Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-01
SENATE DISCUSSES THE NATTER IN
SECRET SESSION.
NO MORE OPEN DISCUSSION
SENATOR LODGE WILL NOT PRESS
-: HIS AMENDMENT.
Has Accompiished His Purpose In
Calling Attention to the Nsces.
sity for Action-Is Hawaiian
Annexation . Military
- Necessitys

WASHINGTON. May 31.-The senate re-
manned in secret executive session for three
hours to-day. The entire time was given
to a rather free discussion Of the Hawaiian
question. based on a motion declaring 1t to
be the sense Of the senate that the ques-
ton Of annexation should not be discussed
in open session. At the conclusion of the
debate, the senate voted. viva voce, not to
pursue the subject further. except behind
closed doors.
Senator Lodge did not press the subject
Of his speech after the public was ex-
cluded. but other senators declared Them
selves in favor of prompt action, the
speeches of Messrs. Chandler and Morgan
being the most pronounced in this direction.
Senator Morgan expressed the opinion that.
under the circumstances. the annexation
of the Hawaiian islands was as much a
war measure as any step that could pos
sibly he taken, and he thought congress
had remained in session long enough to
pass all war measures. -t.S'5-.s
He paid his respects to those who pre-
ferred adjournment to remaining here at
tending to the country's business. A large
portion Of his speech was made in reply to
Senator White, who had antagonixed the
theory that the Islands were in any way
essential to our success in the conflict with
Spain. %ts. 1i.s.
Senator Chandler contended that the pos
session Of the Islands was a military ne
cessity: He dweit upon the fact that Ha-
wall afforded practically the only stopping
place between our shores and the Philip
pine islands. He mentioned the fact that
we now have 1900 tons of coal stored at
Honolulu, and said that =df, in view of the
existing war. we should be shown any
favorttism whatever, the little republic
would be held to a strict accountability by
other countries .,.e.s=' fttt"
He called attention to the Geneva award,
and said that, under Its terms we would,
by forcing Hawaii to violate neutrality.
render that country. liable for all damage
that might be done to people Of other ma
tionalities by ships which had stopped in
the islands. wherever that damage was
done. This was a principle In favor Of
which the United States had contended,
and It would be a veritable travesty on
justice to render this friendly and help
less power the subject of the principle.
The only proper way out of the difficulty.
he argued, was to annex the islands and
thus serve our own convenience and save
them from the vengeance Of other powers.
and he thought no time should be lost in
taking this step. y
Other speeches favorable to annexation
were made by Senators Stewart and Ell
kins, and Senator Allison, acting chair.
man of the finance committee, intimated
willingness to take up the Hawaiian
question after the passage of the war rev.
enue bill. rtssr.-
LET u.s. said he. finish this bill. and
then, If necessary, take up the Hawaiian
question" He made a plea against involv-
incr Sl1hi xx{fh ha NJ har
Senators Pettigrew and White were an
tagoEistic to annexation, and Senator Hale
announced himself favorable to final adj
journment after the passage Of the war
revenue bill and necessary appropriation
bills.
/, Mr. Pettigrew devoted himself especially
to Senator Chambers declaration that the
acquisition Of the islands was a necessity
of war. He contended that such was not
the case, and argued that Unalaska, a town
within our own borders. was a far more
desirable stopping point for ships bound to
| the Orient from San Francisco than Homo
lulu could be.
He said Honolulu and Unalaska were
each about 200 miles from San Francisco.
but that, while Honolulu was more than
I, 1890 miles distant from Manila, Unalaska
was only little over 400 miles. why %
he asked, did not our government. in view
of this difference in distance and In view OF
the saving Of two days time, store her coal
at Unalaska instead of Honolulu? Why. II
it was not In anticipation Of the raising Of
this cry. of necessity in order to force US
| into acquiescence in the acquisition Of the
islands as a. war measure, when 1t was
| known that annexation could be accom-
plished in time of peace?"
Senator White thought he saw In the
effort to secure Hawaiian annexation at
this time desire to establish a precedent
for some proceedings in other cases. and
said the matter should be postponed unit.
| after the war, and all efforts at annexa-
| tion considered together.
He thought that IL our principal object
had been that of securing a coaling s.a-
tion, we should have fortified Pearl har-
Dor. but, as this had not been done, 1t
was evident that we must have other de-
| signs.
Senator Lodge said. after the conclusion
| Of the secret session, that he had accom-
plished his purpose In calling attention to
| the necessity for action on this subject be.
| fore final adjournment, and that he would
not further press the subject In connection
| with the war revenue bill.