The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-15
FIGHT CERTAIN
PEACE TREATY CANNOT BE RATI-
FLED WITHOUT A CONTEST.
Supporters OF the Administration,
However, Are Confident of Over
coming the Opposition.
DEMOCRATS MAY HEED BRYAN
MANY OF THE SENATOR'S.
Mr.. HOar Determined tn Push an
Amendment DiscIaiminS sOver-
eighty Over the Philippines.
DONS SHOWING IRRITATION
BECAUSE PRISONERS HELD BY Fill
IPINOS ARE NOT RELEASED.
AguinaIdo Said to Demand n Ransom
of OOO,OOO--PIans of AstOr
Battery Volunteers.
Mr.. HOar Determined to Push an
Amendment DiscIaimin@ SOVer.
eigDty over the Philippines.
DONS SHOWING IRRITATION
BECAUSE PRISONERS HELD BY Fill
IPINOS ARE NOT RELEASED.
AguinaIdo Said to Demand n Ransom
of $4,000, of AstOr
Battery Volunteers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-One of the most
prominent members of the Senate committee
on foreign relations said this afternoon that
the treaty of peace with Spain would un-
doubtedly be ratified. The Republican mem
bers of the committee, stirred up by the as
sertions of the opposition, have made care
full poll of the body and have reached the
conclusion that the treaty will be agreed to
without the crossing of a ''t' or the dotting
of an 81" This statement was made to-
day, after careful attention had been given
to the claims of the opponents, under the
lead of Senators Hoar and Hale, that the
treaty would be amended so as to eliminate
all that part of the document which forces
the United States to accept the sovereignty
of the Philippines. Men best posted on the
trend of sentiment in the Senate therefore
now predict that the treaty Will be ratified
at this session and as it is sent to the Sen
ate by the President.
The statements of William Jennings Bryan
this morning have given the Democrats who
have been opposing ratification something
to think about. Mr.. Bryans suggestion that
the treaty be ratified and that Congress
then pass a resolution declaring it's policy
with respect to the Philippines has taken
root. The fact that this policy will avoid
entanglements with foreign powers and pre-
vent complication that might ensue if the
President were compelled to negotiate an
amendment to the treaty, or new one alto
gether, appeals to the good sense of those
Democrats who desire to see the subject set
tied without bringing this country into ridi-
cule Then, again, the published statements
OF Sagasta that he will not submit the treaty
to the Cortes until he knows what the Sen
ate will do, this statement being based on
his expressed belief that the Senate will
reject the treaty, has awakened some of the
opponents of ratification to the possibil-
ties that confront the government if the
treaty should be torn 10 pieces, or if even a
serious attempt be made to reject the cesslon
of the Philippines, a concession forced from
the Spanish peace commissioners through
the arbitrary power of the victors.
The friends of the treaty have taken kind
ly to the suggestion of Mr.. Bryan. They
assert that the only thing that can now be
done is to ratify the treaty and then deal
with the question of what shall be the uti-
mate destiny of the Philippines in the flu
ture They express themselves as favorable
to the passage Of a resolution declaring the
policy of the government after the ratifica-
ton of the peace treaty, but they are ret
icent as to just how long after" this reso-
luton OuSnl 10 De aCLeu upon.
Meanwhile, however, the opponents of the
treaty are active. 1t IS not exactly the truth
TO say that Mr.. Hoar has prepared an
amendment which he will offer COW
ering his views with respect to the Philip
pines. That amendment will be forthcom-
ing, though, at the proper time so that
when Mr.. Hoar said this afternoon that he
had no knowledge Of such an amendment he
claimer.
The statement can be made, however
upon unimpeachable authority that upon
Mr.. Hoar has been placed the duty of draft
ing an amendment that will be offered Mr.
Hoar and Mr. Hale have counted noses and
expect the amendment to carry. A treaty
can be amended by a majority vote, al
though after amendment it requires a two
thirds vote to ratify. The following Re-
publicans are said by the leaders of the
opposition to be ready to vote for the
amendment when Mr. Hoar shall offer it:
Messrs. Hoar, Hale, Spooner, Burrows, Nor
rill wellington Hawley, Gear and Sewell
All the Democrats are expected to vote for
the amendment with the exception of
Messrs. Morgan, Pettus. Gray and Lindsay
In the list of those counted on to support
Mr. Hoars amendment are all the silver
Republicans and Populsts save Teller and
Stewart. According to these figures the op-
position would have thirty Democrats and
nine Republicans, or within seven of
majority. These seven they expect to get
from among the twelve remaining senator's
unaccounted for The best opinion is, how
ever, that they will fail in their efforts and
that the Hoar amendment declaring it to be
the intention of the United States to not
permanently assume sovereignty over the
Philippines will not prevail.