Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-20
MATTER OF POLITICS
Meaning of Vote for the Cuban Resolution
Conference Report.
Technical Discussion In the Senate
Caused by the Remarks OF
Senator COckrcll.

The contention in the Senate yesterday
afternoon over the relative credit to which
democrats and republicans In the Senate
were entitled for the action on the Cuban
resolution was continued after The Stars
report was closed.
Mr.. Hale called attention to the forecast
he had made last Saturday night, which
was in effect that the democrats were op-
posed to any action. He did not expect
his forecast to be so soon substantiated.'
Mr.. Cockrell replied that when the ques-
ton finally came before the Senate it was
on the particular matter as to whether the
recognition of independence should be in-
corporated in the resolutions. That amend
ment, Mr.. Cockrell commended, was the
only point in issue on the final vote
Mr.. Hale was about again to interrupt
Mr.. Cockrell when he was stopped by the
suggestion of Mr.. Spooner (Wis.) that the
Missouri senator be permitted to proceed
with his political speech"
am perfectly willing" responded Mr..
Hale. that the senator from Missouri
should continue his exculpatory speech
don't care continental whether you
can 1t political Speech" shouted Mr..
Ccckrell. He maintained that he was &C
cCrately stating the position of himself and
Lis colleagues.
But the senator will admit" persisted
Mr.. Hale. that he and thirty-four others
of his colleagues voted against the Cuban
| resolutions
oh! the senator from Maine" responded
Mr. Cockrell. disdainfully, lis employing
pettifogging tactics that are not worthy
o. lawyer in a Justices court"
Mr. Cannon Utah) inquired of Mr.. Hale
whether vote against conference report
was vote against the measure involved.
In reply, Mr.. Hale said in substance that
such vote had all the effect of vote
against the measure because by the adop-
nf ha ftnn Wit a
subsequently attached signature of the
President. became the law of the land.
LAS matter of fact" interjected Mr.
Spc oner, this whole business was party
playa democratic party play-and they
can't put men en- this side of the chamber
in hole by any exhibition of 'holier than
II Gu policy OH that point
Mr.. Bacon Ga.) continued the discussion
of the position of the democrats. taking
the same position he took Monday night.
that as the democrats had voted time and
again in support of their position, so they
voted 20 sustain it by opposing the confer
cree report, which struck out the provision
for recognition of independence. Mr.. Bacon
contended that as Cn1y matters of differ
ence go into conference, the vote in the
Senate on the conference committee report
was only on the Turpie amendment for the
recognition of the insurgents, and that con-
sequently those who had voted against the
conference report had only again recorded
themselves in favor Of the Turpie amend
ment.
Mr.. Fairbanks asked whether vote in
favor of concurrence was not, in fact, a
vote for the resolutions.
Mr.. Bacon replied that it was not by any
means, because the conference, having jur-
isdiction only over points of difference, its
point could cover only such points of diff
ference, and the vote of the Senate could
cover only such points. He contended that
the senators who had not voted for the
lesolutio ms originally had lost their only
Opportunity to support them.
Mr. Spooner said he did not profess to
have voted for the resolutions, because
they did not meet his views. but that he
had voted for the report in orGer TO bring
atCut a legis ative adjustme mt, even though
he was, to an extent, swallowing his own
words. He wanted to bring aid to the
starving Cubans. and that could he done
only by compromise.
Mr.. Bacon contended that he had proved
that Mr.. Spooner had never voted for the
resolutions
Here the two senator's fell into a tech
meal discussion as to what was implied in
a vote for "A conference report, in which
many senators participated
Mr. Bacon declared that the resolutions
would have become a la if the Turoie
| amendment haG prevailed, the only differ
ence beins, that in that event the inSurSent
government would have been recognized.
To this proposition many republicans ex-
claimed mo, nor in unison, but none at
tempted at that time to explain the rea-
sons for their dissent.
All this had been in the way of inter-
ruption during Mr.. Cockrelis speech. He
| resumed at this point his discussion of the
Presidents policy, which, he contended
from the Presidents own language. meant
Intervention in the shape of hostile con-
straint' upon both parties to the Cuban
war, upon the Cubans as much as upon
the Spanish. He contended that this pol
Icy looked only to a pacifca ton of the Is
land of Cuba, not TO the expulsion of the
Spaniards or the establishment of a repub-
lie in Cuba.
Without concluding his speech Mr. Cock
rell yielded for an executive session at
$40 pm.
At 405 pm. the Senate adjourned.