Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-13
IT HAS NO EFFECT.
Congress will Not be Influenced by
SPANS Tardy Pacific
Move.

opohl . oTdy F0CiliS
Move.
Washington, D. c., April 1.-THE Sen
ate galleries were crowded today at 1880
by eXpectant thrOngs who anticipates in
teresting events following the receipt Of
the message of the President on Cuba.
Senator Davis was early at his commit
tee room today and different members of
the committee on foreign rela tons came
in to discuss the situation with him and
to consult as to the difficult situation
which confronts Congress.
Several members Of the cabinet went
to the white house and conferred with
President Mckinley before the message
went out of his possession and into legis-
latiye hands, but there was no cabinet
session, the visits of some of the mem
bers being in the nature of Individual in
terviews. Secretary Alger came over
few minutes after 8 O'clock and while
tary Bliss arrived and joined in the con-
ference. Just before this, Senator
Pritchard and Representative Skinner of
North Carolina had an interview with
the President and urged provision for an
adequate system of coast defenses along
the Carolina sea front
The President was at work very early.
and, conscious of the few hours remain
ing before a document whose submission
to the country might mean war, was to
be made public, had some further con-
sultation about the situation.
Meantime, the white house has been or
dered closed to visitors, but preparations
went ahead for the opening of the grounds
to the thousands of Washington youth for
their annual egg-rolling festival and at
10 O'Clock the gates were opened for this
purpose The threatening skies and an
occasional drop of rain made the outlook
for the children not altogether promising,
though the indications were that rain
might be deferred at least till late in the
afternoon.
There was an informal meeting of a
majority Of the members of the cabinet
shortly after 10 o'clock. Those in the
conference comprised Assistant Secretary
Day, Secretary Long, Secretary Alger,
Secretary Bliss and Attorney General
Griggs. Together they went over the sit
uation and outlook again very thoroughly
and talked over the most recent
action of the Spanish government
The President before entering into
this informal last general con-
SulratiOn. summoned Representative
HeatWole of Minnesota, a member Of the
House committee on foreign affairs
whose views he was DESTROYS to have.
Mr.. Heatwole declined to discuss what
the President had to say, but it is known
that there were no new developments in
the matter brought up. Mr.. Heatwole
suggested that it was likely the Cuban
matter would follow the prescribed course
in Congress by reference and report from
the committee and that Congress would
not be slow to act.
Senator Pritchard stated after his talk
with the President that he did not be-
lieve the Spanish cessation of hostilities''
would change very materially the situa-
ton as to this country. He thought the
same resolution would be adopted in Con-
gresS now as had been expressed before
the new move of Spain. Representative
Dingley came just after the informal dis
cussiOn and, it is understood, discussed in
a preliminary way, the character of war
revenue measures that may be immedi-
ately necessary.
The committee on foreign relations is
still somewhat undecided upon the exact
form of the resolution to be reported and
may not come to a definite conclusion be-
fore tomorrow, as to its precise wording.
1t now looks as if not only the recOgni-
ton Of the present government of Cuba
would be eliminated, but as if the lam
guage of the other portions of the For
aker resolution, which it was at first de-
cided to retain, would also be abandoned
and a new resolution reported. This res
olution has already been drafted. 1t is
the result Of the numerous conferences
that have been in progress for the past
week between members of the committee
and other prominent senators and 1t Is in
tended as a compromise measure. upon
which it is hoped almost all the senators
irrespective of party can agree. This
draft instructs the President to take i'm
mediate steps to put an end to the war
in Cuba and leaves some of the details to
him. 1t directly recognizes the right of
the Cubans to Independence, and while it
does much inferentially, is cOuched in
terms which it is believed will lend them
selves more easily to diplomatic cOnstruc-
-; ~, h. r.
agreed upOn.
There is still difficulty in getting unani-
nous agreement upon the resolution. A
half dozen or more senators are holding
out stiffiy for the recognition in terms of
the present Cuban administration and the
form OF government now in force among
the insurgents. The steering committee is
still hopeful of bringing them into line
and upon it's success may depend the ex-
petition or hardness of the committee in
presenting its report and of the Senate
in acting. There is no longer any doubt
that a majority of the committee can be
brought to discard the recognition of the
present Cuban authority if it is made clear
that by so doing it can secure practical
unanimity in the Senate and immediate
action by the Senate as soon as the resolu-
ton is reported.
After the Presidents message was re-
ferred to the foreign relations committee
Mr.. Stewart took the floor and declared
that intervention without recognition of
the insurgents would look like conquest.
At 1:15 p. M. the Senate, on motion Of
Mr.. Allison, adjourned and then the Sen
ate committee on foreign relations was
called in special session to consider the
message.
a prominent Republican member of
the Senate committee Oh foreign rela-
tons who has been credited with sup
porting the Presidents policy, said that
Congress could not be induced to make
war on Gomez.
HAN a TT ACE