The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-19
gate the disaster 10 the battleship

The disaster. he said. was even now be-
ing thoroughly investigated by the
executive department of the govern
ment and that as soon as tangible re-
suits were reached the facts would be
communicated to congress-
Mr.. Hale urged that Mr.. Mason with
draw his substitute. as it would tend
only to embarrass the executive in the
matter. Il had hoped" said Mr.. Hale,
that this entire matter might be dis
posed of to-day. 1t seems to me that
in the circumstances and in the light of
the utmost facilities it is idle to indulge
in debate
Mr.. Hale said he was willing to with
draw his objection to the resolution of
Mr. Allen, but the substitute suggested
by Mr.. Mason was even more objec-
tionable in its formula
Mason's Sensational Charge.
Mr.. Mason followed Mr. Hale in a
speech replete with sensational utter
ances. He said in beginning that he had
no disposition 10 infiame a situation al
ready so exciting, but he felt that his
substitute was fully justified by the
feelings and desires of the people.
Il understand" said he, that the
navy department is making an investi-
cation of the disaster, but / also under
stand that congress has the authority
to make an investigation. 1t is a con-
oiNSsiolidi itiNtsllSdIiDii tildl lIiG ptbDie
are demanding. They are fast coming
to the conclusion that matters concern
ing this Cuban affair, including the De
LONE letter incident and the loss of the
Maine, of which they ought TO knos,
are being concealed from them. The
people want to know the facts, and they
will know them.'
Mr.. Mason said he did not desire to re-
fleet upon the motives or honor of any
body, but he suggested that the Off
cials of the navy department, in MAX
ing the investigation, would be trying
their own case and would naturally en-
deavor to cover up any blame that
might attach to them.
THE trouble with us is declared Mr..
Mason with great vehemence, that we
had adopted the Spanish policy of put
ting everything off till tomorrow. Let
investigation of this disaster to our
navy and to our country be thoroughly
investigated by congress- and then we
shall know that it will be done right
Let the people" said Mr.. Mason,
.'have the facts. They want nothing
less than an investigation in their in
terest by the senate and house Only
in this way can facts which are locked
up in the departments be gotten out
The country was tired of the secret
considerations of such questions" He
was not willing to strike out of his res
olution the word Immediate" Every
one was interested in knowing who
blew up the Maine. and all wanted
that information now. Why delay?
Why adopt the Spanish custom of put
ting off until tomorrow what should
be done to-day? We had already wait
ed too long We were told three years
ago to wait. We had waited till night
had followed day; winter had followed
summer, and time had gone on, while
the terrible cruelty continued. In the
meantime Spanish diplomats had sat
at our tables and partaken of our hos
pitality while we We're still waiting,
and had continued to wait, until the
series of calamities had been crowned
by the Maine catastrophe with its loss
of 257 American lives" In view OF
these facts. he could never consent to
striking out the word immediate"
We want an investigation he said,
"and we want it now.
Mr.. Hale interrupted Mr. Mason to
make a statement. He said that SO far
from having any desire for delay. he
was anxious to have 1t go forward from
this very time as the investigation pro-
posed by the navy department would,
if not interfered with There was no
proposition to postpone inquiry. The
whole subject matter was even now un-
dergoing investigation, and in view of
the promptness which had been exer-
cised. there was no reason for impugn-
ing the motives of the officials of the
department. This being the true state
of affairs, there was no occasion for a
discussion of incidental matters. The
members of the board selected to in
vestigate the Maine disaster We're not
officers of that ship and they had al
ready been summoned to appear as
witnesses before the investigators. In
view of this fast, he thought the sem
ate could reasonably wait few days
until the results of the investigation
could be given to the public
rs any one so much interested as are |
the navy department and the officers |
of that department in ascertaining the |
real facts and in locating the response
bility of the Disaster Who could con- |
duct the investigation so well as they, |
or who do as much TO get at the bottom /
of the facts?'
He hoped the senate would see the /
of not making this an occa- /
sion for making inflammatory speeches. |
and that all would take the view that /
in the presence of the great calamity |
which had befallen us calamity |
which had appalled, the whole world. |
to-day was not the proper time for an |
appeal to passion and prejudice.
Demands Congressional Investigation.
Replying. Mr.. Mason said there was |
was no calamity SO great as failure /
ciate the situation. when it was so seri- I
Gus as it now il. and no sorrow so pro-
found as that of Indifference to this sit
uation. He was surprised that Mr.. I
Hale would admit that the occasion was I
a solemn one. surprised that the Maine |
senator would admit that anything. |
any occurrence in Cuba, was of a sol /
emn character. As fer himself, he had |
no desire to make this an occasion for I
anything-the occasion was already /
r4ade. What he was contendng for /
was that all facts should be brought to |
the surface. and he could not see how t
a congressional investigation would in /
any way interfere with the navy de- /
partment's inquiry. The people were I
sick and tired of secret investigations. /
and reports by cipher. and of having |
information suppressed and doied out /
TO them as some executive officer might +
think suitable. de wanted a congress i
sional investigation and wanted it open /
10 the world. An investigation by con- I
gress would only strengthen the finding