The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-13
IT MEANS INDEPENDENCE
GROSVENOR INTERPRETERS THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

An Important Statement on the
Floor of the House by the Admin
ing Gums of the Pitched Cuban
Battle That VIII be Fought Out
TOday-An Attack on Mckinley.
WASHINGTON, April 12.-Gen. Gros-
venor (O), now generally regarded as
the spokesman of the president on the
floor of the house, late this afternoon.
in reply to an attack on the policy of
the administration interpreted the rec
concentrations in the presidents mes
sage to mean a request for authority
to use the army and navy of the Unit
ed States TO establish on the island of
Cuba a government independent Of
Spain.
1t was regarded as an exceedingly
important and significant announce
ment.
In the brief debate today the opening
guns of the contest that begins tomor-
row were fired. Broadsides were eX-
changed, and then the house adjourned.
Mr.. Lentz, an Ohio Democrat, who
drew the fire Of Gen. Grosvenor last
Thursday, returned to the assault again
today. attacking what he termed the
"vacillating' policy Of the president,
the midnight conferences" at the
White house with Senator Elkins and
John ]. McCook, and asserting that
the presidents recommendations real
ly meant that the United States should
coerce the Cuban insurgents into ac-
ceptance Of Spains scheme of au-
tonomy.
Mr.. Hepburn (Rep., Io.) made a
spirited and indignant reply. denounc-
ing the intimation of such a policy as
little short of scoundrelism. Then came
Gen. Grosvenor's important announce
ment upon which Mr.. Bailey the DEM
ocratic leader, countered, taking the
position that if the president had meant
to declare for the independence of Cuba
he would have said so in specific words
The message was clear and lucid, he
said, except as to the recommendations,
and 1t had required all the ingenuity
of Gen. GroSvenor to torture such an
Interpretation from them. In conclu-
sion he declared that the president
who would coerce the Cuban patriots
would not live to survive the odium Of
the American people.
Simpson Unruly.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, the speaker recognized Mr.. Hill
born CRep., CALI to call up, on behalf
of the naval committee, the senate bill
for the organization of a naval battal-
ion in the District of Columbia
Mr.. Bailey indicated his purpose to
object unless an amendment were Of
fered to organize this battalion under
existing laws, and, after some talk, Mr.
Ridgley did object.
The house then went into committee
of the whole on a bill relating to the
District of Columbia.
During the debate Mr.. Botkin Pop.,
Kan) and Mr.. Greene pop, Kan.) took
occasion to discuss the Cuban question
but their utterances were not infiam-
matory.
While Mr.. Hill Comm was discuss
Ing the question of reforming the cur
rency Mr.. Simpson pop, Kan.) became
so obstreperous that Mr.. Hopkins Rep.,
I'D, who was in the chair, ordered him
to take his seat. and when the Kansan
declined, he instructed the Sergeant-at-
arms to use the silver mace, the em-
blem of the houses authority to COM
pei him to take his seat
One of the assistants took the mace
out of its place on the malachite pedes-
tai and marched up the aisle toward
Mr.. Simpson. The latter laughed at
him. Take that thing back" he said
AS the mace cannot be employed under
the rules in committee, the chair did
not press the matter, and the incident
was closed with round of laughter.
Mckinley Attacked.
Shortly before the adjournment, Mr.
LentZ Oem., o. made a vicious assault
upon what he described as the vacillat-
ing policy Of the president, reading
from various newspapers to show that
the president had repeatedly changed
his mind. He commented especially
upon the report of an alleged midnight
conference between Senator Elkins and
the Spanish minister after the former
had been at the White house with John
j. McCook. He tainted the Republic
ans because the president had not de-
clared for the independence of Cuba,
which the Republican platform had de-
manded.
1T remains to be SEEM said he,
whether the majority of the house can
be lined up and whipped in" Con-
gress, he declared. should act and
could better act than the executive,
formulating his policy at midnight be-
hind closed doors with the aid of plu-
tocracy."
Mr.. Hepburn (Rep., Io.) jumped to
his feet as Mr.. Lentz sat down.
MIR. Chairman he began. Some
times miS-Statement is SO gross that
1t reaches the dignity Of falsehood,
and falsehood SO gross that it becomes
mendacity, and mendacity so foul that
1t becomes scoundrelism. I say that
the president has never said that he
desired the use of the army and navy
at the hands of congress, in order to
establish Spanish supremacy on the isl
and of Cuba. (Applause) That is not
true. There is no man who can with