The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-08
In Order that stock JObbers in Wall
street Might Have Opportunity
to "WOrk'' the Market.
SHARP, INDIGNANT DENIAL
By MR., GROSVENOR, THE SPoI<ES-
MAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
Democratic Traducers MerciIessIy
Peppery Speech by Morgan.

| WASHINGTON, April 7.-There was a
scene of great excitement in the House late
| this afternoon during consideration of the
| bill for the reorganization OF the army. 1t
was caused by Mr.. Lentz, an Ohio Demo-
| crat, who made vicious assault on the
| administration, charging that the policy of
| delay was in the interest of stockholders in
| Wall street. He alleged that Wall street
| was in the possession of information that
the message would not go in long before
| 1t was known at the Capitol, and profited
| heavily by the advance in the price of
| stocks which resulted. He even charged
| that there was no warrant for the alarming
statements about the situation in Havana
which We're made as a justification for the
| delay of the message. Mr.. Lentzs speech
created profound sensation and was met
with an emphatic reply from General
Grosvenor now generally regarded the
administration spokesman on the floor. Mr..
Grosvenor not only Indignantly denied that
there was justification for the reports, but
held Mr.. Lentz up to scorn for alleging COR
rupt motives against the President. Mr.
Lentz disclaimed this, but the irate friend
of the President gave him no mercy, He
was thoroughly aroused and laid about him
with veritable bludgeon charging that the
Democrats were seeking political advan-
tage and paying his respects to John j. Nc
Cook and others. Before he concluded he
expressed the opinion that war was as GER
tain that he would live until next week,
unless it was averted by Spain.
At the opening of the session Mr.. Hull,
chairman of the military affairs committee,
realizing the opposition to certain features
of the army reorganization bill, stated be-
fore consideration of that bill was resumed
that at the proper time he should move
to strike out everything except the first two
sections providing for the three battalion
formation. The section providing for the
expansion of the regular army in time of
war to 1000 would be striker out. Debate
then proceeded.
Mr.. Sulzer Dem. N. ", who supported
the bill as it was proposed to modify it,
made a vigorous pro-Cuban speech If
Cuban independence were recognized, he de-
clared, Cuba would soon be free. He de-
clared that the majority in Congress and
the President little understood the intense
feeling of Indignation among the people Of
the country over the Maine affair and the
delay in the calling of Spain to account.
oh for one day of Andrew Jackson in the
White House" he concluded. "He would
say onward the fleet forward the whole
line and let the battle cry be: Cuba must
be freen "
Mr.. Lewis vigorously assafled the bill. He
not only charged that it was part of the
programme to increase the regular army in
time of peace but he declared that the
three battalion formation had proven a
failure and had been so characterized by
MR.. LENTZ'S SPEECH.
Mr. Lentz Dem., o., in the course of his
remarks in opposition to the bill. declared
that there would be no war, that the peace
party which was specializing in stocks and
bonds would prevail. He said there was an
irreconciable disparity between the reasons
given for the delay of the Presidents mes
sage and the dispatches from Havana. The
message had been postponed because Lee
could not get Americans out of Havana,
yet the press dispatches said all was quiet
in Havana and that General Lee said he
had not been recalled. He denounced the
kilograms he and other members were re-
ceiving, urging them to stand by the Presi-
dent, and said they were dictated by
financial greed. Mr.. Lentz referred to the
! note presented by the powers. He read
from it the words about the hope for peace
ences with Spain" I'VE have no differences
with SPAIN" he cried. I'VE have 266 as
sassinated Americans which Spain must ac-
count for Applause in the galleries.
Yesterday he said. I'VE had this House
filed, the galleries overfiowed and the Cap
itol grounds We're covered with people. all
expecting the Presidents message which
might lead to war. But, finally in the aft
ernoon came word that message had been
received from Consul General Lee, in Ha-
vana, indicating that he wanted time, and
the message was delayed on that account
for the statement from the administration
or any other official that justified the ru-
NOR that prevailed here yesterday. A tele-
gram by the Associated Press yesterday
said that all was quiet in Havana. and that
General Lee told correspondent that he
had not been requested to leave The other
newspapers, notably the New York Journal,
have similar dispatches. If these state
ments are true there was nothing to justify
the statement sent to the Capitol yesterday
1 say there will be no war"
Continuing. he charged that Congress was
being overwhelmed by kilograms dictated
by commercial greed, all of which he de-
clared emanated principally from Wall
street and Lombard street. 1T is the old
question of the almighty dollar" said he
ut is the fall of stocks these gentlemen
who control the administration fear more
than war. They care nothing for the 266
aSsassinated Americans who went down in
Havana harbor. but they care everything
for 80 cents plus l cent. / say my friends,
that we owe an apology to Judas Iscariot.
j say he ought to be brought back and DEL
fled. If Judas lived in this age he would not
have gone to the potters' field and hanged
himself He would have been sent to the
United States Senate in due time. such a
Spectator as he was" daughter and ap-
plause on Democratic sde)
READ FROM A yellow JOURNAL. =
Mr.. Lentz proceeded to read from the New
York Journal statements to the effect that
the delay i'm the message helped stock job
bers. and that they had had advance infor-
nation. He read from the various stock
reports to show that stocks went up all
along the line when the news was received
that the message would not go to Congress
yesterday. In conclusion, he referred 10 the
note of the powers to the government and
its response.
Mr.. Lentz's remarks brought Mr.. Gros-
venor, of Ohio. generally regarded as the
administration spokesman. TO his feet with
an indignant reply. in the course of which
he made some startling statements which
caused a great sensation In the House.
The gentleman from Ohio CMr. Lentz).