The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-01-17
IS NOW CONNIE ERCE
War Talk Being Eliminated From
Annexation Discussion.
VIEWS OF GORMAN AND ELKINS
Pacific Gable Scheme Brewing.
Mr.. ThurSton Says Outlook
is Promising.
Call Office, Riggs House,
Washington, Jan. 5. :

Il desire to give notice that on Mon
day next at the conclusion of the
morning business l shall move that the
Senate proceed to the consideration
Of executive business for the purpose
of considering the Hawaiian treaty.
| also give notice that / shall move an
executive session each day thereafter
until the matter is closed"
In these words Senator Davis, chair
man of the Senate Committe on For
eign Relations, formally sounded the
warning note of one of the great
fights of the session. 1t is going to be
a great battle. Senator Davis realizes
this, but he has bravely undertaken
the leadership of what he confidently
believes will be the winning side. He
is fully alive to the tremendous oppo-
sition.
Farmers in all sections of the coun-
try are deluging their Senators with
protests against the treaty. Senator
Davis believes that there has been a
change of sentiment with regard to an
neXatiOn. and expects the friends of
the treaty will have the necessary two
thirds vote to secure ratification. With
in the last few days there have been
frequent conferences at the White
House between the President and Sen
ators Davis, CuEom, Frye, Elkins,
Fairchild Teller and others favorable
to annexation. The result of these
consultations is that the friends of the
treaty propose to make the issue on
commercial lines and eliminate to
marked degree the flavor of jingoism
that was so conspicuous in the original
plan.
In assembling the annexation force
on a commercial basis several recruits
have been made from the Democratic
side of the Senate, and in the coming
contest the plan is to obliterate party
lines and make the issue on the ground
that the annexation of Hawaii will
materially improve trade relations
with the United States. Instead of in
dulging in war talk in connection with
Hawaii and speculation on the cost of
maintaining a naval station there, the
friends of annexation are Speculatlng
on the alleged benefit to American
commerce which would follow sole
ownership of Hawaii by the United
States in the event of a conflict be-
tween England France, Germany,
Russia and Japan over the partition OF
China. One of the most ardent adVO-
Gates of annexation, from a purely
commercial standpoint, is Senator Ell
kins of West Virginia, who is taking
an active part in the fight. Senator
Elkins says that in view OF existing
complications in the far East trade re-
lations between the United States and
the countries involved must be fOs-
tered and guarded
Il am not in favor of the annexation
of Hawaii. with any intention Of try
ing to assimilate the population of
those islands with our own people,
said Senator Elkins Il don't believe
it can be done, and | am not disposed
to try any experiments in that direc-
ton; but | am firmly convinced that
we need Hawaii in our business rela-
tions with foreign countries. if we only
use it on which to rest cable. Com
| merce seems to be coming our way,
and | believe in doing everything with
| in reason to encourage trade. 1t is i'm
| possible for ships going out of Pacific
Coast ports to Eastern countries to
pass Hawaii without stopping for
! coal or supplies, as it is a natural half
way house
The anneXatiOnists viii have a
strong ally on the Democratic side in
| German The Maryland Senator is a
| conservative business man. He fayOrs
annexation on the ground that the
| commerce Of the United States would
| be largely benefited. He says he does
not believe in wholesale acquisition o1
| territory by the United States, but
would not consent to the acquisition
of Hawaii by any other nation.
I'VE have a lease or some kind o.
claim to coaling station called Pear
Harbor in Hawaii" said German to-
day, and if we needed Pearl Harbol
years ago, when our commerce wa
| seldom found on the sea, We have
greater need for it now, when ever.
sign points to rapid growth of oul
commercial relations. If any other ma
tiOn should attempt to acquire afte
we have rejected II what ara We oOins