Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-05
DEMANDS A CUBAN STATEMENT
WANTS TO KNOW ALL ABOUT WHAT
IS BEING DONE.
Declares He Is willing to Wait for
the President's Message, but In
sists Upon Talking While
He Waits-Called Down
by Cannon.

luton regarding the Cuban situation IN
the house to-day, there was a brief out
break, in the course of which the Warilke
temper of the crowded galleries was SO
manifest that Speaker Reed threatened 10
clear them II it was repeated. The out
break occurred over bill to authorize the
president to erect temporary fortihcations
in case of emergency upon land when the
written consent of the owners was obtained
without awaiting the long process OF legal
condemnation. This led to a demand by
Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader, for in
formation as to the facts which warrant
ed all these war measures. The particular
statement which aroused the galleries was
to the effect that. while the Democrats
were willing to wait any reasonable time
for the president to transmit a message
that would meet the approval of the Amer
lean people. they would not wait min
ute for him to continue negotiations with
the butchers of Spain. When the demon
strations in the galleries were rebuked by
the speaker, he declared that the galleries
were the American people in miniature.
Mr.. Cannon accused Mr.. Bailey OF post
uring" and playing to the galleries. The
DILL was passed and 1t was arranged that
the army reorganization bill should be
taken UP on Wednesday, unless report
was made from the committee on foreign
affairs. The remainder of the day passed
without incident in the transaction of Dis
trict of Columbia business. During the
morning. thousands swarmed through the
corridors of the house end Of the capitol.
clamorinS for admittance into the galleries.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the commit
tee on appropriations, asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of the sem
ate resolution suspending a portion of sec
tion $50, of the Revised Statutes. SO as to
permit the United States to erect fortifi-
cations in cases of emergency upon any
land Upon obtaining the written consent
of the owner.
This is another war measure" inter-
posed Mr.. Bailey. II shall object until
1 find out whether we are going to have
any war;"
Mr.. Cannon explained that the passage
Of the bill was urgently recommended by
the chief of engineers. He moved to pass
the bill under suspension of the rules.
Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader, took
the floor. after Mr.. Cannon's explanation,
and made the speech which aroused the
galleries. He called attention to the fact
that, on several occasions within the last
thirty days. the house had been called upon
to vote upon several propositions which
indicated that war was directly ahead Of
US. Yet, he said, congress was not in
possession of any act which warranted this
belief. He had voted, he said, for the ex-
traordinary s59O0O,OOO appropriation, but he
had voted for it under the impression that
We were perilously near to war. If a DEM
ocratic president had asked a Democratic
house to authorize such an expenditure,
without contol or limitation, he should
have denied it. He should have demanded
the estimates. But in this case, believing
that danger was at hand, he had voted for
it. Much of the vast appropriation had
already been expendNu, yet information, ex.
cept such as came through the newspapers,
was still withheld. To-day the house was
asked to meet another emergency.
Last Wednesday, when the house was
asked to meet the vital question, the ma
jority had refused to meet 1t. 1t was then
everywhere announced that the president
would be prepared to send a message to
congress to-day. The house adjourned FRI
day until to-day with that impression. Yet
was no message coming to-day. When was
the message to come in ne asked
government is doing and Intends to do.
We ought not to be asked to vote blindly.
If the occasion warrants 1t, we are ready
pare for war. and. IL war comes. we are
ready to vote for every measure designed
to prosecute it to a successful conclusion"
able difficulty in subduing. The speaker
warned the galleries that no demonstration
mitted. But the next utterancs OF Mr..
Bailey redoIbled the saId applaMTseR Nus Raev
ARE but miniature Of the American peo-
pie. If congress could be faced to-day by
the galleries Of the people. they would force
galleries that II the demonstration was
again repeated he would order them
"Oh. think that would hardly be fair"
interposed Mr.. Steele. Republican, ,id, OF In, n
the IT saleF,s Is bssfer aetorted Mr. Bailey,
speak to the listening galleries than the
Il the president wants one, two or even
three days to prepare message which
will meet the approval OF the american
people, we on this side are willing that
day or one hour to continue negotiations
with the butchers of Spain. not one minute
will we give him." Great applause on
nspi 1he ibs sde ana se
Mr.. Hopkins. Republican: of Illinois, sug.
gested that there was need of discretion at
such times these. I'VE cannot adver-
tise our weaknesses" said he, nor make
war preparations with brass band"
Mr.. Lentz, Democrat, Of Ohio, said he
thought an amendment he desired to oner
10 recognize tne lnuepeHueHCe VI Supd
should be attached to the bill. Spain had
recognized the Confederacy within thirty
days after Sumter was fired on. Why
should we hesitate?
Mr.. Williams, Democrat, of Mississippi,
member of the foreign affairs committee,
at this juncture made an important state
ment considering the fact that the senate
committee had adjourned within an hour,
and that some disclosure had been made
which sealed the lips Of all the members
of the committee. Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike. He said the proposed amend
ment at this time was inopportune. Il be-
lieve," said he, that when we move we
should move in phalanx and in line. On
this side our position is known and un-
derstood by the country. To emphasize
right now might do more harm than good"
Mr.. Maddox. Democrat, Of Georgia,
thought congress and the country should
be informed Of all the facts regarding the
crisis. SO that the members could proceed
with deliberation. II there was to be war.
II would be war of the people of the
United states, and not of any party. But
there should be no hasty, impetuous plunge
OF 1861 passed such an act. plunged the
country into war, and then carefully hid
away in their bombproofS and allowed
every member, should be willing to fight
before he asked others to fight. (Ap-
plause.)
Bailey then said that he did not desire
to see If someone on the other side would
not venture some information as to the
emergency that existed. Mr.. Cannon said
that was time for speech, time for
the time for action.
The president. he argued, should be per-
manentiy empowered to make temporary
fortifieations for the national defense.
inE,, and said he had thought that he
(Bailey) could well afford to let this law