The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-26
TREATY IS SAFE.
Democratic Senators Have De-
cided Not to Oppose 1t
As a Party But to Leave Each
Senator Free
TO VOTE AS HE LIKES.
Opponents of Expansion Are
Expected to Vote
For Ratification When the Mat
ter Comes Up For Action.

Washington, Dec. 26.-The president
has been assured that in the ratifica-
ton of the peace treaty copy of which
was delivered to him Saturday evening,
there will be drawn no party lines by
the senators. Without formal action
the Democratic senators have agreed
among themselves that they will not
only not array themselves as Demo-
Gratis against the treaty, but that they
will so act as to remove the ratification
from the realm of party issues. Informa-
ton of this decision was communicated
to the president by Senator Faulkner.
The senator made his communication
in an unofficial manner, but he was ex-
plicit about it. He told the president
that the Democratic senators would act
as individuals, not as members of the
Democratic party Some might, and
probably would, oppose ratification.
But they would do so in a purely indi-
vidual capacity. It had been agreed
among the Democrats that each sena-
tor should feel entirely free to do as his
own sentiments prompted, and that
party affiliations would cut no figure at
all.
The senator said quite a number of
Democrats would vote for ratification.
This number would include some who
did not believe in the permanent reten-
ton of the Philippines, but who believed
the proper course was to ratify the
treaty and leave the question of the fu-
ture of the Philippines for subsequent
domestic
blena. He told how sentiment had be-
come strong, even among so-called anti
expansionists, that the senate ought to
keep the disposition of the Philippines
a matter wholly apart from the ques-
ton of ratification of the treaty.
+ Senator Faulkner went even farther.
He said that the Democratic senators
would not lend themselves to any steps
which might embarrass the government
in relation to the treaty. They believed,
or the most of them did, that their duty
as Americans demanded of them
prompt ratification. Holding this view,
they would not help in any movement
to amend the treaty or to attach to it
an expression of the intention Of the
United States to eventually withdraw
its sovereignty from the Philippines
The senator did not pretend to speak
for all of the Democratic senators, but
he did believe he represented the views
of most Of them when he offered the as
surance of their position to the presi-
dent He made it very clear to the
president that Senator Hears PROPOSE
ton to attach to the treaty a declara-
ton of this governments intention not
to hold the Philippines will not be sup
ported by many, if it is by any, Demo-
Gratis. Senator Faulkner said the
Democrats took the position that If any
declaration of that kind was to be made,
it should be in the form of a, resolution
having no connection whatever with the
treaty. He told the president that from
what he had been able to gather many
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were going to vote
for the ratification. and were in favor
of very prompt action.
The information which Senator Faux
ner conveyed to the president shows
that the treaty will not only be ratified,
but that the majority will be much
greater than the two-thirds required.
Senator Hoar's amendment is doomed.
All attempts to align Democrats, even
the anti-expa against the
treaty will fail. The Philippines Ques-
ton will be kept apart from the treaty.
Senator Faulkner was guarded in speak
ing of the number of Democrats who
will vote for ratification, but from the
information obtained in various quar-
ters confirmatory Of the assurances
given the president, it appears that
more than half of the Democrats will
vote for ratification. At the rate the
opposition is breaking up, the treaty
may receive what viii be practically
unanimous vote, many who vote for
ratification simply going on record as
not committing themselves by the
treaty vote to the retention of the Phil
ippines.
The ratification is not only assured,
but early action is made certain by the
policy of the Democrats.