The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-02
divulged that would be Of advantage
to that country.
Senator I.ndUa nnanaI he A.

! divulged that would be Of advantage
to that country.
Senator Lodge opened the proceed
ings in the secret session with a gen.
eral statement concerning the advan-
tage Of controlling the Danish islands.
He argued that this country should
own them. because of contiguity to our
shores and for strategic purposes. 60
ing over much of the ground covered in
his report yesterday.
Senator Gray replied in opposition to
the policy, basing his antagonism on
the ground that 1t was contrary to the
policy of the United States to acquire
territory outside of its continental lines
and saying that the possession of the
islands would inevitably involve US in
international entanglements which
would be troublesome and might lead
to complications at any time, which
could be avoided IL we did not have the
islands. Furthermore, IL there was an
idea of utilizing them in case of war
with Spain over Cuba. IL should not be
forgotten that we had in our posses
sion at Key West territory nearer Ha-
vana than the Danish islands are.
Senators Frye and Lodge both re-
piled to this latter point. They stated
that IL was evident fro mthe develop
ments so far advanced that Porto Rico
rather than Havana would be the GEN.
ter of our war with Spain, and that in
that event the Danish group would be
of inestimable advantage to us. In
deed. they considered IL almost essen
tial to an early ending of the war. They
asserted that Spain's coal supplies at
Porto Rico were extremely limited. and
that 1t could be practically controlled
by us IL we should own the Danish pos
sessions in that he
earnest desire of the administration, ii
was said. to control these islands.
Senators Cockrell and Pettigrew also
opposed the resolution. Mr.. Cockrell
! contended that IL would he a great mis-
rake from a naval point of view to ac-
quire the islands and Mr.. Pettigrew said
that the islands would only make addi-
tional territory to protect in case of
war with Spain. senator Cockrell said
that in case Of war with Spain, Porto
Rico could be taken more easily than
the Danish Islands could re defended.
All the senators who spoke including
members of the committee on foreign
relations. looked on war as inevitable.
basing all their arguments for and
against acquisition upon this theory.
Senator Morgan favored the resolu-
tion. and in doing so dwelt more or less
upon the outlook for war. He detailed
the destruction OF the Maine. expreso
ing the opinion that 1t was due To
treachery.
senator Tillman interrupted at this
tuncture to say that any child would
know that the vessel was blown up
fiom the outside. What he wanted to
know. he said. was VINO did II. II the
committee knew the senate should he
said. he informed. and the committee
should not pursue it's usual course OF
keeping important developments from
the senate. This intimatlon was made
in a brief speech in Senator Morgan's
time and created quite scene. Sena-
tor Cray. member of the committee.
demanded that Mr.. Tillman should give
names when he made charges. The
South Carolina senator was proceeding
on the same general lines when Mr..
Morgan. who had grown very impatient.
asserted his right to the floor. charging
Mr.. Tillman to take his seat. This he
did. and the incident was ended for the
time being. allowing the debate to pro-
ceed.
Senator Pettus supported and Sena-
tor Caffery opposed the resolution.
In Open session.
Washington, April LIN the opening
session OF the senate to-day Mr.. Chand-
Ter of New Hampshire called up the
resolution he introduced yesterday re-
quiring the Cuban consular corre-
spondence sent to the senate and at his
suggestion II was referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations. Immedi-
ately afterward, however. he introduced
another resolution, which went over.
calling upon the secretary OF state for
the same information. After the pass
age of a few bills the senate went into
secret executive session. the proceed
ings occupying the greater part of the
afternoon and devoted to a discussion
of the wisdom OF purchasing the Danish
West India islands.
Mr.. Mitchell of Wisconsin presented a
telegram signed by a score or more of
the prominent citizens of Milwaukee.
saying that the business and conserva-
tive elements of the country were in
favor OF peace unless war should be
demanded 10 preserve the honor and
dignity OF the country. 1t was referred
to the committee on foreign relations.
These bills were passed: To authorize
the secretary to issue permit TO the
American Invalid society of Boston TO
occupy 100 acres of land on the aban-
doned Fort Stanton in New Mexico for
a national sanitarium for the treatment
OF pulmonary diseases; TO extend the
right OF Communication; 10 extend the
stead settlers on lands in Oklahoma
opened to settlement under the prov3s-
ions of the law. and to extend 500. 900 TO
the university OF Kansas as relief.
At 1890 the secret session was order
ed. At 4:3l p. m. the senate went from
secret executive into executive session.
and soon afterward adjourned until
Monday
Riley In Helena.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, April Thomas ]. Riley was