The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-13
COMPLETED HIS SPEECH
Davis Gives Cogent Reasons for
Annexation OF Hawaii.
ITS STRATEGIC FEATURES
Hawaii Would Control the Nicaroguan
Canal-Pearl Harhor as a Bose of
Supplies Allen Speaks in
Opposition to II.

the executive session OF the SenafE To-
day on the Hawaiian question, and was
followed by Senator Allen Of Nebraska,
who spoke in opposition.
Mr.. Davis requested in the beginning
that no questions should be asked dur
Ing the presentation Of his argut lent, rs
he preferred. he said. not to have the
continuity of his thoughts broken. The
speech was devoted largely to "A presen-
! tation of the strategic features of an
rexation He displayed a chart in front
of the presiding officers platform, show
ing the location of Hawaii relative
TO this country and to Asia.
One of the points brought out
with considerable elaboration was
the probable effect on the Mica
raguan canal of the occupation Of the
islands by some foreign power. He IL
Illustrated by a reference TO the map,
showing that Hawaii was in straight
line between the western terminus Of
the canal and Japan and China. The
nation, he said. which controls Hawaii
will control that great gateway Of
commerce. The guns planted on Ha-
wah would be pointed directly at the
mouth Of the canal.
He also devoted careful attention 10
the Importance of controlling Pearl
harbor. now owned by the United
States, saying that the nation which
maintained possession of the harbor
would hold the key to the situation in
the North Pacific lie read extracts
from reports by engineers and others
in confirmation of this statement and
in support of a statement which he
made as TO the character of the har-
Dor, which was that It was safe and
commodious and could be easily de-
Tended. He also presented the neces-
sity for controlling Hawaii as a base of
supplies in case of hostilities. saying
that it was almost necessary to control
1t for this reason on account of the inn
possibility of a warship crossing the
Pacific without replenishing her coal
supply.
Mr.. Davis ridiculed the objection
made by Japan that the addition of IIa-
wall as United States territory would
work a violation of Japan's treaty
rights in the islands He said in reply
TO this objection that all rights would
doubtless be protracted, and instanced
the creation of the German empire, as
showing the effect of annexation upon
the treaties Of various countries which
enter into a consolidation.
He referred to Japan's protest as an
+
1apaclly and said that the government
of that country should have been salts
fled with the territory wreated from
China, instead of wanting ~ gorge her-
self by the addition of Hawaii. Mr..
Davis called attention To The apparent
cordial relations existing between Japan
and China, as manifested by Japan
offer to lend her fleet 10 the English in
their operations in Chinese waters.
where he said the greatest naval dem
onstfation of history was about To BE-
made He did not Indicate belief that
immediate war would be the result Of
European competition over Chinese ter
ritory. ON the contrary, he called at
tention to the fact that the flags Of
Great Britain. France. Germany and
Russia We're Heating side by side In the
Oriental water, neither power being ap-
parently anxious To disturb the other
so long as there VAS prospect of each
power getting as much as the others
We're taking. The only way in which
the United States could protect them
selves against this division Of territory
would be to control the Hawaiian ISL
ands. In case we should fail To do this
there was danger of losing very Inn
portant trade advantages which were
rapidly developing in the far East. lie
referred TO the Improvement of the
commercial outlook between The United
States and China and instanced the fact
that one Minnesota Arm had exported
half millions dollars worth of flour to
that country. The last half hour of
Senator LAWS speech WAS devoted 70
REORGANIZATION q me supJee4, III Nhlen
ne uMeil ~ eonslasfaple lehsth' ana
portrayed IN s1fons iausuase the origin
and close of great wars. which was in
tended to illustrate the probable ulti-
Inale result q present operations IN
14lnese MateIs.
" heh Seha'ot DAVIS TOOK ms seat ne
was isIalulatea ny almost every
senator present upon the iofee OF MS
ui.les, ne OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES - ms re-