Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-22
POLICY GOES
Howell Says the Democracy IS in
Line on the Philippine
Question.
WILL VOTE ToRAFIfY THE TREATY.
Then EeGin n Fight That May Make New
Issues for the Presidential Race IN 1900
Same Policy Toward the Filipinos
Is Pledged to the Cubans in the War
Resolutions-New Lining Up of Parties
Possible.

Possible.
New York. Dec. 22.-Clark Howell.
member of the Democratic national
committee from Georgia, and editor Of
the Atlanta Constitution, after consult
ing with the leaders of both the political
parties at Washington. telegraphed as
follows to his paper. last night: with
the adjournment of congress for the
holidays the final decision on the peace
treaty is as clear as it will be after
vote has been taken in the senate.
Two weeks ago the matter was in
doubt; today II is certain that the
treaty will be ratified as il will be that
1t has after the vote has been taken.
Mr.. Bryan has been in Washington for
several days, and has conferred fire.
Suently and freely with the Democratic
leaders in both senate and the house.
He has advised ratification of the
treaty, and he is outspoken in the opin-
ion that aside from the question of ma
tional obligation il is a matter of party
policy for the Democrats to throw no
obstacle in the way yofratification-
Question of Expansion Not Involved.
1T must not be understood that the
ratification of the treaty will carry with
it the assumption that all those who
vote affirmatively are in favor of ma
tional expansion across the Pacific. OF
the senators who will vote in IA
vor OF tie treaty there will
be Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis who are opposed in principle as
well as in theory to the trans-oceanic
expansion Of our national domain. They
take, however, and very properly, the
view that the question of expansion, per
SO in %
ton of the peace treaty, and that after
the treaty has been ratified and Spain
has been eliminated rs a factor in the
Philippine pro bIem it will be time enough
to consider the policy to be pursued in
dealing with the Philippines, and just
here will come the real contest of the
Of expansion"
After the Ratification the Fight.
Howell then says that after the treaty
has been finally disposed of a resolution
will be introduced making declaration
of the proposed policy of this govern
mert in dealing with the Philippines,
and that this resolution will he framed
very much on the basis of the Cuban
resolut ton adopted co-incideslt with thc-t
declaration of war, in which it was de-
clared that the policy of this govern
ment would be to give the people of
Cuba a free and independent govern
rnent OF lhelr own HOWel says: A
large majority of the Democrats will
vote in favor of it and a large majority
of the Republicans will vote against II,
but the size of either minority is suffi- |
ciently involved in doubt as to render !
exceedingly questionable the final ac-
ton that will be taken on the resolu-
ton.
Prospect for New Party Issues.
"As the result of the final encounter |
over the resolution it may be that the |
will witness the spectacle of |
badly severed party lines. and that out |
of it may he furnished the battle cries |
around which will be formed the lines !
Of the next presidential fight"