations for
the acquisition of the West Indian
islands owned by Denmark, and the
session was closed by the practical
withdrawal of the resolution by Sena-
tor Lodge, it's author. He stated that
the debate had developed such a wide
difference of opinion in the senate,
where there had heretofore been such
unanimity, that he would not further
press the matter at time when the
president needed the support of all
senators of all parties. He moved that
the senate proceed to the consideration
of executive business, thus voluntarily
for the time abandoning the resolution.
This action on the part of Senator
Lodge was preceded by an animated
debate, in which many sharp words
Were exchanged over the policy OF
bringing in a proposition liable to di-
vide the senate at a time when unan-
unity was especially desirable and
when all parties had shown dispo-
stion to give their uttermOst support
to the administration in preparation
for the war which almost all the speak
ers considered probable.
Many speeches were made on this
line and some went so far as to inti-
mate that an advantage had been taken
of the situation to press a proposition
| which they considered questionable
| with the hope that the senate in its
| patriotic desires to support the presi-
| dent at critical time would consider
| the matter favorable now, whereas 1t
| would not do so in a time of quiet.
| Senators German and PettigreW were
among those who took this position.
| Mr.. German referred to the recent
| unanimous action of congress in en-
| trusting the vast sum of S5O,OOO,O0O to
| the president for his expenditure in
maintaining the dignity of the coun-
try, and said that since the days or
! Washington no such confidence mad
| been imposed in a chief executive of
the nation, but that While this was
great trust, it carried with it a vast
responsibility. SO far the legislative
branch of the government had been
united in support of the executive. 1t
was evidently impossible to preserve
this cohesion on the part of the propo-
| sition and he counselled that it be not
| pressed.
A VIOLATION OF POLICY.
Senator Pettigrew took a similar po-
sition. He said he was willing to sup
port the administration in all reason
able and just measures in preparation
for what appeared an inevitable war,
but that he did not intend because of
his loyalty in this respect to be in
| duced to give his adherence to meas
ure that did not appeal to his own
| judgment. The islands were, he said,
fully 1900 miles from our own coast
and to attempt to acquires them now
would be in violation of our policy of
not anneXing territory which is not
contiguous. He said there was no as
| surance beyond the word of senators
that the president really desired the
purchase Cf the island and intimated
that the committee on foreign rela-
tions had taken advantage of the
present apparently friendly spirit of
congress to spring question of policy
which at least had only brief con-
SideratiOn from the executive. He said
Senator Lodge had a report in favor
of the policy now undertaken, in his
desk for year and that the friends
of the measure sought to get it through
now under the stress of war pressure.
He called attention to the fact that
ScntaOr Lodge had said that the
islands could rot be annexed in time
of war and if this was true, and with
war so imminent as it is, it was evil
dent that there would not be time to
complete the purchase in time to make
them available. There was going to
be war; the United States, he thought.
could secure oil the coaliug stations
necessary on the island Of Cuba and
that if there was no war. none would
be needed.
Senator Lodge replied briefly to this
admitting his long advocacy of the
acquisition of the Danish possessions
and explaining his efforts to secure ac-
tion at the present time. He said he
had called upon the president with ref
erenCe to the purchase of the islands
and that not only he but the naval
officials had cOnCurred in the opinion
that their possession would be Of in
estimable value in case Of hoStilities in
the West Indies.
Senators Perkins and Elkins, bott
Republicans, attacked the purchase
proposition as unWiSe in that IT, was
liable to involve us in extra expense
and unnecessary ENHANCEMENT. Sena-
tor Teller stated that ordinarily he
would favor annexation, and that ht
had done so for many years, hut thai
he would not advise an effort TO Sc
cure action at a critical time like tho
present when 1t was unwise to brinl
in any proposition calculated to create
discord and division.
The discussion ended with the prac
tical withdrawal of the resolution from
the consideration of the committee.