The San Francisco call., 1898-01-06

M session each day thereafter un-
 til the matter is closed"
 In these words Senator Davis, chair man of the Senate Committee on For eign Relations, formally sounded the warning note of one of the great fights of the session. It Is going to be great battle. Senator Davis realizes this, but he has bravely undertaken the leadership of what he confidently be- r lieves will be the winning side. He Is fully alive to the tremendous opposi- tion.
 Farmers in all sections of the coun- try are deluging their Senators with protests against the treaty. Senator Davis believes that there has been a change of sentiment with regard to an- nexation, and expects the friends of the treaty will have the necessary two third vote to secure ratification. With in the last few days there have been frequent conferences at the White House between the President and Sen ators Davis, Cullom, Frye, Elkins. Fair child, Teller and others favorable to annexation. The result of these con- sultauons Is that the friends of treaty propose to make the issue on commer- cial lines and eliminate to a marked degree the flavor of jingoism that was so conspicuous in the original plan.
 Tn assembling the annexation force on commercial basis several recruits have been made from the Democratic sloe or the Senate, and in the coming contest the plan is to obliterate party lines and make the issue on the ground that the annexation of Hawaii will materially improve trade relations with the United States. Instead of in- dulging in war talk in connection with Hawaii and speculation on the cost of maintaining a naval station there. the friend of annexation are speculating on the alleged benefit to American commerce which would follow sole ownership of Hawaii by the United States in the event of a conflict be- tween England. France, Germany, Russia and Japan over the partition of China. One of the most ardent advo- cates of annexation, from a purely commercial standpoint, is Senator FL kins of West Virginia, who is taking an active part in the fight Senator Elkins says that in view of existing complications in the far East trade re-
 
 the countries involved must be fos- tered and guarded.
 "I am not in favor of the annexation of Hawaii, with any intention of try ing to assimilate the population of those islands with our own people," said Senator Elkins. "I don't believe it can be done, and I am not disposed to try any experiments in that direc- tion; but I am firmly convinced that we need Hawaii in our business rela- tions with foreign countries, if we only use it on which to rest a cable Com merce seems to be coming our way, and believe in doing everything with in reason to encourage trade. It is inn possible for ships going out of Pacific Coast ports to Eastern countries to pass Hawaii without stopping for coal or supplies, as it is natural half way house."
 The annexationists will have strong ally on the Democratic side in German. The Maryland Senator is a conserva- tive business man. He favorS annex ation on the ground that the commerce of the United States would be largely benefited. He says he does not be- lieve in wholesale acquisition Of terri tory by the United States, but would not consent to the acquisition of Ha- waii by any other nation.
 I've have a lease or some kind of claim to a coaling station called Pearl Harbor in Hawaii" said German to- day, "and if we needed Pearl Harbor years ago, when our commerce was sell dom found on the sea, we have greater need for 1t now, when every sign points to a rapid growth of our commercial relations. If any other nation should attempt to acquire after we have re- jected 1t, what are we going to do about Pearl Harbor, and what has been the meaning and intention of all friend ly concessions we have been making in behalf of Hawaii all these years?"
 Senator Jones of Arkansas, who is opposed to annexation, was an interest ed listener to the remarks of Senator German, and Germans statement seemed to make considerable impress sion upon the Arkansas Senator. In replying to the Maryland Senator, Sen ator Jones said he did not believe any other nation would attempt to acquire Hawaii, but if it did he would be in favor of fighting for whatever right or title we may have to Pearl Harbor.
 Senator German retorted that if Pearl Harbor was worth fighting for, the en- tire Hawaiian group ought to be worth something to the United States, now that we had an opportunity to obtain possession of these islands, without go- ing to war, and it seemed to him from purely business standpoint good in- vestment- In eastern trade Hawaii of fered just the facilities we needed. and 1t would be folly to let such golden opportunity pass from us.