The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-02

legislative session, the proceedings occu-
pying the greater part of the afternoon
and being devoted to discussion OF the
wisdom of purchasing the Danish West
India islands.
Washington, April 1.-The Senate spent
almost the entire day in the discussion OF
the resolution reported yesterday from the
Senate committee on foreign relations for
the ACQUISITION of the West India islands,
owned by Denmark and the session was
closed by the practical withdrawal of the
resolution by Senator Lodge its author.
He stated that the debate had developed
such wide difference of opinion the
Senate where there had heretofore been
such unanimity that he would not further
press the matter at a time when the
President needed the support of all Sena-
tors 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 and
the policy of bringing In proposition
liable to divide the Senate at time when
unanimity was especially desirable and
when all parties had shown disposition
to give their utmost support to the ad-
ministration in preparation for the war
which almost all the speakers considered
probable. Many speeches were made on
this line and many even went SO far as to
intimate that an advantage had been
taken OF the situation to press a PROPOSE
ton which they considered questionable
with the hope that the Senate in its
patriotic desire to support the President
at critical time would consider the
matter favorably now, whereas 1t would
not do SO in time of quiet. Senators
German and Pettigrew were among those
who took this position. Mr.. German re-
ferred to the recent unanimous action OF
Congress in entrusting the vast sum of
$50. 900 900 to the President for his ex-
penditure in maintaining the dignity of
the country and said that since the days
of Washington, no such confidence had
been imposed in a chief magistrate of the
nation, but that while there was a great
trust it carried with it vast responsible
ty. So far the legislative branch of the
government had been united in support
of the executive. 1t was evidently i'm
part of the proposition and he counselled
that it not be pressed.
Senator Pettigrew took a similar
position. He said he was willing to sup
port the administration in all reasonable
and just measures in the preparation OF
what appeared an inevitable war but that
he did not intend because of his loyalty to
be induced to give his adherance to a
measure that did not appeal to his own
Judgment.
The islands were. he said, fully 1900
miles from our own coast and an attempt
to acquire them now would be in viola
ton of our policy of not annexing terri
tory which is not contiguous. He said
there was no assurance beyond the word
of the Senators that the President really
desired the purchase of the islands and
intimated that the committee on foreign
relations had taken advantage of the
present apparently friendly spirit OF Con-
gress to spring question of policy which
at the least had only very brief cons1dera-
ton from the executive. He said Senator
Lodge had 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 atten.
ton to the fact that Senator Lodge had
said that the islands could not be annexed
in time of war, and if this is true and
with war imminent as it is, 1t was evil
dent that there would not be time to COM
plete the purchase in time to make them
available. If there was going to be war
the United States he thought could secure
all the coaling stations necessary in Cuba
and If there was no war none would be
needed.
Senator Lodge replied briefly to this,
admitting his long advocacy of the acqui-
eition of the Danish possessions. explain
ing his efforts to secure action at the
present time. He said that he called upon
the President with reference to the pur-
chase of the islands and that not only he
but the naval officials had concurred in
the opinion that their possession would
be of inestimable value in case of HOSTILE
ties in the West Indies. Senators Perkins
and Elkins. both Republicans, attacked
the purchase proposition as unw!se in
that it was liable to involve us in expense
and unnecessary entanglements. Senator
Teller stated that ordinarily he would
favor annexation and that he bad done SO
for many years, but that he would not
advise an effort to secure action at
critical time like the present when it was
unwise to bring any proposition calcu-
lated to create discord and division.
Senator Bacon of Georgia spoke against
tbs resolution saying that for present or
immediate war purposes the islands would
be useless and that they could be acquired
if wanted at some future time.
Senator Mason was among the support
ers of the resolution. He put his support
on the ground that he was willing to aid
the administration in any way deemed
necessary for the successful prosecution of
the war with Spain.
Senator Lodge opened the proceedings
in the secret session with general state
ment concerning the advantages of con-
trolling the Danish islands. He argued
that this country should own them be-
cause of continguity to our own shores
and for stragetic purposes, going over
much of the ground covered in his report
of yesterday.
Senator Gray replied in opposition to
this policy, basing his antagonism on the
ground that it was against the policy of
the United States to acquire territory out