Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-04-07
WORK OF CONGRESS

Washington. March 31.-A wild ana
unroarous scene occurred in the house
~ representative when Mr.. Bailey,
tho Democratic leader, attempted 10
force the hand of the RepuDncanS
upon a proposition 10 overdue the
sneaker and pass "A resolution recog-
nizing the Independence OF the CUBAN
| republic. He was cheered IN the
crowded galleries, but the members OF
the majority refused TO support MN.
MANY of them sympathized with the
uurpose of the resolution, MIR. Hull,
| chairman Of the military committee,
going so far as to endorse the propo-
| sition Cnder the impression that IT
nrovidod for a declaration OF war. Dut
most Of the radicals who were in favor
| of any sort Of revolutionary methods
| had been won over TO the policy Oh
sticking to the party organization ana
refusing TO do anything until the IN
i~tiatiyo came from their side. There
were rallied by two of the leading adj
yocates of armed intervention, Inc
The Speaker Himself,
from the chair, made an indirect ap-
| neal 10 his party associates to stand
| Arm. ut the same time iutimating that
! if their Impotence was curbed a 1T
| tie longer they would have the oppor-
| tunity they coveted. When the vote
| was taken only two Republicans,
| Messrs. Acheson and Robbins OF
| s~ylvania. broke from party lines.
| About q dozen more sat silent in their
| seats and refused TO vote. The scene
| throughout was most dramatic. and
| the members and spectators in the
! galleries were wrought up 10 a high
pitch of excitement. Several times
| later in the day during the considera-
| ton of the naval bill whenever the
| Cuban question was preached the
members swarmed about the speaker
and the galleries cheered. This vas
! especially the case when Mr.. Cum
mings of New York spoke. Mr.. Bou-
telle. who objected TO a request for ex-
tension of his time. was Kissed. The
only important action on the nava
bill was the refusal of the chair 10 sus-
tain a point Of order against the pro-
vision for a floating steel dock at Al
giers, La.
In the Senate.
Permission was granted by the SEN
ate for the foreign relations commit
tee TO sit during the sessions Of the
II StudlN. ~ WIS esio q htco
luton providing for the recognition of
the independence of cuba introduced
Tuesday by Mr.. Allen Of Nebraska
was. ut the request Of Mr.. Frye Of
Maine. referred TO the foreign rela-
tons committee without debate. Be
yond these two points no reference
was made by the senate 10 the Cuban
question. Mr.. Gallery Of Louisiana
concluded his speech on the national
quarantine bill. after which the meas
ure making further provision for a
civil government for Alaska was
passed.
Washington, April 1. For three
hours the packed galleries and excited
members Of the house listened to a
passionate outbust of oratory ON the
Cuban question. during which the in
tensity of feeling was alternately man.
ifested by cheers, jeers and Kisses.
The three speeches which stirred the
assemblage to its depths were made
by Mr.. Grosyenor of Ohio, who. IL was
assumed, spoke for the administration,
and who practically pledged il to the
u of free Cuba; Mr.. Bailey of Tex
as, the Democratic leader, who an
nounced the Democratic position as for
free Cuba, without war IL it could be
avoided, but with war IL necessary,
and Mr.. Johnson of Indiana, who
spoke for peace, declaring that Ii was
III duty to 90 to the extreme in mag
nanimity In order to avoid the horrors
of war. Mr.. Lewis. a Democrat from
Washington, provoked the speech Of
MIR. johnson, which arouscd the men,
bers and the galleries to the fever
pitch OF excitement. Mr.. Lewis had
denounced the proposition that Cuba
purchase her freedom from Spain,
which, 1t was alleged. the administra-
ton was fostering. Then II was that
Mr.. Johnson, in a brilliant speech,
pleaded for peace. He faced the storm
Of Kisses which swept down upon him
from the galleries, like a Spartan, and
with passionate utterances adjured
members to pause before they plunged
The CouE try into War,
the evils of which would follow after
In endless train. The house has had
before Illustrations of Mr.. .Johnson's
fearlessness, but none so striking az
this. when he espoused the unpopular
cause and pleaded to let diplomacy
have its way. At the same time he
gave 1t as his opinion that IL an uiti-
matum had been sent to Spain II
meant war. as SPANS pride would not
permit her to humiliate herself before
the world. He eulogized every infu-
ence that made for peace and declared
his belief that the Cuban junta would
agree to pay $100,000,O0O for the in
dependence of the island. Mr.. Bailey.
The Democratic leader. was quick to
seize the advantage which Mr.. John