Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-14

while the gentleman representing the mi
nority Of that committee was attempting
to present resolution which has the in
dorsement of himself and his associates
was required either to consent to the i'm
mediate consideration Of the proposition
presented by the chairman OF the commit
tee or to deny my own side the right to
present its views to the house and to the
country.
That I asked only what was easonable,
will be testified to by the gentleman from
Maine fA1r. Dingley). because. after the un-
seemly occurrence which came more nearly
disgracing the house OF representatives
than any act which has occurred during my
membership in this body, the gentleman's
own sense of fairness compelled him TO ask
the house TO do precisely and only what
asked for in the beginning ! did not intend
to interfere with the immediate considera-
ton Of this resolution, but 1 wanted the
laughter and jeers on the Republican side)
A member-'Don't pay any attention to
him.
Mr.. Bailey-"Mr. Speaker. believe will
not disgrace myself by commenting on such
behavior as that" applause on the Re-
publican ade)
;FrI ~
Bailey, that. after fifteen months of delay
and suspense, 1t has at last dawned upon
the Republican majority of this house that
the time for action has arrived. (Applause
ON the Democratic side.) For more than
year We have been entreatinS you to take
some action. And it is at least some salts
faction that you have resolved at last, not
TO heed our appeal, but to heed your angry
| constituents at home. (Applause on the
Democratic side.) But. true to your policy
! and your traditions. you have resolved that
when at last you are compelled to act you
| will deny to members of this body the op-
portunity to discuss your conduct.
There is radical difference between the
resolutions reported by the majority and
| those reported by the minority. There
| ought to be time and opportunity allowed
| for those of us who think the minority res
| olution wiser to point out TO Che house and
| to the country the reasons for our belief.
| And yet l know well as the members
on that side that these resolutions. in
volving the question of peace or war. are
to be rushed through this body with a
4 ahofo nd hat
! when every man in the country knows that
nothing can be done until the senate acts.
| and you know that the senate will act
with proper deliberation.
| But, Mr.. Speaker We would rather have
action at last without discussion than to
have the practice of the last twelve months.
allowing ample discussion and no decis-
! ion. (Applause.) The true rule ought to
be that questions of this kind can be fairly
discussed, but the rule which now prevails
is that. when the house finally determines
to decide question, that is the very time
the house refuses to allow debate upon it.
You will suffer debate to proceed day
after day. l have seen it proceed more
than week upon a question discussed in
a general way two times within the present
session, debated in a general way, it is
true. and yet. having allowed the debate
while you did not intend to decide, now
that you are going to decide you deny the
debate. But. sir, We are ready to meet
the question; We are ready to decide it:
We are as ready to take our responsibility
with gentlemen on the other side, and we
invite you to call the roll" applause and
cries Of Vote vote.')
AT this point, Mr.. Johnson, Republican,
of Indiana, stoutly protested against cut
ting off members of the house. He entreat-
ed Mr.. Henderson mot to be ungenerous
enough to move tho precious question until
other geatlr.nea have had the right to be
heard
Mr.. Henderson declined to yield, bur he
granted a few minutes to Mr.. McS1Ilin,
Democrat, of Tennessee, member of the
committee on rules.
Mr.. McMillin said the most momentous
question that had confronted the American
people since the close of the great civil
war confronts US to-day, and he did not
agree with the sentiment which seemed to
| De StTOIS oN tle olneT Siue, that there
ought not TO be candid and ample pre-
sentation of the great question to the rep
resentatives of the American people and
through them to the American people. Zap
plause ON Democratic side) II We had
recognized independence of the republic OF
| Cuba long ago, he contended. Cuba would
have been free to-day. and We would have
been free from obligations" (Applause on
Democratic sideD
Mr.. Clayton-"And the Maine would have
been atioat."
Mr. McMillin-"And to-day 265 gallant
American sailors, whose glory will not fade
until the flag fades, on account of theiI
sacrifice for their country, would have beer
living American sailors.
Now, Mr.. Speaker. what excuse are we
| going to give the American people fol-
hasty action In this matter? The resolution
of the majority does not propose to rec
ognize the republic of Cuba and the resolu'
ton of the minority does. The resolution
of the ajority does not force the president
to send our army and navy TO back VI
i, this action Immediately; the resolution OF
the minority does. They differ as the pole:
differ, and their differences ought TO bt
shown and the representatives here given
an opportunity 10 show which one of the
resolutions will best accomplish the worl
= TO be performed.
You heard the presidents message. yor